The Peninsula
As part of the plans to provide easy access to high quality medical services for fans coming to the country for the World Cup, more than 60 mobile medical teams will be deployed at two main fan activity areas.
Some 46 mobile medical teams will be deployed along the Corniche while 18 will be at FIFA Fan Festival in Al Bidda Park. These teams will include critical care teams and first response teams. In addition, ambulances will also be deployed and urgent care clinics and first aid tents will be set up to care for fans in case of need, according to a World Cup press document released recently. There will be more than 100 clinics near the stadiums and key accommodation sites. Emergency services will include mobile medical teams, critical care teams, first response teams and ambulances.
Emergency and urgent healthcare services will be provided free of charge for Hayya Card holders at four public hospitals during the tournament.
They can also seek healthcare at private clinics and hospitals. The Ministry of Public Health has strongly recommended that visiting fans take out travel insurance, with healthcare cover, for the duration of their stay in Qatar.
Urgent Care Units will be at Aisha bint Hamad Al Attiyah Hospital, Al Wakra Hospital, Hamad General Hospital and Hazm Mebaireek General Hospital.
Visiting fans can access emergency and urgent medical services at HMC facilities free of charge throughout the tournament by presenting their Hayya Card, according to the Ministry of Public Health.
The Ministry added that existing policies and treatment costs will continue to apply for all citizens and residents of Qatar throughout the tournament period, regardless of whether they hold a Hayya Card. Charges will apply for visiting fans receiving non-emergency and non-urgent healthcare services at public health facilities.
Fans in Qatar can call 16000 for information about accessing medical care at any of the country’s private or public hospitals, medical centres, clinics, and pharmacies. The helpline staff can assist with how to access healthcare facilities and medical support available in the fan zones.
“My advice to any of the fans, when you need healthcare please ask for the nearest clinic. That will be easily accessible and these will provide you also healthcare free of charge. They will tackle urgent care need for the fans,” Chair of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Health Strategic Command Group, Dr Ahmed Al Mohammed said while talking to Al Jazeera.
State-of-the-art mobile hospitals can also be set up in 15 minutes if needed in an emergency situation. One field hospital will be deployed in each stadium on match days.
The report further said that if a major incident does occur medical staff will examine those affected and transfer them to different tents depending on their condition. Alongside each field hospital, there will be a command centre from where authorities can coordinate an emergency response.