Doha - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
Pollution Great medical in general unless a special kid issue - Oct 2024
Pollution can be bad and more often than I thought it would be. Medical care appears to be very good on the economy. Most people I know prefer local medical care over the med unit for many reasons. I would bring/order on Amazon the regular meds you get in the US. The local meds (Tylenol, etc) typically are not as strong. - Jun 2024
I have not utilized the hospitals here (luckily) but when we are flying, the ministry required COVID tests for everyone and I found the local hospitals organized, clean, and efficient. I've had blood work completed and it was also a painless(pun intended) and organized experience. - Oct 2023
None really. Lots of health care options and they are very good. People have had surgery, given birth, etc in Doha. - Jul 2022
I just needed an OB GYN and it was almost impossible; I was on the wait list for months! - Apr 2021
The air quality here is some of the worst in the world. It has negatively effected any and everyone who has spent some quality time in Doha. Having never had any medical or dental care here, I can't directly comment. It is worth noting that a couple of folks who have had dental work and minor surgery/PT here have had some serious issues post-op that forced them to medically evacuate to London and the U.S. for follow-up care. - May 2017
Dust and 2.5 PMI air pollution. People here have respiratory issues here pretty frequently.
Medical care is okay to good, but depends on the doctor that you get. Most people choose to medically evacuate for big issues, like surgeries, delivering babies, or having dental work done. - May 2017
several hospitals in nice buildings but there's a lack of qualified doctors and lack of equipment. - May 2015
Mostly respiratory problems related to air quality. There's also MERS here, but just stay away from the camels and you'll be fine. There seems to be some kind of child disease epidemic at the moment (lice and pink eye and such), not sure what's going on with that. Medical care is questionable at best. The hospitals look fancy but there are hardly any qualified doctors in them. As in many do not even have valid medical qualifications. There are a few good ones here and there but it's hard to find. I wouldn't recommend getting anything worse than a bacterial infection treated here... - Feb 2015
Good health care. Excellent private hospitals. Be prepared to pay for the services and then submit to insurance for reimbursement. - Apr 2012
Health care is spotty. The Sheikh Hamad hospital is big, but waiting times are long and surly nurses and doctors. Many people get medevaced to Bombay, India, for serious issues. Oh, and Sudafed is OTC, so is Prozac and many other dangerous meds! - Mar 2012
Food safety is pretty good. There are some decent medical facilities including the private al ahli hospital. For some speciality procedures/treatment you need to go to Hamad, the public hospital. Hamad has decent equipment/doctors and is very affordable (a real boon for many of the expat laborers) but takes a long time to get service. You can spend half a day there trying to get some nurse's attention and then have to walk around in circles to get the right feespaid. - Mar 2012
Great healthcare!We use the Doha Clinic for almost every medical need. It's a private drop-in clinic chock full of specialists. A visit is around $50 USD and you never wait more than about 20 minutes to be seen. I'm very pleased. - Jan 2012
None really. The medical care is better then I would expect. Hamad hospital is respected. Unless its life threatening, you will be fine. - Oct 2010
Excellent. - Dec 2009
Qataris go abroad for all major medical care - like heart operations, transplants, etc. For basic care I think you can find a doctor you like. There are several decent clinics and a pretty good hospital. Be prepared to get shoved out of line if a Qatari comes in .They get served first, even if you have been waiting an hour. - Sep 2008
