03 April 2011
MUSCAT -- The Ministry of Health (MoH) keenly monitors cases of malpractices or negligence as well as Omanisation in the private health care institutions.
Dr Ahmad bin Muhammad al Saeedi, Minister of Health, said in comments to the Observer: "The Primary Medical and Technical Committee (PMTC) of the ministry receives cases of medical malpractices and investigates each case properly and identifies whether such cases are due to mismanagement or negligence and also identifies level of mismanagement.
Dr Ahmad al Saeedi was speaking in response to a question whether the ministry monitors and corrects malpractices in the private healthcare sector which harm the patients. He said the PMTC tries to find the reason of such cases and whether it is because of lack of technical expertise of otherwise. Cases are then referred to the Higher Medical Committee (HMC) to confirm mismanagement and decide on actions.
He said, "MoH makes all efforts to strengthen the private sector and has established "the Department of Private Health Establishments" that operates directly under the supervision of the Under-Secretary for Health Affairs".
The department closely monitors and enforces strict quality control standards on the health care provided by the private sector. The feedback mechanism for PMTC and HMC cases also serves to identify the weakness for strengthening, and decide on recommendations to overcome the constraints and prevent future lapses and errors. MoH pursues the same recruitment channels and yardsticks for the private and the public sector in order to maintain competitive competence in both sectors.
On the question of Omanisation in the private healthcare institutions in Oman, Dr Al Saeedi, said the Ministry of Health actively promotes Omanisation with a view to achieving self-sufficiency in health manpower. The last two decades have witnessed significant growth in the employment of Omani health professionals in the public health care providers including Ministry of Health.
"Omanisation level among health professionals in the private sector is still low compared to the public sector.
Omanisation among doctors is only 2 per cent in the private sector compared to 31 per cent in MoH and 50 in other public health care providers, Omani nurses in the private sector represent 3 per cent of all nurses in private sector compared to 66 per cent in MoH and 21 per cent in other public health care providers", said Dr Al Saeedi.
The low Omanisation level in the private sector is possibly because the public sector did not yet reach 100 per cent and Omani health professional are joining the public sector. The long period required to prepare qualified health professionals is another contributing factor to low Omanisation in the private sector.
The low figures of Omanisation among health professionals in the private sector reflect those permanently working the private sector and do not consider consultants working in MoH and joining the private clinics and hospitals on part-time basis (a policy MoH had allowed). The Omanisation of specialists has reached 27 per cent in MoH and 47 per cent in the other public health care providers and a considerable proportion of them work in the private clinics and hospitals on part-time basis.
The overall Omanisation level in the private health sector has reached only seven per cent and is expected to rise with the increase in Omanisation in the public sector.
MUSCAT -- The Ministry of Health (MoH) keenly monitors cases of malpractices or negligence as well as Omanisation in the private health care institutions.
Dr Ahmad bin Muhammad al Saeedi, Minister of Health, said in comments to the Observer: "The Primary Medical and Technical Committee (PMTC) of the ministry receives cases of medical malpractices and investigates each case properly and identifies whether such cases are due to mismanagement or negligence and also identifies level of mismanagement.
Dr Ahmad al Saeedi was speaking in response to a question whether the ministry monitors and corrects malpractices in the private healthcare sector which harm the patients. He said the PMTC tries to find the reason of such cases and whether it is because of lack of technical expertise of otherwise. Cases are then referred to the Higher Medical Committee (HMC) to confirm mismanagement and decide on actions.
He said, "MoH makes all efforts to strengthen the private sector and has established "the Department of Private Health Establishments" that operates directly under the supervision of the Under-Secretary for Health Affairs".
The department closely monitors and enforces strict quality control standards on the health care provided by the private sector. The feedback mechanism for PMTC and HMC cases also serves to identify the weakness for strengthening, and decide on recommendations to overcome the constraints and prevent future lapses and errors. MoH pursues the same recruitment channels and yardsticks for the private and the public sector in order to maintain competitive competence in both sectors.
On the question of Omanisation in the private healthcare institutions in Oman, Dr Al Saeedi, said the Ministry of Health actively promotes Omanisation with a view to achieving self-sufficiency in health manpower. The last two decades have witnessed significant growth in the employment of Omani health professionals in the public health care providers including Ministry of Health.
"Omanisation level among health professionals in the private sector is still low compared to the public sector.
Omanisation among doctors is only 2 per cent in the private sector compared to 31 per cent in MoH and 50 in other public health care providers, Omani nurses in the private sector represent 3 per cent of all nurses in private sector compared to 66 per cent in MoH and 21 per cent in other public health care providers", said Dr Al Saeedi.
The low Omanisation level in the private sector is possibly because the public sector did not yet reach 100 per cent and Omani health professional are joining the public sector. The long period required to prepare qualified health professionals is another contributing factor to low Omanisation in the private sector.
The low figures of Omanisation among health professionals in the private sector reflect those permanently working the private sector and do not consider consultants working in MoH and joining the private clinics and hospitals on part-time basis (a policy MoH had allowed). The Omanisation of specialists has reached 27 per cent in MoH and 47 per cent in the other public health care providers and a considerable proportion of them work in the private clinics and hospitals on part-time basis.
The overall Omanisation level in the private health sector has reached only seven per cent and is expected to rise with the increase in Omanisation in the public sector.
© Oman Daily Observer 2011
