Units

.

.

Directorate of Health Information and Statistics

Health information have improved over the last years, especially after 1990, with the establishment of an agency for the planning in 1991. At the same period, the Directorate of Information and Statistics has been established in the ministry and governorates to serve the health services. In addition, the number of statisticians has been increased in the governorates, so that they can meet the requirements of the decision makers in various levels of health care and they can provide accurate data. Health information have developed qualitatively and quantitatively in terms of periodic information that is collected, audited and documented annually in cooperation with various health departments either in the central level or governorates or even other health-related sectors. In addition, the health information statistical system has won praise from the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2007 .

Department of information and statistics in the ministry of health publish annual health report, which contains 10 chapters that include: use of health services, manpower , education and training, expenditures and development projects, inpatients data, data related to other government health institutions and private sector institutions, as well as containing the appendix that presents some surveys and studies conducted by the studies and research center, and displays the targets of the Millennium Development data. Health facts are also published that displays the most important findings and health indicators in the annual health report. Another health facts are published about birth and death.

Department of information and statistics update the basic indicators of the WHO, whereby it is sending list of indicators called (Core indicators) per year to be reviewed and updated electronically in the website of the organization. In addition, the department provide some health data to the National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI). For example, birth and death data are sent from MOH to the NCSI monthly, as well as updated data for the annual report of the NCSI are sent electronically. The department is also participated in the training of students from Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), college of science, Health statistics.

The Directorate General of Planning and Studies focuses on the information and statistical data to assess the five-year plans and work on proper scientific planning. Department of information and statistics is considered as the focal point which responsible to provide the necessary information and data for each planning, monitoring and evaluation of services and health programs to help decision-makers. As a result, the international community praised the achievements that have been done by the Sultanate of Oman in the health field.

Geographic Information System Section

GIS is a technical tool used to collect, input, manipulate and analyze spatial data, manage large amounts of data at the same time and display them as maps, health reports or graphs. The idea of GIS work in classifying features on the ground is summarized in several categories of each category represented in a separate layer. For example, the road network layer, the land layer, the building layer, the contour line, the heights, the layer, the residential layer, the service layer, the coastline, and the rest of the infrastructure services such as water, electricity, telephone, sewage and other.
The Section of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is one of the departments established in the Ministry of Health in 2014 and follows the Department of Information and Statistics at the Directorate General of Planning and Studies. The Section has been prepared to provide it with Arc GIS and GPS equipment through ESRI, the approved GIS software distribution company.
Goals Section:

• Work on the expansion of the areas of the use of geographic information systems in the health field that help to develop health system.
• Display health information faster and easier.
• Solving health, social and economic problems.
• Raise the level of human health.

GIS section tasks:

• Develop a general geographic data base of health sector and its institutions.
• Update Data and Statistics for health institutions and indicators of health care, human resources and all services provided in health facilities.
• Confirm the institutions sites and updating the existing sites.
• Making reports and health studies, such as health Atlas, governorate health profile, wilayat profile, determined the catchment area for each health institution, preparing annual health report maps, participate in health survey to monitor the spread of communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases in collaboration with the Center for Studies and Research.
• Provide health data for different departments (health institutions and non-medical health institutions) in different forms, for example; reports and maps that showing the distribution of health institutions over the governorates and link it to the distribution of population density to study the efficiency of distribution and good planning and helping officials in decision-making, such as citizen requests file to create or replace health institution.
• Prepare spatial applications to display health information, such as Preparing an application to the Minister of Health to use in Al-Shura Meeting using two programs: arc map program and google earth by preparing the data in the arc map program, and then dropped onto the google earth program to give true picture of reality.
• Follow-up maintenance of equipment and software used in the geographic health information systems.
• Monitoring the quality of health geographical information systems data.
• Participate in the spatial platform prepared by the National Center for Statistics and Information, it is a portal for the exchange of information between the various sectors.
• Find a sources of alternative programs for the ARC GIS programs such as open programs as a result of the high cost of ARCGIS programs.

Center of Studies & Research

Vision
Oman to be a regional leader and a research hub of world standards in health research for a healthier nation.
Mission
To promote, facilitate and conduct high quality health research in Oman addressing national health priorities in order to improve health care services, enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the health system, reduce health inequity, and contribute to socio-economic development.

Strategies:
In order to achieve the Vision and Mission, a set of strategies that are specific, measurable, and achievable have been set. The strategic goals can be broadly classified under the following headings:

Strategy 1: Setting health research priorities

Strategy 2: Strengthening health research capacity

Strategy 3: Defining and implementing norms and standards

Strategy 4: Developing health research (quality and quantity)

Strategy 5: Translating evidence into policy and practice

Strategy 6: Monitoring and coordinating research

Strategy 7: Financing health research

Strategy 8: Evaluating effectiveness of the health research system

Organization Structure:
There is a high political commitment to develop health research and this is manifested clearly in the structure of Ministry of Health which has a separate Centre of Studies and Research.

