New policy regulating HOME NURSING SERVICES

By Sarah Palmer

The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) announced in June 2023 a new policy to regulate home nursing services. The job title of ‘home nurse’ has been introduced, as have the registration and licensing standards within the nursing categories organised by the Ministry’s Healthcare Professions Department.

The policy is part of MoPH efforts to regulate and legalise the work of all health practitioners in Qatar, as per policies and regulations adopted by nursing authorities worldwide, like the American Nurses Association (ANA).

Nursing staff who are sponsored by the patient or his family or those who do not work for any of the licensed health facilities can now apply for registration and licensing through MoPH, once certificates, work experience, and academic qualifications have been verified. Nurses will also need to pass the Ministry’s licensing examination.

The applicant must have an intermediate certificate in nursing, such as Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), or a diploma from a technical secondary nursing school or other nationally recognised study programme. The license can also be granted to nursing cadres who have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and demonstrate a commitment to the field of work. Nurses will be allowed to complete Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits – 80 credits will be required for license renewal.

The policy helps to clarify the scope of the home nurse’s duties, namely adherence to the instructions of the patient’s physician(s) and following the treatment plan, and compliance with laws, policies and directives issued by the Ministry of Public Health.

There has been an increase in the demand for home nursing services due to the focus on wellness in society, the introduction of new concepts such as long-term and home care, and the rise in the average age of the country’s population. Qatar’s health sector provides many homecare services for the elderly. Hamad Medical Corporation provides home visits to conduct clinical examinations and review patient care plans, through multi-disciplinary care teams, including doctors, nurses, and patient care assistants.

Around 2,000 elderly patients benefit from these home visits, which aim to enhance and improve the quality of life for elderly patients by helping them to improve mobility and live as independently as possible. For more information, visit moph.gov.qa, hamad.qa m