Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Employee Wellbeing and Wellness Section has been officially designated as the world’s first World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre focused on employee wellbeing and workplace health. The designation, effective for four years, underscores Qatar’s expanding role in promoting evidence-based strategies to enhance workforce health, particularly within healthcare settings.

As a WHO Collaborating Centre, HMC will collaborate closely with the global health agency to advance research, policies, and practical interventions aimed at safeguarding and improving the wellbeing of healthcare workers. The centre will also share its expertise with healthcare organisations internationally, contributing to the development of healthier and more supportive workplace environments.

Mona Shaheen Al Homaiddi, HMC’s chief human resources officer, described the recognition as a significant milestone for both the corporation and Qatar. She highlighted the strength of HMC’s evidence-based wellbeing programme, the organisation’s skilled workforce, and leadership’s commitment to employee health as key factors in achieving the designation. Al Homaiddi emphasized the centre’s intent to support WHO’s initiatives and collaborate on advancing workplace health practices globally.

The centre’s mandate is structured around three primary objectives: aiding WHO in formulating and promoting mental health and workplace wellbeing policies and strategies specifically tailored for healthcare settings; enhancing capacity for implementing workplace health interventions through knowledge exchange and training programs; and supporting WHO’s efforts at the country level to improve workplace wellbeing for health workers.

This recognition comes after several years of dedicated development by HMC’s Employee Wellbeing and Wellness Section, including close technical partnership with WHO and implementation of a comprehensive wellbeing model aligned with the WHO Healthy Workplace framework. The new Collaborating Centre joins two other WHO-recognized centres within HMC: the Hamad Trauma Centre, which focuses on trauma, and the Department of Geriatrics and Long-Term Care, concentrating on healthy ageing and dementia.

The designation also builds on prior international commendations received by HMC’s employee wellbeing programme from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, the Global Centre for Healthy Workplaces, and the International Hospital Federation. These accolades reflect the programme’s consistent quality and its measurable impact on fostering healthier workplace environments.