Directorate of Monitoring & Evaluation

The central authority responsible for the follow-up and evaluation of the central plan and the operational plans of the governorates through its various years through the adoption of modern methods and methodologies according to methods based on indicators of monitoring, follow-up and evaluation of these plans. The activities were monitored at the end of each year of the five-year plan, Evaluation of products and results in the middle and end of the plan.
The central role played by the Department in the process of monitoring and evaluation as active participation in the implementation of the plans is inspiring and contributes to improving the level of health services provided as it is able to receive reports and statistics on the work carried out by all directorates and departments at the central and provincial levels, These reports and the conclusions of the conclusions and conclusions in the light of factual data and the actual implementation of programs and activities to achieve the results listed in the plans and then prepare appropriate recommendations on the correction of performance and raise each according to functional competencies in addition to the concerned and guidance Various entities through nutrition review which are of paramount importance in support, improvement and change.
On the other hand, the Monitoring and Evaluation Department is working to establish advanced monitoring and evaluation programs that keep pace with the modern planning methodologies and train all employees of the Ministry of Health at all levels of their careers along with the training in the planning and the preparation of five-year plans in order to benefit from this. In the preparation of sub-plans and detailed at the level of departments and sections.

Planning Department

Central Department at the Directorate General of Planning and Studies, follows up the preparation and implementation of the approved annual plans of the departments in order to achieve the objectives..
It has the largest role in the management of National Health policy development to ensure consistency with the social and economic development policy of the Sultanate and to manage the process of translating the National Health policy into health strategies and programs through the preparation, review and adoption of five-year health plans at the central and governorate levels.
It is also based on the study and preparation of budgets and planning costs for health services and future projects of the Ministry (to ensure the equitable distribution of health services between governorates and access of these services to the entire population.
Services provided:
The department provides services through three departments: the Services Planning Department, the Manpower Planning Department and the Health Economics Department

Services Planning Section:
This section examines and evaluates the status of health institutions from different resources (labor force, buildings, facilities, appliances, etc.) to ensure the optimal use and redistribution of health resources to meet the actual needs of the population.
Where it oversees the training and development of staff in health departments on the planning work and methods at all levels. Setting standards for determining the basic requirements of health resources (labor force, medical equipment, facilities, buildings ... etc) in coordination with the competent authorities in the ministry..
It also examines the requirements of the health institutions of the workforce in all its specialties and determine the actual needs according to the approved standards and submit recommendations to decision makers.
In addition to analyzing and evaluating the flow of financial resources in the health system by tracking health expenditure to ensure the fair and optimal distribution of financial resources according to the approved standards.
Providing technical support to the health departments in the governorates to raise the scientific and practical efficiency of planning management at the local level
Coordination, cooperation and participation in national committees for planning activities to contribute to the management of the health, social and economic development of the Sultanate
Participate in regional and international conferences and forums specialized in the field of health planning with a view to exchanging experiences and benefiting from them in improving the level of national health planning.

Department of Manpower Planning:
This section sets standards for the distribution of labor force on the health institutions in the Sultanate at various levels and updating them periodically. And to study and assess the needs of the current health institutions of the workforce and redistribute them to ensure equitable distribution. And study the future needs of the workforce in the new health institutions with their different sections and specialization..
Cooperation and coordination with other agencies in the Ministry concerned with the manpower to develop appropriate strategies to ensure the availability of adequate and qualified manpower in all disciplines.
Training and development of workers in health departments on the tools and methods of determining the workforce in health institutions.

Department of Health Economics:
This section applies the system of health accounts in cooperation with the relevant authorities in other ministries.
Through the establishment of a database on the cost of health services and an annual report on the flow of financial resources in the health system for decision makers to modify and update national policies.
As well as training and development of the workforce in this area on the use of methods and tools used in health economics, and study and analysis of the budget lines of planning for future projects.
Through cooperation and coordination with the relevant authorities at the level of the Ministry and other ministries in relation to the demand and supply of health services
Finally, it develops, evaluates and updates mechanisms for how to make optimal use of financial resources in the health system
Participate in the preparation of long-term strategic plans and ensure consistency with the future narratives of the health system 2050 and draw the five-year plans and develop them according to development.
Prepare future plans to meet the strategic expansion of health services and community needs
Participate and coordinate with the financial department regarding the establishment of the financial budget and the calculation of costs.
Cooperate, coordinate and provide necessary consultation for all plans related to hospitals and health centers affiliated to the Ministry of Health.
Proposing the necessary procedures and methods to update the planning methodology in the medical services and proposing the indicators and criteria necessary for developing the planning process and achieving the planned goals