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The
Qatar Human Development Report 2006, published by the Planning
Council of Qatar, will be released on 25th April 2007 under the
patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned,
Consort of His Highness The Emir of Qatar.
The report was developed in collaboration with UNDP and its
assessments are based on the Human Development Index which is a
comparative measure of life expectancy, literacy, education and
standard of living for countries worldwide. It is a standard means
of measuring well-being, especially child welfare. The index is also
used to distinguish whether a country is developed, developing or
under-developed and also measure the impact of economic policies on
the quality of life.
According to the Planning Council Secretary General Sheikh Hamad Bin
Jabor Al Thani, the 2006 report, which is based on 2004 data, puts
Qatar in a position to offer insights for other countries in the
region and internationally.
While the report highlights the remarkable progress Qatar has made,
it reveals that there are still challenges ahead in its path towards
sustainable human development.
Qatar has achieved many of the Millennium Development Goals to which
it is committed as a UN Member State, but the report does indicate
that we have some way to go to realize the highest level of human
development for its citizens, says Sheikh Hamad.
The report provides recommendations for policy makers to consider.
In response to these, Sheikh Hamad says that because it was based
largely on 2004 data, Qatar has already launched numerous programmes
aimed at closing many of the gaps identified and is showing great
determination to achieve all its social, economic and environmental
goals.
The UNDP defines human development as the creation of an environment
in which people can develop their full potential and lead
productive, creative lives in accord with their needs and interests.
Specific findings of the report reveal Qatars relatively advanced
global position in human development.
For example, the average life-expectancy in the majority of the
countries with Ôhigh human development is 78-80 years, and the
literacy rate is 100%. The report reveals that Qatars life
expectancy is increasing and in 2006 reached an average of 76 years,
whilst its adult literacy rate is 93.4% and the combined gross
enrolment for primary, secondary and tertiary education is 81.4%.
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Index in Qatar is 0.88, which is a
figure comparable to some developed countries. 100% of the Qatari
population is stated to have access to clean drinking water, access
to high-quality preventive healthcare services and are able to
obtain basic medicines at reasonable prices.
However, the report has identified deficiencies in Qatars path
towards sustainable human development and these have raised some
challenges, upon which some key recommendations have been based.
On the subject of the economy, the report recommends that although
Qatar is on the right path towards diversification, efforts must
continue to address the economys reliance on the prices of oil in
the world market and the relationship between the national income
and price level of the oil barrel Ð a condition from which all Gulf
economies suffer.
The report suggests the need for a heightened economic awareness
amongst the Qatari population as well as their increased
participation in the economy. Diversification would ensure continued
and sustainable economic growth, which in turn could positively
affect Qatars human development. The report also makes it clear that
by enhancing the capabilities of Qatari citizens will of course in
turn affect economic growth.
In the areas of knowledge and education, Qatars gradual movement
towards a knowledge-based society is acknowledged in the report. The
growth of knowledge requires an environment that provides freedom of
expression, exchange of information and intellectual debate, and the
report urges the continued promotion of this sort of cultural
environment.
The report recommends that further investment needs to be made in
the education and skills system as a whole, as well as specifically
in the field of scientific research.
The report stresses the need for updated strategies for early
learning, pre-university, and higher-education. Further promotion of
modern technology and work-based skills and values to learners is
also recommended. Having identified that the role of the private
sector in education and training is still limited, the report also
recommends that training schemes offered by the private sector are
carefully enhanced and better coordinated with those offered
publicly.
The level of service available in Qatars health sector was deemed
ÔacceptableÕ by the report in terms of the number of physicians,
hospital beds and the level of spending, and the healthcare service
has attained the majority of its Millennium Development Goal
objectives. Nevertheless, the report highlights various obstacles
which the health sector faces.
For example, although the numbers of health personnel in the system
are currently acceptable, the number of Qatari health personnel is
not sufficient and is not expected to be in the near future. The
report says that without a mechanism to ensure continued good
quality of personnel, factored in to the governments Qatarisation
plans, the health system may suffer.
Further research is recommended to counter the effects of
life-threatening diseases in Qatar such as diabetes, cardio-vascular
diseases and cancer, as well as to help develop effective mechanisms
to enable a rapid response in the event of an epidemic disease
outbreak. The current policies in place to address the effects of
these diseases are described as sporadic and unsystematic.
Although the State is committed to providing full healthcare for the
population, including those Qatari nationals abroad, the report also
urges that the issue of health insurance is an urgent concern due to
the growing number of expatriate workers in Qatar.
With regards to the environment of Qatar, the report identifies that
the rapid population growth and certain economic and social
activities have meant a deterioration of several of the countrys
ecological systems.
Qatar has achieved a series of basic accomplishments to address this
issue, including institutional, legislative and organizational
developments. Yet the report recommends that this issue needs
considerably further effort, with a need for a strategy for research
into available resources and environmental protection, and from
this, improved policies and legislative systems to ensure
environmental sustainability.
The report recommends building the security of individuals through
exploring and developing their potential, utilizing this to create
reliable sources of income for themselves, their families and the
wider society.
Although crime rates are still relatively low, certain crimes still
pose a threat to the level of Qatars social security. According to
the report, further research into the causes of crime is necessary,
but in addition to this it will be important to raise awareness on
crime amongst the local population.
Another practical recommendation provided by the report will be to
review residency and work regulations of expatriate workers, amongst
whom certain crimes are on the increase.
In order to address these and other recommendations made, and
develop plans to activate them, the Planning Council Secretary
General in collaboration with UNDP will be conducting a 4-day
workshop, commencing 29th April 2007.
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