File photo of Al Mashaf Health Center
Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s efforts to promote healthy ageing have taken another important step forward with the opening of a new Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) clinic at Al Mashaf Health Center. The new clinic is the latest addition to a growing network of specialized services supporting older adults across the country.
The ICOPE program operates under the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Healthy Ageing and Dementia at Rumailah Hospital, with the clinics run in partnership with Primary Health Care Corporation. Through this initiative, Qatar continues to advance person-centered, integrated care that promotes healthy, active, and independent ageing.
Qatar remains the first country in the Middle East to implement the WHO ICOPE framework, a model that supports early detection of health concerns, preserves functional ability, and enhances the quality of life for older people. The program aligns with both the WHO Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030) and Qatar’s National Health Strategy 2024–2030, reinforcing the nation’s leadership in preventive and community-based healthcare.
Since launching its first clinic in April 2023 at Al Wajbah Health Center, the ICOPE program has steadily expanded with clinics opening in health centers at Rawdat Al Khail, Leabaib, Qatar University, and most recently Al Mashaf, making comprehensive healthy ageing services more accessible to local communities.
The addition of Al Mashaf reflects the program’s ongoing mission to bring proactive, multidisciplinary care closer to where older people live, ensuring timely support and consistent follow-up within the community.
ICOPE clinics provide free, evidence-based assessments to identify early signs of health and functional decline. Each visit includes screenings for memory and cognitive function, balance and mobility, nutrition and weight, vision and hearing, and mental wellbeing.
From 2025, the program has broadened its focus to include three new areas, urinary health, social support needs, and caregiver wellbeing, providing a more holistic understanding of each patient’s health and family circumstances. These assessments are conducted by a multidisciplinary team that tailors care plans to maintain independence and improve quality of life.
Between January 2024 and October 2025, ICOPE clinics across Qatar have completed more than 2,074 detailed assessments, offering early intervention and follow-up for hundreds of older adults. Screening results have highlighted significant needs, including cognitive and mobility risks, reinforcing the importance of early detection and preventive care.
With the addition of the Al Mashaf ICOPE Clinic, Qatar continues to build a sustainable model of care that integrates hospital expertise with primary health services and community support. The program’s expansion demonstrates a firm national commitment to ensuring that every older adult has access to proactive, compassionate, and coordinated care, helping them live healthier, more independent lives for years to come.
