Having undergone significant demographic changes in the last few years, the Sultanate now has almost half its population under the age of 20, according to a new Ministry of Health report.

Since the early years of the Blessed Renaissance era, the Ministry of Health has made its best to provide an integrated health system that provides high quality health care for all Omanis at the different parts of the Sultanate, according to the report issued by the Ministry of Health. 

The report added that over the past few years, the Sultanate has witnessed a significant demographic and epidemic changes due to the growth in the average life expectancy and the prevalence of the non-contagious diseases.

Statistics show that 45.1 per cent of the Omani population are less than 20 years of age.

As of 2016, people more than 60 years of age comprise only 6 per cent of the total pollution and the average number of individuals in an Omani family is 7.8. The Omani woman gives birth to an average of 4 live births. The rate of raw death is 2.9 cases compared to 34.1:1,000 raw birth. The current fertility and fatality rate is expected to double the population of the Omanis within 25 to 30 years.

The report pointed out that the health system of the Sultanate provides comprehensive coverage to all Omanis and expats. The expenditure on health constitutes 2.7 per cent of the GDP at current rate. The Government, which bears about 81.1 per cent of the total expenditure on health, manages about 83.1 per cent of hospitals, 92.5 per cent of hospital beds, 62.2 per cent of outpatient services and 94.5 per cent of inpatient services.

The personal expenditure on health constitutes 11.6 per cent of the total expenditure on health.

The report affirmed that the Ministry has made many achievements in rendering health services during the 8th five-year health plan 2010-2015 as it opened and operated five hospitals, 4 specialized centers and 29 health centers and complexes at the different parts of the Sultanate. It also introduced 79 diagnostic and treatment services at the different health institutions. Efforts made by the Ministry were supported by the donations made by some individuals and organizations in the form of financing the purchase of medical equipment and supplies.

The report also said that the private sector has played an active role in setting up private health institutions that contribute to health development in the Sultanate.

The number of health institutions by the end of 2015 stood at 15 private hospitals including 10 in Muscat, 2 in Dhofar, 2 in North Al Batinah and 1 in South A’Sharqiyah with a bed capacity of 582.

The number of general clinics stands at 460 compared to 288 specialised polyclinics, 233 dental clinics, 49 Chinese and Indian Medicine clinics and 604 pharmacies. The number of staff working at these organizations stand at 9886 including 737 specialists, 1114 general practitioners, 755 dentists, 1507 pharmacists, 3110 nurses and 474 lab technicians.

“The Ministry has developed its long term policy for the health system (Health 2050) based on which the (Health Strategy 2040) was made. The strategy highlighted the current status of health services, challenges facing them and the solutions to address such challenges,” the report concluded.

Source: Timesofoman