The Cabinet on Wednesday approved recommendations by the Ministry of Environment that seek to enhance waste management capacity in the country through the establishment of facilities for the treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous and medical waste.

Experts had earlier stressed the need for more waste management facilities in Qatar to process hazardous materials disposed of by hospitals and industries, including energy-related facilities.

The recommendations pertain to issues such as the treatment and disposal of hazardous industrial waste at the Hazardous Waste Treatment Centre in Mesaieed, allowing the establishment of facilities to burn such waste in the treatment area under the supervision of Qatar Petroleum (QP) and the establishment of projects for the treatment and recycling of medical waste in the area, the official Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.

The regular weekly session of the Cabinet was presided over by HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani at the Emiri Diwan on Wednesday.

At the meeting, the Cabinet was briefed on proposals on how to improve the traffic situation in Doha and decided to refer them to specialised bodies to explore the possibility of their implementation, said HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud.

The proposals were made by a panel set up by the Cabinet to study a report of the National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC) on traffic congestion.

The NTSC had prepared the report after studying recommendations made by the Advisory Council on the issue.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet approved a proposal to bring the Qatar Scouts and Guides Association (QSGA) under the Supreme Education Council. At present, the association functions under the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage.

The QSGA, the national scouting and guiding organisation of Qatar, aims to prepare and educate youngsters on how to become good citizens.

The Cabinet also gave its nod to the hosting of the third High-Level Meeting of the Middle East Aviation Safety Summit, to be held in Doha from March 7 to 9, 2016, as well as a draft agreement on co-operation and news exchange between QNA and the Mexican News agency.

Further, the Cabinet reviewed a letter by HE the Minister of Environment on the 31st High-Level Preparatory Meeting of the Parties to the Conference of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change and took the appropriate decision.

Health insurance amendments approved


The Cabinet on Wednesday approved proposals by the Supreme Council of Health on amending some provisions of Law No 7 of 2013 on health insurance.

The amendments annul the state-owned National Health Insurance Company (Seha) and all matters related to its responsibilities on the management of the system.

It also allows private companies to provide insurance services of all types to citizens and others.

The government recently decided to suspend the health insurance service provided through Seha and entrust it with private insurance companies.

Last week, the Cabinet reviewed the system at its regular weekly meeting, where it was decided to rely on private companies with experience in the field to provide health insurance services.