The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) held the fourth Partners and Family Advisory Group (PFAG) meeting to celebrate three years of the first Advisory Group’s contributions in the strategic cycle 2019-2023, as well as welcoming the second group for the upcoming strategy 2024-2026.

Such periodic meetings confirm PHCC’s interest in refocusing services from partners’ point of view and providing them in a comprehensive, integrated, and person, family, and community-centered approach, thus achieving the goal of continuous improvement of quality of healthcare and the development of services based on partnership and teamwork.

The meeting, held on Thursday, May 11, 2023, was chaired by Dr. Mariam Abdul Malik, Managing Director of PHCC, and attended by PFAG partners alongside Assistants of Managing Director of PHCC, Muslim Mubarak Al Nabit and Dr. Zulaikha Al Wahedi, Executive Director of Quality and Patient Safety Directorate, Dr. Amal Al Ali, Executive Director of Strategy Planning and Health Intelligence Directorate, Dr. Mohammad Ghaith Al Kuwari, Executive Director of Preventive Health Directorate, Dr. Hamad Al Mudahka, Executive Director of Administration and Finance Directorate, Dr. Abdullah Al Mansoori, and other executive directors at PHCC.

During the meeting, the first Advisory Group was praised for its valuable contributions and feedback and their effective participation in PFAG’s meetings since its inception, which played a significant role in enhancing PHCC’s health care services and achieving its strategic goals. With the trend towards the new cycle, the members of the new group were welcomed and encouraged to continue providing valuable insights and feedback to PHCC to further improve its services.

In her opening speech, Dr. Mariam Abdul Malik expressed her thanks and gratitude to all members of the first Advisory Group for their contribution and stressed on the importance of patient and family participation in improving healthcare services. She said: “Our partnership with patients and their families is vital to the success of our healthcare services. We are committed to continuing this partnership and ensuring that their feedback is incorporated into our decision-making processes.”

She also referred to PHCC’s vision, which believes in the concept of person, family, and community-centered care. She said: “We believe that this concept is at the heart of our mission to achieve our vision of being the leaders in improving the health and well-being of the people of Qatar.” She also stated that “in 2019, with the launch of our Corporate Strategic Plan 2019-2023, our experience began with PFAG.”

The meeting also highlighted PHCC’s achievements and improvements during the first cycle. Executive Director of Quality and Patient Safety Directorate, Dr. Amal Al Ali, presented the improvements and changes that have been made based on PFAG inputs. It included many expansionary projects in PHCC services across the country, the introduction of new technology-based services, and the establishment of new health care centers.

The meeting program covered the comments and observations of the First Advisory Group members about their experiences with PFAG and their participation in the various steering committees, whether at the level of directorates or health centers, concerned with primary health care services, including proposals for quality improvement projects in many areas where PHCC excelled.

Dr. Mariam Abdul Malik welcomed the new group once again and considered their joining PFAG team as an affirmation of PHCC’s keenness to continue joint work with individuals, family, and community.

She also ensured PHCC’s commitment to the partnership with the user. “PHCC will remain committed to working with patients and their families to improve and provide distinguished and high-quality health care services that meet their health needs and expectations of all the people of Qatar.”