Oman prepares for historic heart transplant program

OMAN—Oman’s Ministry of Health (MoH) is preparing to launch the country’s first Heart Transplant Programme, marking a significant milestone in the country’s healthcare sector.

This program is part of Oman’s ongoing attempts to improve medical services, particularly organ transplants.

The programme seeks to provide a lifeline to people with severe heart problems who require a transplant.

The Technical Committee for Heart Transplantation, formed under the National Organ Transplantation Programme, recently held its inaugural meeting.

The session, led by H.E. Dr Hilal bin Ali al Sabti, Minister of Health, focused on the essential steps to begin heart transplant procedures in the Sultanate.

These preparations include obtaining critical medical and surgical equipment, hiring skilled personnel, and creating a nationwide waiting list for individuals needing a heart transplant.

During the discussion, the committee emphasised the importance of establishing local heart transplant services in Oman.

Dr Ahmed bin Saeed al Busaidi, Director of the National Organ Transplantation Programme, emphasised that this step is not only a huge improvement in the country’s healthcare systems but also a source of hope for heart failure patients.

The MoH hopes that by introducing heart transplant capabilities to Oman, patients would be able to receive timely and accessible care rather than having to travel abroad for such vital surgeries.

In addition, the programme is expected to improve the efficiency of organ donation and transplantation in Oman.

Once implemented, the heart donation process will be incorporated into the Ministry of Health’s Shifa application, allowing individuals to register their willingness to donate organs after death.

This integration will complement the current organ donation registration process, significantly strengthening Oman’s organ transplantation system and guaranteeing that more lives can be saved through timely transplants.

The MoH’s program is consistent with a global understanding of the necessity of organ donation, particularly as the globe commemorates globe Autism Awareness Day.

The colour blue, which is associated with this day, represents the virtues of calmness, understanding, and stability—all of which are essential in Oman’s development and improvement of healthcare services.

This Heart Transplant Programme has the potential to revolutionise Oman’s healthcare environment, providing new hope and life-saving solutions to those in most need.

Through this initiative, the Ministry of Health confirms its commitment to improving medical services and delivering comprehensive treatment to Omanis.

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