Ministry of Health Statement Highlights:
•    Enhancing healthcare service efficiency by reducing average appointment waiting times to approximately five weeks, with 1.46 million new appointments recorded in 2025. 
•    Implementing programs under the Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) through a range of national initiatives aimed at strengthening prevention and public health, and achieving the objectives of Oman Vision 2040. 
•    Expanding specialized healthcare services, including the delivery of 394,615 dialysis sessions in 2025, performing 112 organ transplant operations, and registering 86 organ donors. 
•    Advancing healthcare infrastructure through 92 health institutions, including 51 hospitals and 41 health complexes and centers distributed across various governorates. 
•    Promoting digital health transformation through the implementation of a unified electronic health record system and the growing use of digital systems and artificial intelligence in diagnostics and healthcare services. 
•    Implementing 20 projects under the “Wiqaya” initiative to promote public health and reduce non-communicable diseases. 
•    Expanding diagnostic services by increasing the number of institutions offering mammography, MRI, and CT scan services across governorates. 
•    Addressing the healthcare workforce gap through recruitment and training plans. 
Council Members’ Key Appeals to the Minister of Health:
•    Strengthening pharmaceutical security by localizing pharmaceutical manufacturing. 
•    Regulating the private healthcare sector and improving service quality. 
•    Advancing digital transformation and expanding e-health services. 
•    Reviewing employment policies to ensure fairness and enhance national employment opportunities. 
•    Ensuring equitable distribution of healthcare services and strengthening the role of health complexes. 
•    Sustaining the national healthcare workforce, enhancing incentives, and addressing shortages in rare specialties. 
Key Questions Raised by Members:
•    Causes of medical talent migration and rising resignation rates in the healthcare sector. 
•    Reasons behind delays in implementing certain healthcare projects. 
•    Updates on the Oman Genome Project. 

Session Overview:
The Shura Council convened today, Sunday, to discuss the statement of H.E. Dr. Hilal Ali Al Sabti, Minister of Health. The Minister reviewed the Ministry’s performance over the past period, highlighting key achievements in developing the healthcare system, as well as future plans aimed at enhancing system efficiency and achieving the objectives of Oman Vision 2040. These efforts are aligned with improving service quality, expanding coverage, and strengthening healthcare sustainability as a cornerstone of comprehensive development and quality of life.
Council members emphasized the importance of adopting a clear strategic vision and an integrated roadmap for developing the healthcare sector. This includes improving service quality, reducing waiting times, enhancing infrastructure efficiency, expanding specialized services across governorates, accelerating digital transformation, and integrating health systems to improve performance and patient satisfaction, while ensuring preparedness for future challenges.
The session formed part of the Council’s 16th regular meeting of the third annual sitting (2025–2026) of the tenth term (2023–2027), chaired by H.E. Khalid Hilal Al Maawali, in the presence of Council members and H.E. Ahmed Mohammed Al Nadabi, Secretary-General of the Council.

Address by the Council Chairman:
At the outset, H.E. Khalid Hilal Al Maawali welcomed the Minister of Health, emphasizing the strategic importance of discussing the Ministry’s statement, given the healthcare sector’s central role in national development. He noted that members’ deliberations would enhance coordination and support ongoing efforts to develop the healthcare system.

Address by the Minister of Health:
The Minister highlighted the comprehensive development witnessed in Oman’s healthcare sector, noting that during the Tenth Five-Year Plan (2021–2025), the Ministry implemented strategic projects and programs that strengthened system efficiency. These included adopting national health policies, governance of health information, launching the Oman accreditation system for healthcare institutions, completing health system performance assessments in cooperation with the World Health Organization, conducting the national survey on non-communicable diseases, and introducing premarital screening programs in early 2026.
He also pointed to significant infrastructure expansion through new hospitals and health centers, expansion of referral hospitals, and introduction of specialized services across governorates, supporting decentralization and improving access to care. Health indicators showed notable improvements, including reduced maternal and child mortality rates, increased public satisfaction exceeding 82%, and reduced waiting times in line with international best practices.
The Minister further highlighted progress in human resources, including increased workforce numbers, improved Omanization rates, and training and employment programs. He also underscored efforts to enhance pharmaceutical security, strengthen supply chains, expand medical industries, and reinforce the role of the private sector as a key partner.
Looking ahead, the Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) will focus on sustaining universal health coverage, advancing healthcare models, strengthening human and infrastructure resources, adopting modern technologies and AI, and implementing strategic projects, including specialized national centers.

Ministry Statement Details:
The Ministry’s statement outlined structural reforms, including sector restructuring under Royal Decree No. (10/2024), establishing a modern organizational framework with three main authorities. It highlighted continuous development in healthcare planning since 1976, reflecting institutional maturity and improved governance.
Healthcare service volume has grown significantly, with 1.46 million outpatient appointments recorded in (2025) and an average waiting period of five weeks. Thousands of surgeries were performed, hospital bed occupancy rates increased, and referrals to central hospitals rose, reflecting system responsiveness.
The healthcare network comprises 92 public institutions, including 51 hospitals and 41 health complexes and centers. Specialized services have expanded, with over 394,000 dialysis sessions in 2025 and notable progress in organ transplantation.
Public health programs also expanded, including early screening initiatives and 20 projects under the “Wiqaya” initiative. Workforce development programs addressed staffing gaps through training, recruitment, and scholarship initiatives.
Quality assurance systems were strengthened through regulatory frameworks, accreditation systems, and strict monitoring of violations. Diagnostic services expanded significantly, enhancing early detection and treatment outcomes.
The Ministry also advanced pharmaceutical security, digital transformation through unified electronic health records and AI applications, and decentralized service delivery. Financial sustainability efforts include exploring social health insurance and increasing private sector investment.

Members’ Interventions:
Council members presented extensive interventions covering healthcare services, infrastructure, workforce challenges, pharmaceutical security, investment, and digital transformation. They stressed the need for equitable service distribution, enhanced healthcare access in remote areas, improved elderly care, addiction treatment centers, and specialized services.


Members also raised concerns regarding workforce retention, retirement policies, project delays, healthcare spending levels, private sector quality, and referral policies for treatment abroad. They emphasized transparency, data-driven decision-making, and strengthening partnerships with the private sector.

The Council will continue discussions tomorrow (Monday) during its 17th session. Ministerial statement discussions serve as a platform for constructive dialogue, addressing challenges, and identifying solutions to improve performance, enhance service quality, and meet citizens’ aspirations.