Doha

A section of blue-collar workers in Qatar has expressed concern over the way medical advice is provided during consultations at some clinics.
The labourers complain that they are "not properly informed" by the attending physician about the details of their illness during consultations.
For instance, an Asian expatriate who spoke to Gulf Times Saturday at the Workers Health Centre (WHC), New Industrial Area, lamented that the “quick medical assessment” he received for a previous illness had caused partial hearing loss in his right ear. “I was suffering from hypertension but the medication prescribed to me was for a different illness,” he explained.
The expatriate, who works as a company driver for an events and exhibition organiser, added that health clinics such as the WHC are overwhelmed by throngs of labourers seeking medical attention.
“Due to the number of patients, a doctor would immediately write a prescription after a brief inquiry. Then, the person is instructed to go to the pharmacy to pick up the medicine,” said the driver, who accompanied three other colleagues to the WHC.
He pointed out that they had to leave Al Shahaniya at 3am to get to the WHC before 4am just to get a number from the centre’s queue ticket dispenser and make it to its daily quota of patients.
One of his co-workers was suffering from leg and back pain, while the other was experiencing symptoms of appendicitis. Despite getting a queue ticket, they would return to the WHC for consultation later in the evening, the driver said.
“We have another colleague who sought medical attention for hypertension and diabetes. We’re expecting him to be out by around 11am,” he added.
It was estimated that more than 1,000 people, mostly blue-collar workers, sought health consultations or medical treatment yesterday from the WHC, which is run by Qatar Red Crescent.
Citing Ramadan schedules, one of the staff members there said some of the workers who arrive late are asked to return early the next day. “During regular operating hours, our work here is challenging enough as throngs of labourers flock to the centre for various health and medical needs. But the shortened clinic hours during Ramadan makes our job all the more demanding."
Further, the staff member said the WHC’s Ramadan hours are from 8am to 12noon and then from 8pm to 1am. On regular days, the centre's working hours are from 7am to 2pm for the morning shift and from 2pm to 9pm .