Mama Mads

Having a baby in Qatar? If you’re an expat looking to welcome your little one in Doha, you need to be aware of the healthcare procedures, legalities, and cultural considerations involved here.

Here are the musts that you need to know:

Health card: It is strongly advised to get a health card as soon as you get a Resident Permit in Qatar. For Residents, you need to show the following documents at your nearest Primary Health Care Centre to your residence. 

A valid Qatar Identification Card (QID)

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Credit/debit card to pay 50 QR fees

No cash is accepted so you must pay using a credit/debit card. The health center will issue your card immediately or ask you to come back within a few days to collect it. Health cards are issued during morning working hours only. 

Hospital and Insurance: When you know the good news and are in the early stages of your pregnancy, find a gynac and hospital that you feel comfortable with. Make sure you have a valid maternity cover even before you get pregnant. Healthcare can get expensive in Qatar, if you don’t have the right coverage. 

Check what your health insurance covers regarding prenatal care, delivery, and postnatal care.

Private versus Government Care: 

The health card gives you access to health centers under the umbrella of Primary Health Care Corporation. I personally opted for both private and government care, as my husband and my insurance didn’t have maternity coverage. I opted for Aster Hospital, Old Airport Road and my designated health center was Mesaimeer Health Center.

The advantages of visiting your nearest health center for scans, blood and urine work, and other necessary procedural tests is that the tests are all done at subsidized rates. The cons are of course, the long wait times as well as the doctor-patient ratio is skewed due to a number of Qatari and non-Qatari residents visiting the health center for all ailments. Private hospital, of course, gives you the proper care and guidance and timely doctor appointments and scans so you feel you and your baby are well taken care of. My gynac at Aster was Dr. Renukaamba and she was 

Language and customs:

The local language is Arabic but English is spoken everywhere as expats are in majority in the country.

Be respectful of the local customs. Always make sure you wear knee-length clothes or dresses during your hospital visits and follow the protocol of making sure you are seated at the male/female receptions. 

A word of caution- It is a criminal offense in Qatar to be pregnant as a single woman.

Support Network: Don’t fret if you don’t have family in Doha! Your colleagues, friends, and other expat communities will come handy for any assistance during and post-pregnancy.

I joined Positive Birth Group on Facebook, Qatar Parenting Network, 

I also found a reddit forum called r/pregnant and r/babybumps extremely useful for personalized advice and support. For any medical advise, it’s always recommended to be in touch with your gynecologist or health care provider rather than heeding to the advice of a random internet stranger.

I also found the Facebook marketplace quite handy to scout out used products. There were also a few Facebook Groups for sales- Qatar Expat Kids, Positive Birth Group- Sales Only.

Maternity Leave: Familiarize yourself with your employer’s maternity leave policy as well as Qatar’s labour laws regarding maternity leave. It is best to share your happy news with your employer post the first trimester so they can prepare for your cover during your leave duration. 

Good luck! You’ve got this.