The 2nd Qatar International Dental Association Conference began here Thursday in association with the Eighth Gulf Dental Association Conference. Specialized dentists and dental surgeons from Qatar and abroad will participate in the two-day conference. HE Minister of Public Health and Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) Abdullah bin Khalid Al Qahtani said in his opening speech which delivered on his behalf by Assistant Secretary General for Medical Affairs of the SCH Dr. Saleh Ali Al Marri, that the wise leadership of the State of Qatar, led by HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, focused on health care for citizens and residents alike, adding that this reflected in the Qatar National Vision 2030, which states \"To improve the health of Qatar\'s population, Qatar aspires to develop an integrated system for healthcare, managed according to world-class standards.\" From this standpoint, Qatar\'s keenness on healthcare as part of Qatar National Vision, takes into account the oral and dental health because it is an important part of the Integrated Public Health, and on the other hand it is a main entrance to preventive health for the rest of the body, which is one of the priorities set out in the National Health Strategy 2011-2016. Hosting such conference will support the dental department at the Qatari Physicians Association and the GCC Dental Association and will achieve a scientific communication between dentists in Qatar and abroad. Concluding, HE the Minister of Public Health expressed his delight to host this important conference in Qatar, which will organize during two days a number of lectures about the important of Dentistry at both preventive or therapeutic levels. For his part, Head of Qatar Dental Unit and the Conference Chairman Dr. Mohamed Sultan Al-Darwish said in his speech that the health sector in Qatar, on both public and private levels, has witnessed over the past few years a great revival in various medical fields, especially in the field of dentistry. He added that the Dental Unit at the Qatari Physicians Association and officials in all health sectors which are under the umbrella of the Supreme Council of Health are keenness to organize this scientific event which came from their conviction of the importance of scientific research and medical meetings and their clear impact on the development of medical cadres, in line with HH the Emir\'s vision to build a strong structure able to face challenges and provide health services, managed according to world-class standards, to all members of the community. He noted that two workshops in dental implants will be held during the conference, in addition to specialized exhibition, which showcasing the latest equipment and devices in the field of dentistry.