Private and public healthcare facilities in Qatar must install CCTV surveillance cameras or they may face losing their licence to operate, according to a warning in a circular issued by the Gulf state’s Supreme Council of Health (SCH), it was reported.
The operators are required to install the security devices under Law No.9 of 2011, but the circular issued by the SCH identified those that are required to install the cameras and those who are exempted, according to a report by The Peninsula newspaper.
Those exempt include pharmacies, optical, herbal, cosmetic shops, medical equipments shops, medical research centres, nursing services agencies, first aid units inside schools and companies including Qatar Petroleum.
However, facilities required to install a surveillance system include general medical, dental and specialist complexes, hospitals, pharmacies situated inside medical complexes, hospital laboratories, medical analysis labs, medicine stores and factories, food supplementary stores, medical centres for people with special needs and health and beauty, physiotherapy and social rehabilitation facilities.
All healthcare facilities mentioned on the SCH memo must refer to the Security Systems Department at the Ministry of Interior for technical specifications and approval prior to installing the surveillance cameras. The law was issued three years ago in order to prevent any violent attacks from patients towards employees and doctors.
The Peninsula report said the SCH has warned it will take “stern action” if the facilities covered by the law do not comply with the requirements.
The SCH has in the past threatened to halt the re-licensing of facilities that have not complied, the Doha News website said.
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