Oman pushes for regional integration to drive growth in the GCC’s healthcare industry

OMAN – The Sultanate of Oman has passed a motion urging for the integration of health services in the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

In addition to the integration of specialized health services, the Sultanate of Oman called for pooled efforts to establish telemedicine clinics for rare diseases in the GCC countries.

The specialized centers are expected to increase the capacity of the GCC countries to provide corneal and organ transplantation, toxicology, joint replacement, diagnostics, and therapeutic interventions.

Underlining the significance of regional integration, the Minister of Health of the Sultanate of Oman, His Excellency Dr. Hilal Ali al Sabti reflected: “By doing so, all GCC countries can afford to access any Gulf specialized center’s services while assuring the quality of healthcare services provided to our communities.”

The Omani health minister called for intensified collaboration across health sectors at the ninth meeting of the GCC Health Ministers Committee, held in the city of Muscat.

The Sultanate of Oman recently played host to the Ninth Meeting of the GCC Health Ministers Committee, along with the 86th General Conference of the GCC and Yemen Health Ministers Council in its 48th session.

Oman’s Minister of Health Dr. Hilal Ali al Sabti welcomed the delegations to the ninth meeting of the Committee of Ministers of Health of GCC.

This event signifies a momentous achievement in the collective dedication of the GCC countries to strengthen collaboration, foster technological progress, and improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the healthcare sector in the region.

Additionally, the ninth meeting of the Committee of Ministers of Health of GCC broached Oman’s proposal to activate telemedicine clinics for rare diseases.

Dr. Hilal Ali al Sabti called for urgent action to establish a joint electronic platform for all states of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The commencement of this collaborative electronic platform holds significant potential in enabling physicians to engage in discussions and oversee diverse medical cases that are rare or unresponsive.

Dr. Hilal Ali al Sabti further said that this joint electronic platform can greatly enhance regional medical collaboration.

He emphasized the importance of this integration and its potential to strengthen health systems and elevate the quality of services for the communities in the Gulf region.

GCC Health Ministers’ meeting

Moreover, the meeting’s intent is in sync with the GCC countries’ increased focus on promoting cooperation in the health sector in order to improve the provision of health services to the level of excellence.

The high-level event served as an excellent opportunity for public health counterparts in the GCC countries to explore ways to enhance the complementarity of specialized services in the region.

During the regional meeting, the Saudi Ministry of Health also proposed recognizing March 2nd of every year as World Health Martyr Day, in honor of individuals who have sacrificed their lives for the cause of healthcare.

It was an ideal platform for health ministers to follow up on the implementation of the decisions of the Supreme Council of the GCC in the health field.

In his address, Dr. Hilal Ali al Sabti noted: “The GCC efforts to achieve universal health coverage by providing health and human resources for the health systems have ensured people’s access to the various levels of health services.”

Following deliberations, the GCC Health Ministers’ meeting approved various draft resolutions aimed at advancing healthcare initiatives within the region.

These resolutions included plans for the Gulf Center for Disease Prevention and Control, registration of medical devices and supplies, restructuring of pay and benefits, and updates on medication pricing.

On top of these draft resolutions, the meeting endorsed a collaborative action mechanism (tawasul) with the GCC Health Ministries to enhance cooperation and streamline healthcare efforts.

The intended integration seeks to facilitate the transfer of eligible patients to esteemed centers of excellence located within the Gulf Cooperation Council.

This initiative aims to foster the exchange of expertise and promote the conduction of multi-center studies within the region.

With the GCC healthcare expenditure projected to reach US$135.5 billion in 2027, regional integration could positively impact the fast-growing health sectors across the region.

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