The Ministry of Health (MOH) inaugurated today (Thursday) the expansion project of Suhar Hospital under the patronage of H.E. Abdulsalam bin Mohamed Al-Murshidi, President of Oman Investment Authority, with the presence of H.E. Dr. Hilal bin Ali Al-Sabti, Minister of Health along with H.E. Dr. Said bin Harib Al-Lamki, MOH Undersecretary for Health Affairs and H.E. Dr. Fatma bint Mohammed Al-Ajmi, MOH Undersecretary for Administrative, Financial & Planning Affairs.

The first phase of the project was constructed under the direct supervision of the Royal Court Affairs, represented by the Royal Establishments.

The 28-million project keeps pace with the government’s tireless efforts, represented by the Ministry of Health, to ensure access to health services and promote decentralization in the governorates according to the National Strategy of Oman Vision 2040.

After the expansion, the hospital's capacity increased to more than 636 (i.e., increasing to 270 beds) to meet the continuing demand for specialized health services from the residents of North Al-Batinah governorate and neighboring governorates.

H.E. Dr. Said bin Harib Al-Lamki, MOH Undersecretary for Health Affairs, pointed out that the new expansion is a qualitative addition to the health services in the Hospital through upgrading the services into tertiary services.

Furthermore, Al-Lamki stressed that these services are supervised by a qualified Omani team in managing the expansion. He touched upon the units and services that have been added, expanded, and improved, such as a cardiac catheterization and interventional radiology unit, an emergency unit, which is the biggest one in Oman, a 33-bed obstetrics and gynecology unit, ICUs, an advanced orthopedics unit, and a pediatric intensive care unit equipped with (16) beds. All these services are equivalent to those services available in Muscat.

The new buildings were equipped with state-of-the-art medical, specialized, and diagnostic technologies by supplying and installing fixed and mobile medical equipment and devices, as well as the required systems and medical and office furniture. The highest international specifications and standards have been considered in such projects.

The four-floor buildings were constructed with a total built-up area of 30,000 sq. m., in addition to service tunnels and a training center.

The expansion project includes the accident and emergency department, where the number of added beds reached 68, including eight for resuscitation (for adults and children) and an adult intensive care unit equipped with (17) beds. Moreover, 25 beds for the dialysis unit were equipped with hemodialysis machines to keep pace with the steady increase in dialysis patients.

A number of surgical specialties were added, for which, some surgical units were prepared and expanded to provide emergency treatment and surgical services such as cardiac catheterization service. The extension includes equipping a special unit for heart care consisting of two rooms equipped with the latest medical technologies.

Cardiac catheterization procedures were being conducted in the new expansion, along with providing a 22-bed ward for post-operative heart patients. A special heart care unit is available for heart patients consisting of (12) beds and two isolation rooms.

The new addition included 20 beds for the day-care unit to serve patients needing temporary admission and daily operations.

In addition, an MRI unit was established. Two CT scan machines and two television x-rays (sonar x-rays), a mammography device, a bone density device, an upper gastrointestinal endoscope, and a respiratory endoscope were added in order to facilitate access to proper and accurate diagnosis and early detection of diseases.

For his part, H.E. Mohammed bin Suliman Al-Kindi, Governor of North Al-Batinah, stated that this Governorate is considered the biggest governorate in terms of the Omani population at the Sultanate’s level. He added that the number of citizens and residents in this Governorate reached 872.014 people by the end of 2022. Therefore, the Government paid the most significant attention to supporting the health services in this governorate at all levels.