Healthcare in Qatar

Qatar has undergone rapid demographic growth over the past two decades, with its population increasing from approximately 0.75 million to over 2.9 million. Expatriate workers account for around 88% of the population, and Qatari citizens constitute the remaining 12%. ^{Reference Latoo, Wadoo, Iqbal, Chandrappa, Tulley and Alabdulla2} The population is predominantly male, comprising approximately 72% of the total population. Digital access is near universal, with over 95% of the population having access to digital devices and internet services.

Qatar’s healthcare system is predominantly state funded, delivering primary, secondary and tertiary care either free of charge or at minimal cost. ^{Reference Saeed, Wadoo, Ouanes, Haque, Gilstrap and Ghuloum3} The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) provides comprehensive primary care services through a nationwide network of health centres. ^{Reference Wadoo, Ahmed, Reagu, Al Abdulla and Al Abdulla4} In collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), PHCC has integrated mental health services into primary care for the management of common mental disorders, supported by clear referral pathways to specialist services and the provision of specialist mental health input in selected primary care settings. ^{Reference Wadoo, Ouanes, Ahmed, Saeid, AlAbdulla and AlAbdulla5} HMC oversees secondary and tertiary care, including specialist mental health services. This integrated healthcare model provides the infrastructure to support both conventional face-to-face care and telemental health services, enabling the delivery of psychiatric, psychological and allied digital interventions nationwide. The Qatar National Vision 2030 outlines the strategic framework for national development, and the State of Qatar has enacted policies and legislation addressing mental health and substance use in line with international standards. ^{Reference Wadoo, Althani, Latoo and Alabdulla6,Reference Althani, Alabdulla, Latoo and Wadoo7}

Implementation of telepsychiatry services

The COVID-19 pandemic represented a defining moment for the rapid uptake and implementation of telemental health services in Qatar. ^{Reference Karim, Wadoo, Reagu, Amro and Abdulla8} In response to emerging mental health needs and infection control requirements, Qatar introduced telemental health across out-patient clinics, established a national mental health helpline, and ensured timely psychiatric support for hospitals and quarantine facilities through remote service delivery. The National Mental Health Helpline (NMHH), launched in April 2020 through collaboration between HMC mental health services and the Ministry of Public Health, was designed to provide accessible, high-quality, multidisciplinary mental healthcare. The helpline offered a stepped range of services, from basic psychological support and structured interventions to comprehensive psychiatric assessment and management. The NMHH has continued beyond the pandemic period, and telepsychiatry is now routinely delivered through a hybrid model within out-patient clinics, combining remote and in-person consultations. Although telepsychiatry was initially introduced to reduce infection risk during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has had a sustained positive impact on access to care. Psychiatric services across subspecialties, including general adult, child and adolescent, psychogeriatric, intellectual disability and women’s mental health, including perinatal care, have expanded and increasingly offer hybrid models of care. Studies have demonstrated that telepsychiatry can improve access to care and reduce non-attendance rates. In Qatar, an evaluation of out-patient services compared no-show rates before the implementation of telemental health with periods in which hybrid models of care were offered across psychiatric services, including child and adolescent mental health, general adult, psychogeriatric, forensic and intellectual disability services, as well as psychological services for both child and adolescent and general adult populations. Overall, no-show rates declined significantly following the introduction of telepsychiatry and telepsychology. ^{Reference Wadoo, Khan, Khan, Latoo, Chandra and Iqbal9,Reference Wadoo, Khan, Latoo, Saeed Khan, Chandra and Iqbal10} These findings support telepsychiatry as a feasible and effective strategy for improving access to mental healthcare.

