The largest Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in the GCC countries, the 111-cot NICU at Hamad Medical Corporation’s Women’s Hospital continues to save the lives of hundreds of high-risk or critically ill newborns in Qatar.

“Since our launch in 1975, our NICU has expanded to become the largest in the GCC region,” said Dr Hilal al-Rifai, Women’s Hospital medical director and director of its Neonatal/Perinatal Services.
On average, the unit admits almost 2,000 babies per year for serious medical concerns caused by premature birth, respiratory distress, cardiac disease, congenital anomalies, multi-system organ failure and other life threatening issues.
Along with offering the latest state-of-the-art medical equipment, the recently expanded NICU is staffed by a group of highly specialised and experienced staff. This includes 50 physicians, over 300 nurses and a multidisciplinary team made up of respiratory therapists, social workers, a clinical pharmacist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, lactation consultant, speech therapist and two NICU special educators.
"We take great pride in our ability to provide the highest international standard of care for the many neonates admitted and are continuously working on enhancing our patient and family-centered care experience.”
“The expanded facility empowers us to provide an ever higher level of intensive care to our most vulnerable babies and as a result increases our successful outcomes for patients that fall into this high risk category,” said Dr al-Rifai, adding that the expansion project inaugurated in late 2015 was backed by the Social and Sports Activities Support Fund.
“Providing the specialised care for each of our patients and ensuring that every member of the clinical team knows what to do, and when, is a top priority in the NICU. This multidisciplinary approach can mean the difference between life and death for our newly born patients,” said Flonor Reyes Vista, head nurse of the NICU and an employee at Women’s Hospital since its opening.
In addition to this expansion, Women’s Hospital introduced a neonatal developmental care model that has changed the current neonatal philosophy into an environment that is focused on understanding the individualised needs of patients and their families. This model of care focuses on optimising both short and long term physical, mental and emotional growth and supports positive health outcomes for neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care units across HMC.
“It is an exciting time in the NICU. Not only has our environment changed for the better, but our concept of care and approaches are evolving too," added Dr al-Rifai.