Oman National Health Policy launched to bolster healthcare

Muscat: The Ministry of Health launched Oman National Health Policy on Wednesday. This comes as part of efforts to bolster the healthcare system in the Sultanate of Oman and to achieve objectives of Oman Vision 2040.

The launching ceremony was held under the auspices of Sayyid Dr. Sultan Ya’arub Al Busaidi, Advisor at the Private Office.

The launch programme featured a speech by Dr. Ahmed Salem Al Mandhari, the Ministry of Health’s Undersecretary for Health Planning and Regulation, who emphasised that this achievement would not have been possible without the tireless efforts and fruitful collaboration across various sectors and partners.

He explained that the policy was developed in a participatory manner, ensuring its alignment with Oman Vision 2040 and its responsiveness to global health developments, making it the cornerstone for a more efficient, equitable, and sustainable healthcare system.

Al Mandhari highlighted that the policy is grounded in the principle of “Health for All, by All,” which reflects a shared vision where health is a collective responsibility that requires the joint efforts of all sectors and partners.

He added that it is well-known that individual and community health is influenced by several factors beyond the traditional healthcare sector, such as education, housing, income levels, working conditions, environmental, and economic factors.

This is why the Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach has been adopted. He emphasised the importance of cooperation and integration between government and non-government sectors, stakeholders, and the community to maximize health benefits and minimize the negative impact of public policies on individual health.

He outlined that the goals of the HiAP approach include improving the health of populations, promoting health equity, ensuring the integration of health considerations into government policy-making, and supporting the sustainability of decisions that prioritize public health while preventing potential health harms.

For her part, Dr. Hana Balkhy, Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, emphasized in her speech on behalf of the Organization that Oman National Health Policy aligns with the WHO’s Fourteenth General Programme of Work, the Strategic Operational Plan for the Eastern Mediterranean Region 2025-2028, and the WHO’s three regional flagship initiatives on expanding access to medicines, building up the health workforce, and tackling substance use.

Dr. Balkhy also pointed out that one of the strengths of this NHP is its recognition that a population’s health and well-being is a responsibility shared by all.

The National Health Policy represents a pivotal advancement in the development of Oman’s healthcare system and serves as a fundamental update to previous policies. It prioritizes sustainability, governance, and the strengthening of cross-sector partnerships.

The policy introduces a comprehensive healthcare model that not only addresses demographic and epidemiological shifts but also emphasizes sustainable health financing and the integration of digital technologies to improve service delivery.

This policy is designed to tackle the key challenges facing the healthcare sector, including the rise in non-communicable diseases, the growing elderly population, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of health financing.

Central to its approach is the enhancement of healthcare quality, the promotion of decentralization, and the refinement of governance frameworks to ensure more efficient and equitable management of healthcare resources. -ONA