Telehealth integration in child and adolescent mental health services

Telemental health has become an increasingly integral component of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) at HMC in Qatar, improving access to care for young people and their families. It addresses specific barriers common in this population, including school attendance, examination schedules and other practical constraints that can limit engagement with services. Evidence from Qatar indicates that the introduction of telepsychiatry in psychiatric out-patient clinics was associated with a reduction in missed appointments overall. However, this improvement was less pronounced within CAMHS psychology services, suggesting that engagement with telemental health may vary according to factors such as the child’s age, clinical presentation and the type of intervention provided. ^{Reference Wadoo, Khan, Khan, Latoo, Chandra and Iqbal9,Reference Wadoo, Khan, Latoo, Saeed Khan, Chandra and Iqbal10} Beyond psychiatric consultations, telehealth has facilitated the delivery of allied health services within CAMHS, including occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. An open, prospective cohort study conducted within CAMHS evaluated tele-occupational therapy for children aged 7–15 years with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The study demonstrated statistically significant reductions in overall ADHD symptom severity and improvements in functional performance following intervention. Parental satisfaction was high, with most parents reporting that the service was beneficial for their child and comfortable to use, supporting the feasibility and acceptability of tele-occupational therapy as part of multidisciplinary care for children with ADHD. ^{Reference Mohanam, Khoodoruth, Saini and Al-Nuaimi11} Similarly, a service evaluation of speech and language therapy provision within HMC CAMHS documented a rapid transition to telephone- and video-based consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic. This transition was positively received, with the majority of parents reporting that the sessions were helpful. ^{Reference Amro, Kotkot, Albobali, Chandra and Khan12} Notably, the use of virtual consultations remained higher than pre-pandemic levels, with video-based sessions increasing two-fold. Approximately 84% of parents reported that their expectations were met, more than two-thirds perceived virtual sessions to be as effective as face-to-face therapy, and three-quarters indicated a preference for remote consultations rather than appointment cancellation. ^{Reference Amro, Kotkot, Albobali, Chandra and Khan12} Collectively, these findings highlight the expanding and positive role of telepsychiatry and allied digital interventions within CAMHS in Qatar, supporting their continued integration into routine clinical practice.

Regulatory framework and policy

Telemental health, including telepsychiatry, in Qatar operates within the national telemedicine framework governed by the Ministry of Public Health. In 2024, the Department of Healthcare Professions issued Circular No. DHP/2024, which formally defines telemedicine and outlines the regulatory requirements for telemedicine practice in Qatar. Under this framework, telemedicine services, including remote consultations, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care, must be delivered by healthcare practitioners licensed to practise in Qatar, thereby ensuring patient safety and adherence to professional standards. The policy applies to all healthcare facilities and practitioners providing telemedicine services within the country and explicitly excludes telemedicine delivered from outside Qatar. Although telepsychiatry-specific regulations continue to evolve, this circular establishes a foundational governance structure for the provision of remote mental healthcare in Qatar.

Challenges and limitations

Despite the clear advantages of telemental health, we encountered several challenges during its implementation in Qatar, similar to those reported globally. ^{Reference Mahmoud, Vogt, Sers, Fattal and Ballout13} Technical issues, including intermittent internet connectivity, platform instability and limitations of digital devices, occasionally affected the quality of remote consultations and constrained comprehensive clinical assessment. Engagement with remote services also varied across populations; younger children, individuals with complex needs and those less familiar with digital technology sometimes found virtual sessions less effective. Clinician-related barriers included variable training in remote assessment techniques and adaptation of therapeutic approaches to virtual formats.

Practical challenges also arose, such as coordinating multidisciplinary care remotely and managing crises or emergency situations when the patient was not physically present. Privacy and confidentiality considerations were particularly relevant in cultural contexts where family presence or shared living spaces could affect patients’ comfort in disclosing sensitive information during virtual sessions. Recognising and addressing these challenges was essential to ensure equitable and effective delivery of telemental healthcare, consistent with experiences reported in other countries.

International perspective

Qatar’s experience seems consistent with trends in other high-income countries, where the prompt adoption of telepsychiatry during the COVID-19 pandemic and hybrid care models thereafter have been widely reported. ^{Reference Appleton, Williams, Vera San Juan, Needle, Schlief and Jordan14} Similarities include improved access, reduced outpatient no-show rates and sustained use beyond the pandemic. Notably, Qatar has achieved rapid integration of allied health digital interventions, such as tele-occupational therapy and tele-speech services within CAMHS, which is less commonly reported elsewhere. These experiences offer valuable lessons for global telemental health implementation, highlighting both opportunities and practical considerations for remote mental healthcare in diverse healthcare systems.

Future direction of telemental health in Qatar

Telemental health in Qatar is positioned for ongoing development as part of the broader expansion of digital healthcare within the national system. Emerging evidence suggests that integrating telehealth into mental healthcare has improved access and continuity of care, as reflected by reductions in out-patient no-show rates following the introduction of remote psychiatry services, indicating sustained value beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Future development of telemental health in Qatar will require investment in digital infrastructure, systematic training for clinicians in remote practice, and the creation of telepsychiatry-specific policies, including clinical standards, emergency care protocols and pathways for service integration. Addressing gaps in digital access, workforce capacity and care for vulnerable populations will be essential to ensure that remote mental healthcare remains safe, effective and equitable. Overall, Qatar’s experience illustrates the potential of telemental health to strengthen mental healthcare delivery and serves as a model for other countries seeking to expand digital mental health services.