Minister opens National Obesity Treatment Center

Minister of Public Health H E Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari  officially inaugurated Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) National Obesity Treatment Center, which sits under the auspices of the Qatar Metabolic Institute (QMI).
Commenting on the significance of the new clinic, the minister highlighted that its opening marked an important milestone in the journey towards fighting obesity in Qatar.
“The new National Obesity Center reinforces our commitment as a country to providing effective and compassionate care for the prevention of weight-related diseases as outlined in the National Health Strategy. This is especially important in Qatar, where we are faced with some of the highest levels of metabolic complications resulting from obesity and diabetes,” the minister said.
Located in building 311 at Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City, the National Obesity Treatment Center will deliver holistic, multidisciplinary care for patients in need of medical management, lifestyle modifications, bariatric and endoscopic procedures.
Clinics previously located at other facilities will now operate together within the National Obesity Treatment Center to provide a unique multidisciplinary service that will facilitate and integrate the care of patients.
Dr Monica Skarulis Young, Director of the National Obesity Treatment Center said, “Our centralized location will allow our multidisciplinary teams of bariatric physicians, surgeons, endocrinologists, dietitians, physiotherapists and nurses to coordinate care and develop personalised plans for each patient seeking a healthier weight.”
Professor Abdul-Badi Abou-Samra, Director of QMI and Chairman of Internal Medicine at HMC, added that the goal of the newly opened center is to ensure the program has a long-term positive effect on a patient’s lifestyle. Each personalized program includes a component of education about healthier eating and incorporating daily physical activity goals into one’s lifestyle.  
Speaking about QMI’s position under the Academic Health System, Professor Abou-Samra added: “QMI is proud to introduce the new National Obesity Treatment Center. The Center will provide a unique synergy of surgical and medical services within HMC while enabling collaboration with physicians from Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar, our esteemed academic partners.”
Dr Abdulla Al Ansari, Chairman of Surgery and Acting Chief Medical Officer, also expressed his enthusiasm about the service, adding: “This is an excellent opportunity to integrate the combined expertise of surgeons and physicians in a patient-centered partnership where each and every one of our patients is managed individually depending on his or her unique health needs and personal preferences.” The QMI building will also house the HMC Tobacco Control Center and the Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolic Research Unit.