The Ministry of Health held an event today (Sunday) to mark the launch of Travel Medicine Clinics as a Medical Service in the primary health care institutions in the Sultanate. The event was under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Obaid Al Saidi, The Minister of Health at Muscat Holiday Al Khuwair Hotel.

On this occasion, the Health Minister emphasized the necessity of providing extension and therapeutic services to the travelers wishing to travel to countries with diseases and outbreaks that are not existing in the Sultanate at the present. H.E. Dr. Al Saidi called upon all the Sultanate citizens and residents to benefit from this service and head to the various health centers in the governorates before travelling. They will be informed with the diseases and epidemic spread in the country of destination in addition to the prevention and treatment methods. If any symptoms occur after returning, one should visit the health center for checkup.   

Director General Primary Health Care Dr. Saeed Al Lamki explained that the service would ensure that primary care physicians and nurses are equipped with knowledge to provide high quality pre-travel advice and service like malaria prophylaxis and immunizations and advice on other risks.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health represented by The Directorate-General for Disease Surveillance & Control as well the Directorate General of Primary Health Care have jointly collaborated to establish a Travel Medicine Service in the Sultanate by organizing a five-day training workshop. The workshop, run by experts from the College of Travel Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow, UK, trains 60 Healthcare workers from doctors and nurses in primary health care institutions from all governorates of the Sultanate in the Travel Medicine Service.

The implementation of the Travel Medicine Service is designed to enhance national health security by preventing any infectious diseases or outbreaks associated with the travel of Omanis or non-Omani outside the Sultanate and meeting the requirements of joint external assessment and comprehensive health care.

Notably, preparation for the establishment of the Travel Medicine Service has been underway since 2014. A consultative mission was carried out from international specialists in travel medicine and the Oman Travel Medicine Conference held from 14-15 February 2015, as a part of preparation for the establishment of the Travel Medicine Service at the primary health care health centers in the Sultanate. One of the most important recommendations resulting from the consultancy mission and the Travel Medicine Conference was the necessity of develop a practical strategy for the service of travel medicine in the Sultanate. There is an importance of raising awareness among citizens and residents to visit travel medicine Clinic in the primary health care health centers for medical consultation before traveling and after returning.