Doha
26 Feb 2017
Report by Ashraf Siddiqui

A total strength of 17,000 nurses are employed in Qatar, out of which merely 2 % are Qatari nurses including both male and female. To attract nationals, first national college of nurses is under study and hopefully before end of the year, a decision will take place in this regard, it was told by Dr. Nabila AlMeer, Executive Director of Nursing at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). On the sideline of Second GCC Nurses Conference opened this morning for two days at the Hotel Sheraton Doha.

Dr. Nabila AlMeer told that several attempts are being taken regularly to create awareness and attract local youths towards nursing profession including visits to schools and presentation to higher class students. By opening nursing college, it will attract locals to come forward and opt as career, she said. Objective of having national nursing college is to prepare specialized nursing professionals.

Second GCC Nursing Conference is organised by Qatar this year, first ever GCC Nursing conference was held two years before in Kuwait. Theme of two days Doha conference is 'Evolution of Technology & It's impact on Humane Nursing Care'. Delegates from the region and around the world will be discussing on recent technological breakthroughs and it's impact on nursing profession.

The Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohammed al Kuwari opened the conference.

Dr Wasmiya Dalhem AlKuwari, Executive Director of Nursing Informatics at HMC gave presentation on HMC achievements in the development of Nurses career in presence of latest technology equipment and in improvement of patient care in Qatar.

Presently, there is one Canadian nursing faculty campus in Qatar, 'University of Calgary in Qatar' which offers Bachelor of Nursing Degree as well as a Nursing Diploma. Around 570 students of 30 different nationalities are getting nursing courses.