DEPARTMENT OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY

The hot and dry environment of the country produce a variety of skin ailments among the diverse nationalities living in Qatar. Patients who come to HMC with complaints about allergic eczema, contact dermatitis, psoriasis and scabies make up about 10% of the total annual visits to Corporation outpatient facilities.

The primary goal of the Department is the efficient management and treatment of pediatric dermatology, cosmetology, geriatric dermatology, photo therapy, laser, allergy, skillful knowledge of histopathology and investigative scientific studies. New and modern facilities in cutaneous surgery, laser technique and photo therapy would be acquired. Skills and knowledge of Qatari staff are to be continuously upgraded.

The Dermatology and Venereology started as a section of the Department of Medicine of Hamad General Hospital in 1982. Earlier, it was one of the clinics at the former Rumailah polyclinic serving both the national and expatriate community.

In 1991, Dermatology moved into a well-designed building which was a great improvement over the old facility. The new building provided special treatment rooms, a PUVA room, laboratory, sterilized room and its own pharmacy. The quality of patient care increased overall with the provision of cutaneous surgery and electrolysis.

Dermatology set up a clinic at the OPD Annex in 1993 and later in the same year, became a separate department. In 1994, the department became a training center for the Arab Board of Medical Specializations following the successful hosting of the 2nd GCC Dermatology and Venereology Conference.

Departmental activities were reorganized into sections headed by a senior doctor with a special interest in the field. New sections created were surgery, sexually transmitted diseases and infertility, dermatopathology, microbiology and photo therapy.

Equipment and Special Care facilities:

Photo chemotherapy equipment assembled at Hamad General Hospital and cryotherapy apparatus were introduced in the clinic in 1986. A personal computer was acquired to manage the clinic appointment system and document patient information. Specialized equipment such as a hand torque machine for dermabrasion, disposable hyfercator needle, surgical face shield and defribillator were also acquired. CO2 laser treatment was introduced in the middle of 1993. The acquisition of new computerized photo therapy considerably lightened the patient load. Skin peeling and esthetic hair removal were introduced. Hair transplant and PUVA treatment for skin problems are now actively practiced at the Department.

Education and Training:

Inservice education of dermatologists continue to be developed with several guest lecturers from other countries sharing their experience. The department also presented its own lectures outside in the community. In 1988, the Department won the Scholastic Achievement Award for an article published in an international scientific journal. More scientific articles continue to be published in journals . HMC dermatologists ably represented the Corporation in the GCC Dermatology and Venereology Conference hosted by Bahrain and a year later by Dubai, UAE.  Three Qatari residents passed the Arab Board of Dermatology certification exams in 1996 and are now diplomates.

The Department took over publication of the Gulf Journal of Dermatology and Venereology with the Chairman as editor.

Statistics

The patient load continued to increase with 77,985 visits recorded in 1997. This represents an 64.4% increase over the total visits of 47,414 recorded in 1984.

Table: Growth in Patient Visits 1984-1996