HMC to deploy over 1,100 staff, 50 clinics at AFC Asian Cup

HMC Qatar

Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) will be deploying a robust medical infrastructure to provide immediate medical attention and critical care services to spectators, fans and participants throughout the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, which will see Qatar host 24 teams from January 12 to February 10.

HMC’s Ambulance Service has meticulously planned and increased its resources for the highly anticipated tournament and is fully prepared and ready to deliver swift and effective responses to any medical emergencies that may arise during the month-long competition.

A team of 1,150 skilled medical professionals will be deployed in various roles including operations officers, field supervisors, ambulance communications officers, critical care paramedics, paramedics, doctors and nurses.

This dedicated workforce will cover all nine stadiums hosting the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, ensuring that medical assistance is readily available during every match.

50 medical clinics will be distributed throughout the tournament stadiums and operational during the matches. Each stadium will also feature dedicated paramedics in the stands and concourse areas, supported by medical golf carts for any patients requiring transferring to the medical clinics. To ensure maximum safety, major incident medical trucks will also be present during each match.

These units contain all the equipment required to handle such a situation. 

Saleh Nasser R A Al Meqareh, Assistant Executive Director for Event and Emergency Planning at HMC, expressed the organisation’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of medical care during the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023. “As the host nation for this prestigious sporting event, Qatar aims to provide a safe and secure environment for all participants and fans. HMC is an integral part of this commitment, dedicated to ensuring rapid and efficient emergency medical support at all venues. Our priority is to deliver immediate, expert care to anyone requiring medical attention during the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023.”

He said HMC has conducted comprehensive training sessions, simulated drills, stadium visits and upgraded its medical equipment to ensure its medical teams are fully prepared for any situation.

Established in 2020, the National Healthcare Incident Command Center (NHICC) is ready to lead the coordination of the Qatar healthcare system’s response to a major incident at any time, including during the AFC Asian Cup.

The NHICC coordinates operations of key healthcare providers in Qatar, including HMC, Primary Health Care Corporation and Sidra Medicine, in addition to acting as the healthcare system focal point for the Ministry of Public Health and other government agencies.

A critical component of the management of planning and logistics for HMC’s services during major events is the Workforce Hub. This centralised location operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout competitions and facilitates the management and administration of staff, hosts daily briefings and the distribution of equipment among many other tasks.

With previous major sporting events including the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2023 having taken place in Qatar, lessons, knowledge and experience have been garnered and fine-tuned by HMC to deliver outstanding support and medical care so all participants and attendees can have a safe and healthy AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023.