Recent experiences by residents wanting to renew their health cards have shown that the whole process has not improved.
A hospital staff, who spoke with Gulf Times on condition of anonymity, said that in order to obtain a new health card, applicants must still first visit the health centre nearest to their accommodation to open a file.
After that the applicants have to head to Hamad Hospital’s Out-patient Department with a file number to conclude the registration.
Officials at the Hamad Hospital’s health card office, which opens from 8am to 1pm, were not available for comment when Gulf Times visited the office yesterday.
Initially, the registration procedure was processed and concluded at the health centres.
To obtain a health card, applicants have to submit a completed application form, photocopies of their passports and residence permits, two 4cm x 3cm photographs and the annual fee of QR100.
The health card is ready usually for collection within two weeks. An applicant can start availing of the facilities immediately after the application is accepted; the receipt of payment of the annual fee can be used as a document for reference until the card is issued.
Residents were also able to renew their health cards at the Qatar General Post Office through the e-Government service (Hukoomi) and the facility was also available online.
When Hukoomi started offering e-Government services, which included subscription and renewal of health cards online, it was widely welcomed by the residents as it helped them avoid bureaucratic red tape.
They also were able to have the card delivered to their office by paying QR11 in addition to the annual fee of QR100.
Not any more.
“I have been trying to renew my health card for a couple of days now to no avail as I was told to go to Hamad Hospital by the health centre where I initially registered and used to renew the card each year,” an expatriate lamented.
Another expatriate said he was unable to renew his card via the e-Government portal.
Earlier this year, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) announced that expired health cards would not be accepted for booking appointments with physicians in the outpatient department while all outpatients with expired health cards were urged to seek prompt renewal at their healthcare centres or at health card renewal desks in any HMC hospital.
Valid health cards are also required for collecting prescriptions from the HMC pharmacy.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Noimot Olayiwola
Quelle/Source: Gulf Times, 16.09.2009
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