Dr Mariam Ali Abdulmalik, managing director of PHCC, launched the website yesterday in the presence of a number of senior officials and executive directors.
The corporation stressed that the website (www.phcc.gov.qa) is user-friendly and effective, and has been designed according to the latest international standards to give easy, rapid and safe access to services and information pertaining to the PHCC and its various departments and health centres.
Through the use of advanced digital technology, the website will provide access to services such as new patient registration, requests for medical records, new patient appointments, rescheduling/cancellation of appointments at health centres, changing the family physician, changing the health centre in accordance with the place of residence and adding dependent(s).
The public will be able to avail of all these services electronically without having to attend health centres.
With these changes, the PHCC website has shifted from being just an informative and archival service to becoming a platform for providing e-services that will make it easier for patients to benefit from many services without having to visit any health centre, Dr Abdulmalik said.
The website, which has been redeveloped and launched in both Arabic and English, also supports accessibility options for persons with colour blindness, visual impairment or special needs, in accordance with international standards. The website is also tailored for all types of computer and smartphone screens.
The ICT team has worked hard to secure and protect the e-services provided and to ensure the confidentiality of patient information exchange through the new website against cyber-attacks, particularly during crises, most notably the Covid-19 pandemic, the statement notes.
The website has an advanced search engine for services and provides easy access to services and information, in addition to highlighting the PHCC’s most important news and events and placing great importance on health awareness.
More than 120 pages have been created with content of interest to the general public and in a way that ensures that the visitor can easily browse these pages. The sections include the PHCC’s profile, Patients and Clients, Clinics and Services, Health Centres and others.
“The PHCC’s new website comes within the framework of the corporation's focus on making primary healthcare services more accessible, aligned to the National Health Strategy 2018-2022, which focuses on population health and integrated care. Hence, the PHCC website has been upgraded to keep pace with the substantial and accelerated progress in the field of healthcare in Qatar, promote effective communication mechanisms with the public, and use information technology effectively to support healthcare," Dr Abdulmalik explained.
She also noted that the Covid-19 pandemic has helped find many electronic alternatives which, in turn, has led to providing a number of electronic services to the PHCC staff and meet their needs in line with instructions on social distancing and remote work.
“There are carefully studied stages according to a time-bound plan to upgrade and develop the website and add new services related to the Qatari ID number of all health centre registered patients, as well as the continuous update of the health centre data and services. This has also led to introducing the website's visitors to Qatar’s map and the geographical distribution of health centres across the country,” she added.