Professor Abdul-Badi Abou-Samra, co-chair of the National Diabetes Committee and director of the Qatar Metabolic Institute at Hamad Medical Corporation, unveiled details of Qatar’s new action plan during a diabetes care symposium at the University of Doha for Science and Technology.
“The Action Plan aims to prevent and effectively manage diabetes, obesity, and modifiable risk factors by empowering the public, patients, and healthcare professionals to tackle these challenges,” said Prof. Abou-Samra.
Spanning 2024 to 2030, the Action Plan encompasses 58 projects targeting diabetes and obesity prevention and management. These include ongoing initiatives such as health screenings, primary care enhancements, and updated treatment guidelines, along with newly proposed programs. Each project is assigned to specific institutions for structured implementation, with the National Diabetes Committee overseeing progress to ensure alignment with Qatar’s health priorities.
One key objective is to reduce obesity prevalence among Qataris from 39.7% to align with non-Qatari levels of 32.2%. This will be achieved through proactive management and comprehensive public health interventions targeting all age groups.
The plan also seeks to stabilize diabetes prevalence by improving management strategies, introducing advanced treatments, and expanding tools for blood glucose monitoring. A focus on reducing complications from Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes will be supported by initiatives such as the Qatar Genome Project for Precision Medicine.
In addition, the plan addresses modifiable risk factors, aiming to reduce the proportion of adults with three or more risk factors from 37% to 30%. This will be achieved through expanded national screenings, strengthened prevention programs, and empowering primary care to reach 75% of the targeted population.
“As we move toward implementing the plan, our strategy focuses on addressing the root causes of obesity and diabetes,” said Prof. Abou-Samra. “We aim to empower individuals, families, and communities with the knowledge and tools needed to make healthier choices, while enhancing preventive care and enabling primary care services closer to home.”
The action plan was developed over six months, involving two consultation workshops, six drafts, and reviews by 50 subject matter experts and international consultants. The process also included multidisciplinary committee meetings and engagement with eight key committees and departments.
