Towards empowering the healthcare leaders to actively participate in the health sector, improve their ability to make appropriate decisions in a timely manner, the Ministry of Health convened today (Wednesday) the fifth edition of Health Leaders Forum under the theme Empowerment “Tamkeen” at Barceló Resort, Al-Musannah.
Chaired by H.E. Dr. Hilal Ali Al Sabti, Minister of Health, the two-day forum brought together MoH Undersecretaries, Governorates’ director generals of health services, and hospitals directors, as well directors of Minister Office.
The event is aspiring to meet spectrum of objectives that can be outlined in several points that includes increasing the health leaders’ knowledge and awareness of their capacity to make appropriate health decisions to respond quickly to the challenges facing the health sector, and creating a stimulating work environment to attract and retain human resources to ensure job satisfaction. The event additionally will shed light on the initiatives that were designed to developing the health system. 
At the onset of the forum, His Excellency the Minister of Health emphasized the significance of the event as a continuation of previous forums. He stressed the importance of organized and deliberate efforts to ensure the sustainability of improving the healthcare system in line with the ministry's aspirations to achieve the goals of Oman Vision 2040 in the healthcare sector. 
The Minister pointed out further that the forum focuses on several important topics, including healthcare governance, enhancing employee commitment and institutional loyalty, the importance of leadership in the success of national projects and initiatives, and the conduction of training workshop on leadership and decision-making. 
Furthermore, H.E. Dr. Al Sabti reviewed the vision of the Ministry and its future projects, which include developing the healthcare model, enhancing governance through the development of policies and necessary legislation to strengthen the healthcare sector based on decentralization of health services, developing the human resources system through planning, attracting and developing competencies to empower them to work in the healthcare sector, digital transformation, and fostering a culture of project management, change management and continuous improvement. 
H.E. Dr. Ahmed Al Mandhari, MOH’s Undersecretary for Planning and Health Regulation gave a presentation on Leadership and Efficiency in Healthcare Management, highlighting the concept of leadership in healthcare, characteristics of effective leadership in healthcare, and the causes of leadership failure providing examples in this regard. 
Dr. Youssef Al Farsi, the Director General of Health Services at South Al Batinah Governorate, underlining the most important initiatives, projects, and health campaigns in the Governorate including Balad Seet Health Center project, the second assessment by the World Health Organization of hospitals implementing the Patient Safety Initiative, and the Evaluation Project (evaluation and supervision of general practitioners by family physicians).
Among other initiatives and projects are: The Dental Examination Initiative for diabetic patients, the Oral Health Examination Initiative for children with special needs, Itqaan Initiative, Mawed Project, the E-Archiving Initiative for radiographic images, (Q-system) Project, the Environment Project (reducing the amount of medical waste), along with Home Environmental Sanitation Campaign, and Enayiah (Care) Project (pediatric home cervical respiratory care).
Afterwards, the Minister of Health honored those involved in the completion of Balad Seet Health Center project in South Al Batinah Governorate and other projects in the governorate.
He further honored  governorates’ DGHS, doctors, and healthcare establishments that performed best at the Beneficiary Satisfaction Survey; the first three places in the doctor’s category were granted by Dr. Mohammad Al Moqbali from Saham Polyclinic -North Al Batinah Governorate, Dr. Badr Al Majarifi from Akhdar Health Center in Al Dhahirah Governorate, and Dr. Shaker Al Ghaithi from Seeb Health Center.
As for the governorates category, the honors went to the directorates general of health services in the governorates of Muscat, North Al Batinah, and Ad Dakhiliyah.
In the healthcare institutions category, several institutions were honored, including Suhar Health Polyclinic in North Al Batinah Governorate, Sa'ada Health Center in Dhofar Governorate, Al Ma'abela South Health Center in Muscat Governorate, the Directorates General of Royal and Khawla Hospitals, Sultan Qaboos Hospital in Dhofar Governorate, and the health polyclinics in Seeb, Saham, and Buraimi. 
The first day's program also featured a workshop on enhancing employees' institutional commitment, facilitated by Dr. Ghalib Al Hosni, Chief People Officer (CPO) of the Human Resources Unit at Omantel.  
These regular meetings among Ministry of Health’s senior officials are part of the framework aimed at reviewing and monitoring the country's healthcare system, addressing its challenges, and finding effective solutions.