As part of the government sectors integration in implementing the priorities of Oman Vision 2040 and focusing on the most important themes of the vision, primarily enhancing the efficiency of human resources, including the health sector resources, a preparatory meeting for the Development Workshop on Human Resources in the Health Sector for Health ‘Growth & Sustainability’ was conducted today (Wednesday) at the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-Up Unit auditorium.

The Minister of Health H.E. Dr. Hilal Ali Al Sabti attended the meeting with the participation of H.H. Sayyid Dr. Fahad bin Al Julanda Al Said, Vice-Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University, H.E. Dr. Saeed Harib Al Lamki, MOH’s Health Affairs Undersecretary, and Al Sayyid Dr. Munther Hilal Al Busaidi, Deputy Head of the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, along with number of Directors General of various Health Directorates and Government units, and deans of health colleges and universities in the country from military, civil, and private sectors.

The meeting aimed at introducing the most prominent challenges facing the human resources system in the health system and discussing the mechanism of compatibility and integration with the national efforts and the expected roles of the relevant authorities.

During the meeting, Dr. Bader Al Alawi, Director of Oman Vision 2040 Implementation & Follow-Up of MOH Office reviewed the major challenges facing human resources globally and health in particular, in addition to challenge of the Sultanate of Oman regarding this file and the current shortage in the number of health practitioners and the increase in demand with a lack of supply. Dr. Al Alawi further presented key challenges in health human resources such as policies, labor market, training, and financing.

Moreover, the Director of Oman Vision 2040 Implementation & Follow-Up Office discussed the priority of health focusing on the theme of human resources for health. He highlighted the proposed courses of action to be presented in the first two weeks of October 2023 at the development workshop aiming at solving the presented challenges.

Expected time plan for preparing the development workshop which will be held on October 2023 and requesting participation of relevant authorities (governmental and private health and training institutions, as well international organizations) were further addressed in the meeting, underlining their roles in promoting health policies and allocation financial resources to develop and strengthen health human resources, in addition to steering national strategies to improve training and medical education, and encouraging work in priority areas of health care, as well as establishing incentive programs to attract and retain qualified health personnel and promoting an attractive work environment.

The preparatory meeting included a panel discussion that addressed the importance of integration of roles between the relevant authorities in the health sector in order to enhance awareness about the challenges of health human resources and coordinate efforts between stakeholders in the health sector to create a unified database on human resources.

At the end of the meeting, His Excellency the Health Minister drew attention to the need for cooperation and continue the successful work, commending meanwhile the sincere efforts being made to achieve the public interest of work.