Hamad Medical corporation-Qatar residency program related to Pakistani Graduates

AoA
Dear colleagues:

I would like to share a few things about Hamad Medical corporation-Qatar residency program related to Pakistani Graduates. Particularly for those who unfortunately could not get the visas for CS and could not make in the residency match
1.its has been recognised by CPSP-Pakistan for residency training in department of Internal medicine, General surgery and anaesthesia since last two years.
A Pakistani consultant (FRCP ) is designated a supervisor here and quite a few friends applied for RTMC and got the RTMC in medicine this year.
2.FCPS-I in is pre-requisite to apply for RTMC
3.Pre- requisites for residency here
USMLE step 2-CK
USMLE Step-1 ( preferred to have it for those without resident permit of Qatar)
or IFOM
IELTS band 7 overall or above (valid for 3-4 years)
Toefl score 80 and above
Fresh graduates are preferred

Scores in steps matter a lot to receive an interview call- 240 +
4.The program is ACGME-I accredited program, means the training is in accordance with rules and regulations like a US residency program
regular visits from the ACGME-I to evaluate the progress of program

5.The set up is very well equipped and advanced.
JCI accredited since 2006 following are some glimpse of procedure performed here

Well established emergency, EMS services directly send ECG through remote telemetry to heart hospital ED if some one has STEMI they prepare Cath lab for primary PCI.
Air ambulance services routinely operational!!

Laboratory ACP accredited ( No lab In Pak is ACP accredited till date not even agha khan), they do whatever test you name it,send genetics studies to USA.

Neurology department perform thrombolysis for stroke and mechanical thrombectomy by neuro interventional radiologist routine procedures

when a patient arrives here with stroke within 45 mins he will have his CT head with CTA done and reported preliminary
A well equipped neuro rehabilitation unit for stroke patients

-Cardiology and cardiac surgery -
Primary PCIs, TEE,
Electrophysiology,ICD,CRTD,LVAD,TAVI,
in short every department is up-to international standards( if need any further details please visit https://www.hamad.qa/EN/Pages/default.aspx

6 Rotations in all departments during residency including nephro,neuro,cardio,ID,Endocrine,Pulmo,GI,rheumatology,
MICU,CICU,Geriatics,Hematology,Oncology with full exposure to patients management
7.Consultants are very professional, humble,cooperative, punctual and not arrogant!!
treat the junior like human being!
8.At the end of four years program in IM, residents get Arab board exam and certified Arab board of medical specialities (CABM) and if eligible for FCPS -II you can also appear there.
9-With CAMB you can work in GCC it is consider as Tier-2 qualification(UAE) means for specialist post you don't need any experience while for consultant post you need 5 years post CAMB.
While FCPS is Tier-3 qualification you need 3 years post FCPS experience for specialist and no eligible to get a consultant post.
Almost same here in Qatar if u get residency and follwed by fellowship the corporation 'll recruit you as associate consultant depending on your appraisal and evaluation (which is monthly and annually online) during residency and fellowship.
After working for like 4-5 year you 'll be promoted to consultant and then sr. Consultant.
10 Post residency fellowship opportunities( fellowship not recognised in Pakistan but I m not very sure about this)
11.If you have done Step-3 high chances to match in fellowship in US--not in very competitive specialities(cardio, GI), but easily get less competitive specialities like nephron, ID....
12 After getting fellowship from US although you can not work there and you ll not be board certified but if you are interested to get board certified you can apply to residency match post fellowship and ll get easily
I know seniors who did residency from HMC, did fellowship in nephron from US and applied for match as resident and matched. I heard that the residency duration ll also be 2 years instead of 3 years.
13.Hospital is a PACES centre can easily complete MRCP, no need to go abroad!

I would recommend to juniors that HMC residency is way better than FCPS training in Pakistan especially in IM, if you are planning to do FCPS in medicine do your step 2 CK and IELTs and try your luck here if you were lucky enough and get selected and have either FCPS-I in medicine with 4 years residency training from HMC or MRCP-Full and 2 years post MRCP training you are eligible for FCPS-II.

Don't think of HMC Qatar residency as a dead end and that your career 'll be restricted only to GCC but as an opportunity and a gateway to bright medical career!! Inshallah

If have any question post it here I will try my best to reply!

Best of luck!