‘’Toward Excellence and Innovation in Financial Management in the Ministry of Health’’ workshop, organized by (MOH) represented by the Directorate General of Planning and Studies and in collaboration with the UNCEF, commenced today ( Thursday) at the  Grand Millennium Hotel, Muscat.

H.E. Dr. Mohammed Saif Al Hosni, MOH’s Undersecretary for Health Affairs patronized the opening with the presence of H.E Dr. Fatima Al Ajmi, MOH’s Undersecretary for Administrative, Financial and Planning Affairs, in addition to experts form UNICEF.

Representatives from Royal Police Hospital, Armed Forces Hospital (AFH), Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), Diwan of Royal Court, along with other health institutions and from relevant government authorities took part in the event.

This three-day hands-on workshop aims at finding the best scientific-based methods to increase the MOH fiscal space focusing on the first prerequisite for Oman to get high return on investing on people health which is “combining innovative reforms aimed at improving cost efficiency and reconciling fiscal consolidation targets with the continued provision of sufficient levels of public services”.

MOH’s Undersecretary for Health Affairs marked the significance of this workshop that addresses the necessary requirements of the Ministry. He stressed the need for discussion in this regard to come up with the MOH’s budget-promoting solutions and initiatives through the optimal use of the available resources to achieve the desired goals.

H.E Dr. Fatima Al Ajmi, MOH’s Undersecretary for Administrative, Financial and Planning Affairs affirmed in her word that the Ministry of Health strives to provide the highest quality of health services within the different levels of health care, despite the many challenges that the health sector faces at the global level, and the Sultanate is not immune to it. She added that the Sultanate of Oman has overcame these challenges through the wise government’s belief in the leading role played by the health sector and its support for it in various ways and methods, despite the economic crisis that the country is witnessing with the rest of the world due to the drop in oil prices in light of difficult health conditions.

H.E. Dr. Al Ajmi noted that health is a value in itself and is a precondition for economic prosperity. People’s health influences economic outcomes in terms of productivity, labour supply, human capital and public spending, she pointed out.

Dr. Halima Qalam Al Hinai, DG of Planning and Studies reviewed the projects and initiatives of the Health Sector Strategic Programs within the Oman 2040’s vision. Dr. Al Hinai pointed out to the importance of achieving the universal health desired goals in addition to the provision of cost-efficient services through ensuring fiscal sustainability and promoting the various levels of health care.

The importance of this workshop stems from the importance of investing in health. Investment in health helps the Sultanate to rise to the challenges defined in its health strategies that had been aggravated by the economic crisis which are population aging, an increase in chronic diseases, an increased demand for health care, and the high cost of technological progress.

Notably, the workshop strives to enable participants to identify the current financing and economics’ knowledge and tools to help in the best management of the MOH fiscal space.

Attendance further participated in the evidence based brainstorming exercise to come up with innovative ways adapted to Oman health care system to create fiscal space that is sustainable and adequate to achieve Oman’s vision for health care.