Enhancing Medical Committee Decision-Making: Insights from Qatar

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Medical Affairs
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Treatment Abroad (TA) programs facilitate access to specialized care for complex medical cases.
• The International Medical Affairs Office (IMAO) in Qatar manages over 11,000 TA requests annually.
• Existing TA committees face challenges in efficiency, transparency, and member satisfaction despite hybrid models.

Purpose of the Study:

• Identify decision-making and operational challenges within IMAO TA committees.
• Define optimal committee composition characteristics.
• Develop a framework to improve transparency, communication, and practices in TA committees.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 162 committee members (CMs) from July to December 2024.
• A pilot-tested instrument with Likert-scale, yes/no, and open-ended questions was used.
• Quantitative data were analyzed using non-parametric tests; qualitative data underwent thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• 87 CMs responded (53.7%); most preferred remote/hybrid meetings and email communication.
• High satisfaction was reported for workflows (93.1%) and IMAO collaboration (65-69%).
• Key challenges included communication gaps, incomplete information, and lack of financial compensation (95.4%).

Conclusions:

• Committee effectiveness is linked to member experience and perceptions of decision-making.
• Structured multidisciplinary input, transparent governance, and streamlined communication are crucial.
• A proposed framework can standardize processes and optimize committee performance in TA programs.