HMC cuts specialist appointment wait from 58 days to 16

The Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has successfully reduced the average waiting time for patients to receive their first specialist appointment from 58 days in 2024 to approximately 16 days, according to HMC's director-general, Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Suwaidi. This improvement is part of a series of operational measures aimed at enhancing access to healthcare, boosting efficiency, and elevating the patient experience.

Al-Suwaidi made these remarks during the fourth episode of the National Planning Council’s 'Development Podcast', which discussed HMC’s role in Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030. Upon taking charge of HMC in 2024, over 70,000 patients were on waiting lists, with an average wait of about 58 days for their first specialist consultation.

To address this, HMC implemented a range of measures, including collaborations with private hospitals, referrals to the private sector for certain cases, the introduction of evening clinics, and dual-shift operations. These initiatives have significantly cut the waiting period to around 16 days, with HMC aiming to provide specialist appointments within 14 days.

Additionally, HMC has strengthened the continuity of medicine supplies during periods of regional instability by temporarily shortening the dispensing period for chronic-disease medication from three months to one month in 2026. This measure, introduced as a precautionary step while reorganizing relationships with suppliers and adjusting supply chains, was effective in maintaining the availability of essential medicines and treatments without disrupting patient access.

HMC has also enhanced patient feedback mechanisms through direct telephone calls after emergency department visits, averaging about one minute and 45 seconds. These calls help identify issues that might not be apparent through conventional surveys, such as those related to appointments, procedures, equipment, cleanliness, security, and service delivery.

The feedback is recorded and monitored via a performance dashboard. This emphasis on measurable performance extends throughout HMC’s 14-hospital network, with interactive monitoring systems tracking performance indicators from the institutional level down to individual doctors. The corporation provides over 22,000 specialized health services across its network, catering to both citizens and residents.

HMC's management philosophy centers on teamwork, data, technology, continuous performance measurement, and direct patient engagement, contributing to broader strategic goals. Qatarization extends to both administrative and medical/technical positions, with HMC actively supporting the development of Qatari doctors and healthcare professionals across various fields.

Currently, approximately 99% of leadership positions within HMC's sectors are held by Qataris, with medical and nursing sectors being key components of the healthcare system. Al-Suwaidi emphasized that HMC’s strategy focuses on placing the patient at the center of investments in technology, equipment, and healthcare services, particularly for chronic diseases like cancer, cardiovascular conditions, and genetic disorders.

These priorities align with Qatar’s national health strategy and are monitored through defined performance indicators, focusing on service quality, patient experience, and health outcomes. To further improve access to healthcare, HMC aims to clarify that subsequent appointments scheduled several months after an initial consultation may be part of a planned clinical follow-up, rather than an indication of a long waiting list. The corporation is revising appointment messages to make this distinction clearer for patients.