The Ministry of Health (MOH), represented by the Administrative & Technical Violations Committee in the Directorate General of Private Health Establishments (DGPHE), has permanently closed three private health institutions. A number of (18) private health institution has been also closed temporarily.

Clinical privileges were withdrawn from several medical staff, and two private specialized health institutions were suspended.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Health has issued a number of warnings to (66) private health institutions. It also warned (34) private health institutions for publishing some advertisements on social media without permits.

Dr. Muhana bin Nasser Al Maslahi, DGPHE Director General, affirmed that MOH is moving forward to take all the statutory measures, including precautionary closures for any health institution that does not adhere to the quality standards required for health services.

He added that the private health sector is one of the main pillars of the health system in the Sultanate of Oman, as private health institutions provide primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare at some hospitals.

Dr. Al Maslahi pointed out that the total number of licensed private health establishments in the Sultanate of Oman is more than (1600) clinics, health centers, polyclinics, and hospitals, and the number of health workers in these institutions is reached (10684) workers.

In cooperation with the other public sectors, the Directorate is streamlining licensing procedures for various health institutions and workers through developing e-government within the national licensing portal for different sectors.

The Directorate observed some administrative and financial violations related to licensing controls for (75) private health institutions out of (150) visited private health institutions. The violations included licensing systems and clinical privileges irregularities.

It is worth mentioning that a deadline was given for private health institutions to correct these violations. If the irregularities were not corrected after the period of time given to them, the violating institutions would be referred to the administrative & technical violations committees.

Al Maslahi urges all private health institutions to commit to legislation and policies regulating the private health sector in order to provide high-end health services to ensure the safety of patients and the health of community members.