Hamad Hospital starts simple process for repatriation services

Hamad general Hospital (HGH) now offers free of charge services related to repatriation of dead bodies or the burial of the dead in the country.

It has been announced that the Humanitarian Services Office is expected to cut the lengthy procedures for repatriating bodies of people dying in Qatar into few hours. 

This new building is located behind the Mortuary of Hamad General Hospital and close to HR Department of the HMC and Ritaj Hotel and will remain open seven days a week from 7am to 9pm. 

According to this latest made-easy process, The Peninsula reports that the following would be the procedure-

The procedures start from the HMC counter by issuing death certificate and feeding the data of the deceased, then the counter of the Ministry of Public Health verifies the data of the deceased and issues necessary certificates for completing the procedures of various departments under the Ministry of Interior. 

The counter of the Qatar Airways issues the cargo policy for repatriation of the dead body and the tickets for people accompanying the bodies.

Then, the Consular Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinates between the Office and embassies for issuance of ‘No Objection Certificate’ from the embassy concerned in order to repatriate the body outside the country as soon as possible.

The procedure for repatriating body of absconding workers will be similar, if the employer had lodged a complaint with the authority concerned saying the worker had run away.

Otherwise, the sponsor should have to complete the legal requirements under the residency law.

In case of road accidents security requirements are to be fulfilled and a forensic report is needed to start the repatriation procedures. 

If the deceased is a Muslim, funeral prayers can be offered at a mosque adjacent to the Women’s Hospital at HMC.

There is a special room in Al Wakrah hospital for offering funeral prayers for non-Muslims. Prayers can also be offered at a dedicated facility in the Religious Complex premises in Mesaimeer.