Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Al-Ahli Hospital
Doha, Qatar: Chairman of Medicare Group Sheikh Abdullah bin Thani Al Thani, together with members of the Board of Directors, inaugurated the upgraded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Al-Ahli Hospital, in the presence of the hospital’s executive management.
The development underscores the hospital’s commitment to strengthening its specialist services through investment in clinical capabilities, medical equipment and a care environment designed around the needs of newborns and their families.
Chairman of Medicare Group Sheikh Abdullah bin Thani Al Thani inaugurates the upgraded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Al-Ahli Hospital.
During a tour, attendees were briefed on the unit’s facilities, equipment and improvements to the arrangement of bedside care stations and services surrounding the incubators. The comprehensive redevelopment has increased capacity from eight beds, including one isolation bed, to 13 beds, comprising 12 arranged in a crescent-shaped layout and one dedicated isolation bed.
The upgrade includes five additional incubators and five resuscitation devices, with the unit now equipped with a total of ten ventilators. Greater space around each bed facilitates staff movement and access to infants and equipment, while redesigned bedside care stations support daily clinical procedures and the efficient organisation of equipment. Sensor-operated handwashing basins have also been installed to support infection prevention and control practices.
Vice Chairman of Medicare Group Sheikh Turki bin Khalid bin Thani Al Thani, said the development reflects the Board’s shared vision, under the chairmanship of Sheikh Abdullah bin Thani Al Thani, to advance healthcare services and strengthen specialist care.
“The Board of Directors is committed to the continued development of Al-Ahli Hospital through investment in medical expertise, modern equipment and an integrated care environment,” he said. “The upgraded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit gives practical expression to this commitment, supporting quality of care and infant safety while providing families with greater confidence and reassurance.
Chief Executive Officer of Al-Ahli Hospital Khalid Mohamed Al-Emadi, said the project forms part of the hospital’s ongoing programme to improve its medical services and strengthen coordination across care delivery.
“Our priority is to ensure that investment in our facilities and equipment translates into meaningful improvements in the care we provide to our guests,” he said. “Neonatal intensive care requires meticulous attention to detail, reflecting the clinical needs of newborns and the support their families require.”
He added: “By bringing together medical and nursing expertise, modern equipment and a carefully planned care environment, the upgraded unit strengthens our teams’ ability to deliver specialised care tailored to each infant.
A key feature of the redevelopment is an integrated service-column system conceived by Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Director of Projects Eng. Jamal Hammad and developed in collaboration with the hospital’s engineering and biomedical engineering teams and Italian company Transforma.
The design brings medical gas outlets, electrical and backup power connections, and vital signs monitor mounts together within a unified structure. A curved lighting system complements the installation, providing illumination across the care area. “We set out to organise the services around each incubator in a way that makes them readily accessible while providing medical and nursing staff with a functional workspace,” he said.
Dr. Abdul Azim Hussein emphasised that medical and nursing professionals remain at the centre of neonatal intensive care, supported by equipment and a working environment that facilitate close observation, continuous assessment and coordination across the treating team. “Neonatal care depends on the integration of medical and nursing expertise, careful monitoring and a responsive approach to the needs of each infant,” he said.
