HMC cuts specialist appointment wait from 58 days to 16; delivers 25 million services in six months: Managing Director

Doha, Qatar - Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has significantly shortened the average wait time for specialist appointments, dropping from 58 days to approximately 16 days, in a bid to enhance patient experience within Qatar's public healthcare system. Managing Director H.E. Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Suwaidi revealed that this improvement forms part of a larger strategy aimed at boosting efficiency and access across HMC's services.

During a Tnamia podcast episode, Al Suwaidi detailed the corporation's journey to identify long waiting lists as a primary challenge upon taking the helm. With over 70,000 patients on waiting lists in 2024, HMC conducted an analysis of the patient journey from referral to specialist care, discovering the average wait for a first appointment stood at 58 days.

To address this, HMC implemented a series of measures, including cooperation with private hospitals, extending clinic hours, and operating some clinics in two shifts. These efforts have collectively reduced the average wait time for a first specialist appointment to around 16 days.

Al Suwaidi emphasized the distinction between first appointments and follow-up visits, noting that patients receiving subsequent appointments may be returning at specific intervals requested by their treating physicians, rather than facing delays due to capacity pressures. The healthcare corporation provides a wide array of services, totaling around 22,000 different services, encompassing laboratory testing, medical imaging, physiotherapy, cardiology, and cancer care, among others.

In the first six months of 2026 alone, HMC recorded approximately 1.5 million outpatient appointments, handled around 700,000 emergency cases, performed about 40,000 surgeries, and conducted nearly 50,000 home visits. Altogether, the corporation delivered around 25 million services during this period. Technology plays a pivotal role in this initiative, with the Labeeb application reaching around 400,000 users and recording close to three million transactions.

This app enables patients to access their medicine information, blood-test results, radiology reports, request appointment changes, and have prescriptions reordered remotely. Medicines can also be delivered to patients through Qatar Post, thereby saving time and reducing pressure on healthcare facilities.

Al Suwaidi also highlighted efforts toward a unified digital health record, facilitating access to comprehensive patient information across various healthcare facilities. This integration could streamline patient care by allowing physicians to view medication histories, laboratory results, and imaging records through a single platform, thereby reducing redundancy and mitigating potential medication conflicts.

Emergency care remains a critical focus area. During the first half of 2026, HMC received around 700,000 emergency cases. Patients are assessed based on internationally recognized urgency classifications, with the most critical cases receiving immediate priority. Additionally, around 16 primary healthcare centers now offer 24-hour urgent care for less severe conditions, alleviating pressure on hospital emergency departments.

Public awareness is emphasized to ensure patients seek appropriate care at the correct facility—whether a primary health center, urgent care service, specialist hospital, or emergency department.

HMC is also prepared for emergencies and disruptions to supply chains. The corporation manages a part of Qatar's strategic medicine stock and continuously monitors critical supplies. Emergency preparedness systems are designed to remain operational during significant crises, including scenarios involving severe disruptions to communications and logistics.

Medicine supply procedures were reviewed during 2026, with long-term agreements established with pharmaceutical manufacturers and the use of equivalent medicines to strengthen supply security.

Improving patient experience is central to HMC's strategy, beginning from the patient's initial interaction, which includes access to parking, reception, nursing, medical consultations, diagnostics, pharmacy services, cleanliness, and the ease of navigating the healthcare system. The corporation employs performance dashboards, direct patient feedback, and on-site monitoring to identify issues and implement corrective actions.

The objective is to ensure patients receive the right care at the right facility and at the right time, not just by expanding capacity but also by delivering high-quality, efficient healthcare services.