Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has launched a modernisation programme for Hamad General Hospital, set to span three years.

HMC Health Facilities Development chief Hamad Nasser Abdulla Al Khalifa said: “For more than 40 years, Hamad General Hospital has played a major role in supporting the health of Qatar’s population. The hospital has been the foundation of Qatar’s hospital system, and now is the time for an upgrade of systems and facilities.

“Phase one of the renovation work, which will concentrate on upgrading the two inpatient towers and the ground floor below the towers, will start in 2025. This renovation program will deliver single rooms and advanced technical systems, and create modern environments that will all improve the care experience for patients following the essential work”.

To facilitate the upgrades, the two inpatient towers will be vacated in the coming months, with several outpatient clinics being relocated to other hospitals within the network.

Despite these changes, Hamad General Hospital will maintain a broad spectrum of services.

Hamad General Hospital medical director Dr Muna Al Maslamani said: “More than 370 beds remain open, covering medical, surgical, and critical care services as well as our Trauma and Emergency Center. Hamad General Hospital will also continue to operate the Bone and Joint Center, Pediatric Emergency Centers, and Fahad Bin Jassim Kidney Center.

“I stress that throughout this process, Hamad General Hospital will continue to provide a wide and important range of specialist healthcare services to patients.”

The expansion of HMC's hospital network in recent years has added new facilities and increased capacity, which will support the modernisation process.

HMC chief medical officer Dr Abdulla Al Ansari said: “Since 2016, we have opened nine new hospitals. These include Aisha Bint Hamad Al Attiyah Hospital, the second largest of HMC’s hospitals, and the Medical Care and Research Center, both opened in the last two years.

“These two new HMC hospitals will be the main facilities receiving the relocated services. With this additional capacity available across the system, now is the perfect time to vacate patients from HGH and upgrade the jewel of HMC’s hospital network.”

HMC stated that it will soon announce the full details of the relocation plan for services during the renovation period.