The health priority in Oman Vision 2040 witnessed radical and qualitative transformations that reflect the scale of efforts made during the Tenth Five-Year Development Plan. Infrastructure developments have been combined with legislative and technical updates to shape a pioneering health system characterised by sustainability and inclusivity, placing people at the centre as the primary objective of development.

Pursuant to Royal Decree No. 10/2024, the sector underwent a comprehensive overhaul of its governance system, culminating in a flexible organisational structure centred on three specialised agencies designed to promote decentralisation and grant governorates broader powers. In a strategic move to unify healthcare provision under a single umbrella, the foundations for medical integration were laid through the establishment of the University Medical City and the Medical City for the Military and Security Services, and the transfer of medical services from the Royal Court to the Ministry of Health; ensuring alignment of policies, efficient spending and the standardisation of national care standards.

In the healthcare sector, four major hospitals – Al-Suwaiq, Khasab, Al-Mazyonah and Wadi Bani Khalid – were opened and put into operation, alongside strategic expansions at the hospitals in Sohar, Nizwa and Sur, and the National Centre for Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery. Primary care has also been strengthened through the establishment of two health complexes and seven new centres, and the upgrading of nine local hospitals.

Specialist services have been launched, including the Fertility Centre, the National Centre for Virtual Health, nine dialysis units, seven emergency and accident units, and the Central Public Health Laboratory.

Work is also currently underway on the construction of 21 additional healthcare facilities, with many at an advanced stage of completion, most notably the Sultan Qaboos Hospital in Salalah (83 per cent complete) and Samail Hospital (71 per cent complete).

As part of its efforts to keep pace with the technological revolution, the Ministry of Health has made a quantum leap by integrating artificial intelligence into diagnostic services. The National Retinal Screening Programme has successfully screened more than 30,000 patients with 92 per cent accuracy, reducing waiting times by over 80 per cent. It has also launched pioneering projects such as the Omani Genome Programme, which represents the cornerstone of personalised medicine, and the Unified Health Record, which links 255 institutions, thereby cementing the Sultanate of Oman’s position as a regional hub for digital health innovation.

To achieve self-sufficiency, the number of operational pharmaceutical factories has risen to 21, with a further 18 projects currently under construction. This was culminated in the signing of six advance purchase agreements with leading national manufacturers to localise the production of biopharmaceuticals, intravenous solutions and medicines for genetic diseases, thereby enhancing pharmaceutical sustainability and underscoring the sector’s appeal for quality investment. These efforts have had a positive impact on international indicators, with Oman rising to 55th place globally in the Legatum Prosperity Index.

The Healthy Life Years Expectancy Index also recorded a significant leap, reaching 66.07 years in 2023, exceeding the global average. This progress has been accompanied by a marked rise in the public satisfaction index, which stood at 82.4 per cent, demonstrating the success of investment in national workforce development and the enhancement of care skills.

The next phase requires continuing to enhance the efficiency of the system and adopting modern technologies to keep pace with population growth, whilst remaining committed to developing and sustaining national workforce and capacity, to ensure a world-class healthcare system that safeguards public health and enhances quality of life, in order to achieve the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.