KEY AREAS IN FOCUS: Priority for sustaining achievements, medical cities, human resources development and medical education

Thursday 23rd, June 2016

MUSCAT: Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Saeedi, Minister of Health, affirmed that the ministry has set priorities for the next five years, specifically activating the healthcare system, preparing new health policies, sustaining the existing achievements while focusing on the construction of integrated medical cities, investing in human resources development, restructuring medical education and boosting healthcare spending.

In a statement to Oman Arabic newspaper, he explained that the Ministry of Health will strive to find alternative sources for funding while paying more attention to building constructive partnership with the private sector.

"We are aware that the ninth five-year plan coincides with changing economic conditions and falling oil prices but we are relying on the results of the previous achievements and the well-qualified human resources. Besides, the strategies of the ninth five-year plan are capable of coping with the rapidly changing conditions as these strategies focus on finding sources of funding and investments so as to preserve the achievements while pushing ahead for more efficiency and productivity," the minister said.
The health system in the Sultanate is facing several setbacks, the most notable of them being the demographic and epidemiological changes, the rising cost of healthcare services, scarcity of medical and assistant medical cadres.

These challenges have prompted us to rethink the importance of developing the healthcare system and lay down a long-term strategy that is capable of overcoming
such difficulties, the minister pointed out.

© Oman Daily Observer 2016