Qatar started undertaking renal transplant operations in 1986. The number of transplants remained low due to a limited number of donors and the need for HMC to further develop its transplant capabilities.
“The vision of QCOT is to become a regional center of excellence in multiorgan transplantation that exemplifies the vision of HMC through providing the highest standard of safe patient care, research and education,supported by a wide international collaborative network.”
Dr. Yousuf Al Maslamani
Over the last two decades, a rapidly growing population meant that more demand was placed on HMC to expand this service. In addition, there was a significant increase in the number of cases where patients had opted to have their transplant surgery abroad and returned with serious complications. These factors combined to play a key role in the need for a strategic plan to promote organ donation and further develop transplant services within Qatar.
First the plan addressed the problem of lack of organ donation. In order to promote organ donation in Qatar, we developed a unique model that was later on became known as the Doha Donation Accord and gained international recognition as the best representation of international guidelines as well as Qatari laws and regulations.The Accord is a model that subscribes to the legislative, human and religious aspects of donation.
The Doha Donation Accord was a first milestone in the development of Qatar transplant services. On 4 September 2010 in an organ donor honoring ceremony was held at the Supreme Council of Health and Her Highness Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser launched the national campaign for organ donation under the theme 'together we plant hope'. This gave the green light to develop HMC transplant services into a multi-organ transplant center and a national organ donation center that looks after donation services.
Hamad Medical Corporation, under the leadership of our Managing Director and through effective teamwork across all departments, has created and developed a transplant center that is a very attractive option for many patients who previously would have looked abroad for treatment.
The launch of the Qatar Center for Organ Transplantation was on 27 November 2011. During the ceremony the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS/USA) raised their flag in acknow ledgment of the standard of excellence achieved by the Qatar center.
Ten days after the launch of QCOT, HMC announced successful completion of the first liver transplant surgery in Qatar, with an excellent outcome for the recipient.
The vision of QCOT is to become a regional center of excellence in multi-organ transplantation that brings to life HMC’s vision of providing the highest standards of patient care, research and education, supported by a wide international collaborative network.