Private Clinics Too Expensive for Many

By Peter Townson
The high prices at private clinics throughout Qatar have caused a number of patients to think twice about visiting their doctors for fear of the exorbitant fees their illness may cost them.
While many people working in the country have health insurance and are exempt from the high charges at such clinics, there are those who do not receive financial assistance for their healthcare and are faced with extremely high rates.
The clinics contacted by Gulf Times charge an initial consultation fee of between QR100 and QR350, and then any additional tests of procedure are added to this fee, meaning that patients are often required to pay hundreds, if not thousands, of riyals if they wish to receive treatment.
While a number of doctors charge QR100 for an initial consultation, any additional examination or consultations cost more and contribute to what many deem unacceptably high fees.
Although prices depend on the tests a doctor decides to carry out following a consultation, the price of a general check-up in a number of clinics varied from between around QR600 up to nearly QR2,000, although these were initial estimates.
“I visited a clinic last week because I was feeling unwell – to see the doctor cost me QR150, and then the tests were another QR350,” said one patient, adding “by the time I had paid for my medication, the whole trip had cost me nearly QR1,000.”
“Now I have to go and see the doctor again and pay yet more money – it’s pretty extortionate,” he said.
Another patient, also lacking medical insurance, explained that he had paid around QR750 for seeing a doctor and receiving medication for a cold and sore throat.
“Without any health insurance it’s just so expensive if you get ill,” he said, “I really cannot afford to keep going to the doctor if it costs this much.”
Patients who receive health insurance through their companies are significantly better off when visiting such clinics, and can expect to pay less than QR100 for their consultation fees, tests and any medication required.
And Hamad Medical Corporation offers significantly reduced charges for patients possessing health cards.
However, not everyone living in Qatar can avail of such assistance and may be faced with prohibitively high charges if they decide to visit one of the numerous private clinics throughout the country.
“It seems strange that in a country that places such emphasis on healthcare and offering its citizens the best services possible, there are people who are faced with these extremely high charges at private clinics,” added another perturbed patient.
“I earn a decent living and I find it really expensive, but there are plenty of people who earn much less than me who must find themselves facing a difficult question of whether to pay for a trip to the doctor and the subsequent fees this entails, or whether to suffer in silence,” he added.