Doha, Qatar: A delegation from the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), headed by Dr Ghanim Ali Al Mannai, Assistant Undersecretary for Healthcare Regulatory Affairs, conducted an inspection visit to the MoPH food and medicine inspection units and the Food Safety Laboratory at the Abu Samra border crossing.
The inspection visit was also attended by Colonel Khalid Ali Al Meshal Al Buainain, Chair of the Permanent Committee for the Management of Abu Samra Border Crossing, Yousef Ahmed Al Hammadi, Director of Land Customs Department at the General Authority of Customs, and several officials.
The visit comes as part of efforts to ensure the highest levels of preparedness, and the efficiency and effectiveness of regulatory efforts, as well as the smoothness and speed of procedures at the border crossing, while guaranteeing the best standards of quality, safety and security of imported food and medicines in light of the current circumstances.
The delegation was briefed on the workflow, oversight activities, and the effectiveness of the procedures in place at the food and medicine inspection units, including pharmaceutical products, as well as the efficiency and effectiveness of coordination between the MoPH and other competent regulatory authorities.
The delegation also reviewed the Abu Samra Food Safety Laboratory's readiness, its qualified technical staff, the advanced technologies used, and adherence to the highest approved standards and best practices. This contributes to strengthening the readiness of the imported food control system by conducting the necessary tests rapidly and efficiently to ensure the safety of food products available in the State of Qatar.
During the inspection visit, the delegation received a presentation from the General Authority of Customs outlining the current procedures in place to ensure the smooth inspection of food and pharmaceutical products.
Further presentations were delivered on the regulatory procedures the MoPH applies at border crossings. These addressed the readiness of the Abu Samra border crossing and the approved plans for all entry points to manage operations under the current conditions. Statistics show that in March alone, 5,970 food shipments were cleared, and 1,180 samples were collected and tested, reflecting the continuity of laboratory surveillance and the efficiency of procedures, while simultaneously expediting clearance processes.
In a presentation by the Pharmacy and Drug Control Department at the Ministry, the delegation was briefed on preparedness measures through the activation of plans to ensure the continued flow of medicines and medical supplies in response to current challenges. These include diversifying supply routes, strengthening coordination with suppliers, and enhancing staff readiness at border crossings.
Since February 28, 2026, more than 1,000 consignments of medicines and medical materials have been inspected across the various entry points, over 2.5 million medicine packs have been cleared, and more than 157 consignments of diagnostic materials and medical reagents have been released, with the necessary regulatory measures applied to ensure their safety and compliance with standards, thereby reinforcing the country’s pharmaceutical security.
Dr Ghanim Al Mannai, Assistant Undersecretary for Healthcare Regulatory Affairs, stated that this inspection visit is part of the Ministry's regular field visits to ensure the efficiency and flexibility of the procedures and mechanisms in place at border crossings. This, he noted, facilitates the flow of food, medicines, and pharmaceutical products to the local market while maintaining the highest levels of health safety and product security.
He pointed out that the MoPH has been keen to automate procedures related to food and medicine control, to ensure speed, quality and efficiency.
Al Mannai praised the efficiency of the Ministry’s teams working at the Abu Samra border crossing and their commitment to applying the regulatory and preventive procedures and mechanisms related to the inspection of food, medicines and pharmaceutical products, in close cooperation with the other competent authorities. He also commended the efforts of the Standing Committee for the Management of Abu Samra Border Crossing and the General Authority of Customs in providing the resources and appropriate conditions necessary to ensure the proper functioning of the MoPH inspection teams.
The MoPH delegation included Ms Wasan Abdullah Al Baker, Director of the Food Safety Department, Dr Manal Borhan Al Zaidan, Director of the Pharmacy and Drug Control Department, and several other MoPH officials.
