Doha, August 29, 2026: Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) in Qatar has achieved a significant improvement in specialist healthcare access. Managing Director Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Suwaidi announced that the average waiting time for a first specialist appointment has decreased from approximately 58 days in 2024 to about 16 days. The corporation has now set a new target to reduce this waiting period to within 14 days.
- Average waiting time for a first specialist appointment dropped from 58 days in 2024 to 16 days
- New target set to reduce the waiting period to within 14 days
- Benefits approximately 8.3 lakh Indians living in Qatar, the largest expatriate group
- HMC managed about 15 million outpatient appointments during the first half of 2026
This development is particularly impactful for the Indian expatriate community in Qatar. According to data from India's Ministry of External Affairs dated March 2026,
there are approximately 8.3 lakh Indians living in Qatar, representing the largest expatriate group in the country. This community includes workers, professionals, families, students, and elderly dependents who frequently utilize the public healthcare network.
HMC attributed this reduction to a multi-faceted strategy that included increasing capacity, expanding cooperation with private hospitals, referring selected cases to the private sector, launching evening clinics, and implementing two-shift operations in certain departments. These measures aim to expedite specialist access for patients referred by primary health centers or general physicians. Al Suwaidi noted on the National Planning Council's AlTanmiya podcast that in 2024,
more than 70,000 patients were on waiting lists. By reviewing the referral-to-appointment process and optimizing high-demand specialties, the corporation successfully lowered the average wait to 16 days. HMC clarified that clinical follow-up appointments, which are scheduled based on treatment plans, should not be confused with waiting-list delays.
During the first half of 2026,
HMC managed approximately 15 million outpatient appointments. The corporation also handled nearly 700,000 emergency cases, performed 40,000 surgeries, and conducted 50,000 home visits. Across its 14 hospitals, HMC delivered about 25 million healthcare services in the first six months of 2026, offering approximately 22,000 specialized health services, including cardiology, cancer treatment, and diagnostic testing. HMC continues to emphasize that emergency departments should be reserved for life-threatening conditions, while non-emergency urgent care is available at approximately 16 primary healthcare centers operating 24 hours a day. Additionally, the 'Lbaih' app now has nearly 400,000 users with 3 million recorded transactions, allowing patients to access medical records, order prescription refills, and request appointment changes. The corporation is also working to implement a unified digital health-record system to better integrate information between public and private healthcare providers.
