Muscat: As many as 86,955 surgeries, including 39,976 for males and 46,979 for females were conducted by the Ministry of Health (MoH). This was revealed in the ministry’s annual report for 2023.
According to MoH, health expenditures rose by 24.6% to over RO one billion, driven largely by ongoing development projects, including the expansion of hospitals and health institutions.
The comprehensive overview of healthcare services in Oman shows that the infant mortality rate decreased to 8.5 deaths per thousand live births from 8.8 in 2022.
The mortality rate for children under five years of age also declined from 11.4 to 10.8 per thousand live births. The crude mortality rate decreased to 1.7 deaths per thousand population, while the maternal mortality rate was 19.9 deaths per 100,000 live births and 17.5 deaths per 100,000 live births among Omani women.
By the end of 2023, the Ministry of Health managed 265 health institutions, including 50 hospitals with 5,024 beds, 21 health complexes, and 194 health centres. Several institutions were expanded, and new services were added to enhance healthcare quality.
According to the report, human resources in the Ministry grew to 39,542 employees, with an Omanisation rate of 71%. The number of doctors increased by 2.3% to 6,137, pharmacists by 3.3% to 877, and nurses by 3.5% to 15,961.
The report said outpatient clinic visits rose by 2.7% to 15.3 million while the number of X-rays performed increased by 9.5% to about 1.8 million.
Meanwhile, patients receiving dialysis services were 2,588.
The Ministry's efforts to combat infectious diseases led to a significant decrease in cases, with no reported instances of polio, neonatal tetanus, diphtheria, yellow fever, or rubella. However, there were 2,711 cases of dengue fever and 295 of malaria.
Organ transplantation saw 19 kidney, 11 liver, and 20 cornea transplants, with 17 kidneys and 11 livers donated, reflecting an increase from 2022.
The report highlighted the shifting epidemiological landscape, with non-communicable diseases (NCD) becoming more prevalent due to lifestyle factors. As for hospitalizations, they increased by 2.6% to over 302,000 cases, with an average stay of 3.5 days per patient.
Referrals for treatment in the private sector or abroad rose by 26.4% to 1,315 patients.
The annual health report, issued by the Department of Information and Statistics, provides crucial data for planning, decision-making, and reporting to international and regional health organizations, emphasising the Ministry's commitment to enhancing healthcare services in Oman.
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