In 2025, Qatar’s healthcare sector experienced significant policy reforms, infrastructure expansion, and record service demand. The government allocated QAR 22 billion (~US$6 billion) to healthcare, representing about 10.5% of total spending, and overall health expenditure is projected to reach around US$12.8–12.9 billion by 2029 (CAGR ~13–14%). Clinics and hospitals navigated new regulations, while patient volumes and advanced treatments continued rising.

Below, we summarize the year’s policy updates, infrastructure developments, performance data, research milestones, and operational lessons, with actionable insights for healthcare providers in Qatar.

Regulatory & Licensing Updates

Updated Licensing Rules

In mid-2025, the Ministry of Public Health (via the Department of Healthcare Professions) issued circulars revising work-experience and exam requirements for health practitioners. Licensed general practitioners (GPs) are now required to complete a 1-year internship in Qatar, while pharmacy, dental, and nursing graduates remain exempt under specified categories. Several older circulars were annulled and consolidated under the new framework, directly affecting licensing timelines and HR planning.

Electronic Credential Verification (PSV)

Starting 1 August 2025, all certificates of good standing must be submitted through the electronic Primary Source Verification (PSV) system. Email or mail submissions are no longer accepted. Clinics are advised to update HR onboarding processes to ensure compliance and avoid licensing delays.

Health Insurance Mandates

Qatar’s Law No.22/2021, effective May 2022, requires basic health insurance for all expatriates and visitors. Sponsors must enroll non-Qatari residents through MOPH-approved insurers, and proof of coverage is required for residence visas. Clinics should anticipate ongoing changes in billing, referrals, and insurer coordination as the national health insurance framework continues phased implementation, with further expansions under policy discussion.

National ID Usage for Citizens

As of 12 September 2025, Qatari nationals can use their national ID card instead of a separate health card when accessing public healthcare facilities. Expatriates and visitors continue to use health cards under existing regulations. Clinics should update patient registration protocols accordingly.

Healthcare Infrastructure & Facilities

Public–Private Partnership (PPP) Hospitals

Twelve major PPP hospitals, either operational or under construction, are expected to add approximately 1,200 beds by the mid-2020s. Leveraging private-sector expertise, these projects are designed to expand national capacity and complement Qatar’s long-term healthcare infrastructure plans under Vision 2030.

New Hospitals and Expansions

• Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has continued expanding and upgrading its network.
• Aisha Bint Hamad Al-Attiyah Hospital is operational and has contributed additional inpatient and specialty capacity to the public system.
• Hamad General Hospital is undergoing a multi-year modernization program that began in 2025. Phase 1 focuses on renovating the two inpatient towers and upgrading core infrastructure while maintaining more than 370 operational beds. The overall redevelopment is planned as an approximately three-year project, with completion expected around 2028.

Specialized Clinics and Telemedicine

• Sidra Medicine opened a dedicated Hematology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) ward in June 2025, enabling advanced pediatric oncology and transplant services within Qatar.
• Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) has expanded teleconsultation services across its health centers through the Nar’aakom digital platform, supporting remote consultations, referrals, and follow-up care. These initiatives form part of PHCC’s broader digital health strategy to improve access, reduce wait times, and strengthen continuity of care.

Industry Performance & Data Trends

Rising Patient Volumes

Demand for healthcare services continued to surge:

• HMC H1 2025: ~1.50 million outpatient visits (up from 1.43M in H1 2024)
• Emergency visits: 761,303 (system-wide, reflecting overall surge in demand)
• Surgeries: 37,051 (annual figure) | Births: 27,412 (annual figure)

Beds and Workforce

• Total hospital beds reached approximately 5,385, with about 72% in government hospitals.
• The licensed healthcare workforce exceeded 53,900 professionals in 2024, marking an 8.7% increase from 2023, supporting the expanding patient volumes and services.

Budget and Investment

• The 2025 budget allocated QAR 22 billion (~US$6 billion) to healthcare, with overall expenditure projected to exceed US$12.9 billion by 2029. Growth is driven by chronic disease prevalence, population aging, and medical tourism initiatives.

Patient-Centric Trends

• Telehealth satisfaction remains high: surveys indicate that 83% of patients found virtual consultations easy to use, and 80% felt their concerns were addressed remotely.
• Preventive care improved, with national immunization rates exceeding 95%, and a Type 1 Diabetes screening program is underway.

Notable Research & Innovation Highlights

Sidra Medicine Milestones

• First pediatric allogeneic stem cell transplant performed in Dec 2025.
• Advanced PKU therapy (sepiapterin) launched, making Sidra the first in the Middle East to provide this treatment.
• Gene Therapy Center opened in Jan 2025 for genomic and precision medicine initiatives.

Precision Medicine & Genomics

• The 2025 Precision Medicine & Future Genomics (PMFG) Summit drew ~1,000 experts from 38 countries.
• Sidra partnered with Arbor Biotechnologies to develop Qatar’s first CRISPR platform for rare diseases, positioning the country as a regional genomics hub.

Clinical Trials Infrastructure

• Sidra’s Clinical Trials Unit supports interventional and non-interventional studies, accelerating access to novel treatments.
• HMC partnered with AbbVie to train staff under the CRISP clinical research program.

Global Research Integration

• Qatar hosts multiple WHO Collaborating Centers, including programs in healthy ageing, trauma care, and epidemiology, reflecting a growing culture of evidence-based practice and innovation.

Operational Lessons & Actionable Takeaways

Address Workforce Gaps

• Physician density: 1.6 per 1,000 | Nurse density: 4.7 per 1,000
• 90% expatriate workforce → retention and Qatarization planning are critical

Streamline Licensing & Registrations

• Average new license processing: ~75 days
• Action: prepare PSV reports in advance, comply with DHP circulars, use National ID system for citizens

Insurance & Revenue Management

• Ensure all non-Qatari patients are covered and coordinate with approved insurers
• Plan for ongoing public insurance policy changes under discussion for 2026 to avoid billing delays

Leverage Public–Private Partnerships

• HMC refers patients to private hospitals to reduce wait times
• Small clinics can explore similar affiliations for specialty services or capacity sharing

Embrace Digital Health

• High patient satisfaction with telemedicine
• Action: expand teleconsultations, integrate AI diagnostics, and update EMR connectivity (e.g., Nar’aakom platform)

Conclusion & 2026 Outlook

2025 was transformative for Qatar’s healthcare: policy reforms, infrastructure growth, and innovation milestones reshaped clinical operations. Clinics and hospitals should prepare for nationwide public insurance rollout in 2026, adopt digital health solutions, and address workforce challenges.

Raf Healthcare Consultancy continues to monitor these developments and advises healthcare providers on navigating the evolving environment. Staying informed and proactive ensures clinics can thrive under new regulations while contributing to Qatar’s vision of a world-class, patient-centered healthcare system.

Raf is a leading healthcare consultancy company in Qatar providing end-to-end solutions addressing the unique needs of clinics, medical facilities and corporates.