Held in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), and Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), the event was sponsored by QLife Pharma, Ebn Sina Medical, International Medical Company (Kulud), and Qatar Pharma.

The event was attended by 35 speakers, 15 facilitators, and 624 participants from QRCS and other primary health care providers in Qatar.

As defined by MOPH’s Department of Healthcare Professions (DHP) – Accreditation Section, this conference is a Category 1 – Accredited Group Learning Activity, with an approved total of 20 continuing professional development (CPD) hours.

The opening ceremony was attended by HE Dr. Ahmed bin Hamad Al-Mohannadi, Member of the Shura Council, HE Abdullah Ibrahim Al-Emadi, Assistant Undersecretary for Common Services Affairs at MOPH, HE Sheikh Dr. Mohamed bin Hamad Al Thani, Director of Public Health Department at MOPH, Ibrahim Abdullah Al-Dehaimi, General Manager of the Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities (RACA), Sultan bin Hassan Al-Jamali, Secretary-General of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), Prof. Farid Saleh, Acting Dean of College of Health Sciences at the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST), and Faisal Rashid Al-Fehaida, CEO’s Assistant for Programs and Community Development Sector at Qatar Charity.

Senior officials of QRCS were also present, including Eng. Ibrahim Hashim Al-Sada, Vice-President; Dr. Mohamed Johar Al-Mohamed, board member; Ibrahim Abdullah Al-Abdullah, board member; Ahmed Abdul-Rahman Al-Mulla, board member; Dr. Abdul-Salam Ali Al-Qahtani, board member, Director-General of Medical Affairs Division, and Chairman of the Conference; Faisal Mohamed Al-Emadi, Secretary-General, Hussein Aman Al-Ali, Director of Volunteering and Local Development Division, Mohamed Ahmed Al-Bishri, Director of Communication and Fundraising Division, Dr. Hassan Ali Qassim, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), and Mohamed Rashid Al-Marri, Director of Communication and Public Relations.

In his recorded opening speech, Yousef bin Ali Al-Khater, President of QRCS, said, “Almost one year ago, we met at the 1st QRCS Annual Scientific Conference. Back then, we were just taking our first steps on this path. Today, we meet again on more solid ground, with better experience and a clearer vision. The conference proved itself among doctors and specialists as an innovative platform for learning, development, and exchange of experience”.

Mr. Al-Khater emphasized QRCS’s auxiliary role in supporting the Qatari health care system, undertaking several national, social, and developmental responsibilities, such as operating Workers’ Health Centers, EMS ambulance fleet, training and awareness-raising events by the Training and Development Center, contribution to the national COVID-19 control efforts, and supporting the health authorities in the medical coverage of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. He also referred to QRCS’s large-scale international health care outreach in many conflict and poor zones.

Dr. Al-Qahtani stated, “Over three days, hundreds of participants from various medical professions will be attending successive sessions/lectures on the different components of the digestive system, moderated by a group of experts and consultants in the field. They will be sharing experience and discussing peer-reviewed and evidence-based scientific research findings, helping to enrich knowledge, develop skills, and improve clinical practice. Special focus will be on the use of modern technologies in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and their complications. This will help raise the quality of services, enhance patient safety, and achieve better achievement indicators, towards the ultimate goal of improving community health at large”.

The conference chairman greatly thanked the partners, sponsors, and supporting companies that made the conference happen, hailing the role of the organizing committee, headed by Dr. Ghanem Salman Al-Sulaiti, and the scientific committee, headed by Dr. Hassan Ali Qassim.

The agenda involved two interactive pre-conference workshops on “Management of Dyspepsia in Primary Health Care Setting” and “Approach to Abnormal Liver Function”.

Other topics discussed during the conference included Qatar National Health Strategy 2024-2030, National Colon Cancer Early Detecting Program, prevalence of hepatitis among migrant workers in Qatar, gastrointestinal disorders in QRCS WHCs, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), H. Pylori, viral hepatitis, MASH, jaundice, lower GI bleeding, Peptic Ulcer Disease, dysphagia, acute pancreatitis, gallstones, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colon cancer, anorectal disorders, diarrhea, acute abdominal pain, chronic constipation, and bloating.​