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Under the dynamic leadership of his Majesty Sultan Qaboos, the Sultanate of Oman has achieved substantial progress in extending comprehensive health services to the people. In order to sustain and strengthen this development, the Ministry of Mealth, hereby makes the following National Health Policy Statement:
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| 1. |
It is reaffirmed that health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, and that the attainment of the highest possible level of health is a most important social goal whose realization requires action of many other social and economic sectors in addition to the health sector. Protection and promotion of the health of the people is essential also to sustain rapid economic and social development and to contribute to a better quality of life.
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| 2. |
The ministry of health shares with the people the responsibility for health, and in order to achieve this, will continue to strengthen health services. Further, it has accepted the target of attainment by people of Oman, by the year 2000, of a level of health which will permit them to lead a socially and economically productive life. Primary health care is the key to attain this target.
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| 3. |
Administration of health services will be further decentralized to the wilayat level in conformity with the Royal Decree No.6/91 issued in 1991, by which Oman was divided into regions and wilayats. Steps will be taken to establish a wilayat-based health management system and thus promote better planning, management, supervision, community involvement and inter-sectoral coordination.
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All regions in Oman will formulate plans of action based on regional needs and national policies and strategies to launch and sustain Primary Health Care through the wilayat health system.
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The people of wilayats will be encouraged to participate in planning, implementation and evaluation of health care. Organisational support and initiatives will facilitate such meaningful participation.
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The ministry of health recognizes that promotion and protection of health is not solely dependent on the health sector but also on other sectors such as agriculture, social welfare, education, housing, public health, engineering, water, sanitation and environment, religious affairs and information which make a considerable contribution to the health of people. An institutional frame-work will be established to promote inter-sectoral coordination, particularly at wilayat and regional level.
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Taking note of the rapid economic and social development in the Sultanate and being concerned that this may lead to unhealthy life-style leading to the emergence of new health problems such as obesity, cardiovascular disorders and diabetes, timely action will be taken to inform and educate the people so that they adopt a healthy life-style and food habits.
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| 8. |
The Sultanate having reached a reasonably satisfactory state of health services development, steps will be initiated to plan and implement the eradication programmes of certain communicable diseases like leprosy, tuberculosis, poliomylities, neontal tetanus and malaria.
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The environment plays an important role in influencing the health of the people, with several agencies directly or indirectly concerned with it. A coordination mechanism will be established in order to monitor and evaluate the environment on a continuous basis.
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| 10. |
In order to assure the highest quality of health care for all, and the same time to make efficient utilization of the resourses, the Ministry of Health will continue to upgrade the health institutions at wilayat, regional and national levels; and effectively link these through referral chains.
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An improved managerial process and tools will continue to be applied for strengthening health system management. The information and knowledge base will be enhanced to support health care planning, programming, implementation and evaluation. The health information system will be backed up by a nationwide network.
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| 12. |
Consistent with National Policy on Omanisation, already-initiated actions for Omani human resources development for health professions will be vigorously pursued by the Ministry of Health in cooperation with the Ministries of Sevil Services and Education and Sultan Qaboos University. Strategies will be evolved for closer Omani and non-Omani cooperation among the employees for mutual enrichment, promotion of team work and interactive process in health management, development of sound continuing education systems and objective performance appraisal systems.
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