Health projects, programmes approved by Cabinet set new milestone: Health Ministry

Oman Thursday 02/January/2025 18:39 PM
By: ONA
Health projects, programmes approved by Cabinet set new milestone: Health Ministry

Muscat: The Ministry of Health has affirmed that the health projects and programmes approved by the Council of Ministers at its recent meeting that was presided over by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik have set a milestone in the health march in the Sultanate of Oman and constitute a cornerstone for a bright future.

Dr. Hilal Ali Al Sabti, Minister of Health, valued the Council of Ministers’ directives to launch a national programme for early screening of the most common types of cancer among women by establishing 7 early detection units covering all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman.

Speaking to Oman News Agency (ONA), the minister said that "The move reflects concerted efforts that embody the government’s keenness to improve the citizens’ quality of life, protect families and enable early detection, treatment and prevention of these diseases, using the latest innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI)".

He added that plans to establish a nuclear radioisotope facility and a nuclear pharmacy seek to cover the rising demand for radio-pharmaceutical isotopes to diagnose and treat patients with cancer. The facilities, he explained, would provide a valuable diagnostic and educational tool that enables the Sultanate of Oman to be a centre for studies and research in this area.

“The establishment of a national centre for ophthalmology and eye surgery is in line with the rising demand for this vital service. This centre will be equipped with the latest modern diagnostic technologies,” Dr. Hilal affirmed.

He pointed out that the establishment of the National Human Genome and Data Centre (Genome Oman) will serve as an important move in providing a national reference genomic database for Omanis. “This further improves diagnosis and enhances precision medicine and healthcare,” he explained.

Dr. Hilal expressed the Health Ministry’s keenness to carry out the directives of the Council of Ministers by devising plans to put the instructions into practice.

These health programmes and projects would contribute to the realization of the Oman Vision 2040 health priority goals, which include focus on achieving justice and high quality in healthcare in all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman.