Private firms invited to open new hospitals in Oman

Muscat: Private health firms have been invited by the Ministry of Health to open new facilities in the Sultanate.
The Directorate General of Private Health Establishments has invited suitably qualified health care facility planning companies to register with them to provide design and commissioning support to private health providers wishing to open new facilities in Oman.
“The requirement of the companies, who wish to register, should have a track record of providing successful hospital and clinic projects,” the Ministry of Health said in a statement.
Companies that wish to register should submit their company profile, list of successful projects, resumes of key employees and associates, and other relevant details by the end of March 2016 to the Office of Director General, Directorate General of Private Health Institutions.
Oman is now targeting to set up hundreds of new clinics over the next few years, in line with the country’s long-term strategy for the sector.
Private providers have already found a decent foothold in Oman’s healthcare sector.
A study found that almost half of the patients treated at the country’s private medical facilities are locals, even though Omanis qualify for free public health care.
“Opening up more hospitals and healthcare would reduce the burden of the government to provide healthcare and develop the private sector’s competencies,” said a leading private health care official.
Thousands of Omanis go abroad for medical treatment each year. “With new hospitals and health care centres being opened, we hope to cut down on that number,” the official said.