The Directorate General of Private Health Establishments (DGPHE) has taken a number of procedures to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic including convening several meetings with the heads of private hospitals and directors of private health establishments departments in the governorates.
DGPHE formed work teams in all the Governorates in order to prepare the private health establishments to organize workshops on the precautionary measures.
A number of circulars have been issued, most importantly regarding the evidence, polices and algorithms for addressing COVID-19 pandemic, dealing with suspected and infected cases and the process of referring these cases whether for examination or treatment. In addition, a circular was issued on restriction to treat the emergency cases only in these establishments along with the suspension of providing some of the cosmetic treatments and traditional Indian treatment to maintain patient safety and the safety of medical staff.
DGPHE adopted the assessment form on the readiness of private health establishments to tackle COVID-19, which prepared by the Directorate General of Diseases Surveillance & Control to be compatible with the private health establishments. The form covers the infection control aspects, the process of receiving suspected cases by separating them from the rest of the patients, allocating isolation rooms and the extent of medical staff commitment to wearing masks and personal protective equipment.
Several clinics have made a request to close their institution due to non-readiness to deal with the suspected cases.
The central team along with the assessment team in the private health establishments departments in the governorates have paid assessment visits intensively to ensure the commitment of these establishments to the precautionary measures, as well as to provide daily reports on the readiness of these establishments.
Some private health establishments that had proved unprepared have been closed. All of these establishments have revised the observations and complete their readiness, which therefore had reopened their establishments.
Moreover, clinics affiliated to companies and that covering the workers' accommodations have been assessed and guided on the isolation process.
The Directorate has made significant and urgent actions during the pandemic such as:
Allocating AdLife Private Hospital at the disposal of the Ministry for COVID-19 patients, which accommodating 60 beds. There has been coordination with the Directorate General of Engineering Affairs to assess the hospital and to ensure the safety of medical gas connections.
The DGPHE in cooperation with the Directorate General of Health Services of Muscat Governorate (DGHS-Muscat) launched a fully equipped mobile clinic from Al-Raffah Hospital to the Wilayat of Muttrah. Six ambulances have been provided to transfer the infected persons to the isolation places, where a hotel, provided all medical and catering services, has been allocated as an isolation place under the supervision of the private health sector.
Following up on the private health establishments in the governorates to determine their needs and backup them with the staff and required equipment from the private establishments in Muscat.
Allocating institutional isolation places for the expatriates living in the Sultanate.
A database of the number of beds and recovery beds, which is being updated every day, has been prepared to be utilized on a daily basis in private health establishments.
Providing volunteer doctors from the private hospitals for the outreach clinic in Ghala along with contact with the epidemiological investigation team to share opinions, discuss the challenges, and developing plans and solutions to stop spread the infection.
The cooperation between DGPHE and DGHS-Muscat to provide medical staff to cover the examination points in the accommodations in Muscat and work is underway for the other governorates. Furthermore, paying assessment visits to the company's clinics and in light of these visits, swab and tests can be performed by the competent of the DGHS-Muscat Infection Control Department.
The DGPHE coordinated with the medical suppliers to provide personal protective equipment (PPE), medical gloves and masks and nasal swabs the private health establishments, as well as giving the opportunity to the laboratories to conduct the PCR test in coordination with the Directorate General of Diseases Surveillance & Control and the central Laboratory. (6) Private laboratories have been adopted to perform COVID-19 test to reduce the burden on the Central Laboratory.
Coordinating with Oman Chamber of Commerce & Industry to support the private health establishments with some of the PPE, conducting 500 PCR tests in Al Ward Medical Services Genetic Laboratory, as well as paying the costs of COVID-19 treatment for non-Omanis in the Sultanate in the private establishments at a cost of R.O. 100,000.
The DGPHE has responded to all complaints receiving from the MOH Contact Center regarding the private health establishments.
Currently:
After ensuring that the private health establishments are fully prepared to tackle the pandemic, a circular was issued to re-start providing the health services gradually including the cosmetic services in the skin and dental clinics, as well as the traditional Indian medicine clinics.
Continuing visiting the private health establishments in all over the Governorates.
A number of private hospitals have allocated admissions and recovery wards for COVID-19 patients to reduce the burden on the government hospitals. Plasma therapy has been initiated for critical cases.
Several private hospitals and centers provide nasal swabs for the COVID-19 test.
Sixes laboratories of the private hospitals and centers are providing the lab test for COVID-19.
As the ROP services are closed, medical staff and allied medical professionals, who have passed the exams, are allowed to start working without labour I.D. Card.
Since some of private establishments are closed due to not fulfilling the health conditions, Medical staff and allied medical professionals are allowed to work in other establishments.
