Healthcare in Oman

The Healthcare system in the Sultanate leaves a lot to be desired. They are far from efficient.

Whatever I am saying here is by and large the norm. Exceptions might exist. But they will only be few and far between.

Primarily there are two major divides - the government sector and the private sector.

The government clinics and hospitals are meant ONLY for the locals (Omanis). Until a few years back expatriates were also allowed entry. But no more. Expatriates still get treated though, but not unless they are referred by the private doctors and the request for referral gets approved by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services. These referrals can only be done when the case is considered to be serious enough and cannot be handled by the private hospitals and clinics.

However, expatriates are allowed to get their children (under 2-years of age) get their immunisation and inoculation shots and oral vaccinations administered at the government clinics, for absolutely free of cost. The private clinics also do this - but charge a very fat fee.

Most government hospitals are manned by expatriate doctors from India and Egypt (mostly), while the para medical staff come mostly from the Philippines and India. Out of sheer necessity all of them must be at least familiar with the basic and conversant Arabic. Else they will not be able to function.

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has done ever so much to transform this country from a non-descript desert nation to one of the most developed modern nations in a mere matter of 45-years. And perhaps one of the most valuable things done by His Majesty is to ensure that his subjects enjoy good medical facilities - however interior they might be. In that sense, Oman has an excellent network of well-fitted and modern government hospitals and clinics across the length and breadth of the country. For want of well qualified and experienced personnel to manage these establishments, the overall quality of services rendered is by and large sub-standard.

Coming to the private sector, it is nothing but pure 'business' of medical services. Isn't is considered and supposed to be a 'noble profession' ?!? Certainly not here in Oman. Here it is nothing but yet another money-spinning racket.

As per the prescribed labour laws of the land, all expatriates are supposed to be provided with medical insurance by their employers. For this reason, no expatriate employee buys medical insurance themselves. The private clinics abuse this company provided benefit to the hilt and to their advantage. For simple illnesses, the doctors will not bat any eyelid before writing a mile-long list of tests, scans and x-ray's even though none would be really needed or required. This is a very common practice across all private hospitals and polyclinics here.

Also, since this is a business, the private healthcare service providers pay their employees a pittance and hire only the incompetent and useless. It's the classic case of 'you pay peanuts, and you will only get ...'. Unwanted tests and unnecessary medications are ever too common. It is also very normal for doctors to misdiagnose the illnesses, prescribe wrong medication, and screw up treatments big time - regularly. This is mostly because the doctors, hired by the private hospitals and clinics, are barely qualified, largely inept and mostly inexperienced.

Another important point to be mentioned is this. Just like it is with any 'sales' job, the doctors in the private sectors are assigned fixed 'targets' to be met every month - by hook or by crook. If a doctor does not meet his / her set billing target for a few months, his / her benefits are withdrawn, and other penalties levied, including termination. So to safeguard their personal interests, most doctors in the private sector indulge in shockingly unethical practices.

There is a very visible Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) - but it is more for the help and benefit of the locals. For the common expatriate, it is rather difficult to seek their assistance.

The Healthcare system in the Sultanate is far from efficient. For locals and expatriates. Governments sector and the private sector.

The weakness of this sector can be touched even in biggest private hospitals, where many certificates and awards are hanged everywhere and the consultation fees to any specialist doctor will cost more than a 100$.
Most of local are leaving regularly to India or UAE for descent medical treatment.

Hi
I have received good treatment for basic aliments and more complicated ones while here in Sohar and Ibri Oman. I am an American teacher working for the Ministry of Higher Education, and I only get reimbursed 100% at the government hospitals. However, I prefer to use the private one next to my house in Sohar. They cover me 75% for my visits there.  I had very good experiences with Star Care Hospital in Muscat, the new one by the City Center Mall. Modern diagnostic tools, excellent nurses and diagnosticians. The Indian doctors I have seen at Star Care and other private hospitals were fine. Some at the government hospitals were not so clued in.
Overall, my opinion is if you are a healthy person generally, you'll be fine. Personally speaking, I would not have a baby here or any major surgery if I could help it. However, I had a friend who needed his appendix removed and they saved his life right at the small private hospital I use.

My employers foot my medical bills and personally take me to the private clinics.what I have noticed is that some of the doctors rely on Google a lot for diagnosis n treatment. I have peptic ulcers, and since its a spicy world here my tummy gets upset due to the concentrated acids , I get severe heart burns and Nausea. Normally,  I take an antacid syrup n Ocids.but the Doc we visited prescribed one very strong drug courtesy of Google. Unbearable side effects like backache and drowsiness. I had to discontinue.
But there's a Dental clinic in Algubra owned by indians, all I can say is that they are superb. I had 2 extractions and replacements

Hi Mariamns,

Be happy that your dentist did not prescribe medicines for your peptic ulcer, or that general physician did not attempt to extract your tooth !!

In Oman, anything is possible !!

When ever i feel sick i prefer searching google for the right kind of medicine from various sites rather than risking my life to these doctors. One of my friends was advised with a pregnancy test being a male. So you can very well make out the level of healthcare in oman

Don't worry guys !

There's a full force of "helpers" ready to give simple "OMANI MEDICAL" test to become doctors and rush towards Oman by cheap flights and start treating people.... All they are concerned is how much "M'ney" they could make by extra part time helping jobs and all..     so keep calm and love the doctors in Oman  (Some of them who don't even know how to communicate internationally).

Hahahaha, A friend had a tooth extracted and she wasn't given any antibiotics or painkillers but rather told to take icecream. Never in my entire life heard of such.she was in pain

@ mohansharma31,

Trust your male friend was tested as "positive" too, on his 'pregnancy test' !!

I am a dentist by profession and m willing to move to oman shortly (preparing for the same)
Unlike Oman,India has good infrastructure wid regards,to medical facilities,but is limited to urban or max semi-urban areas.
But,from a decade of my clinical practise,and what i hv observed,most of the Indian doctors,who aint associated wid gov./private hospital,are paid peanuts.
Believe it or not,in Mumbai,dentists are the least paid doctors.(job-wise)
I hope its not similar in Oman.
We doctors/dentists do try n give our best of ourselves. But v dont even get the appreciation(forget the pay),that v desire or deserve.Neither from the gov. nor from d patients.
Medical profession,now,in India is in dire-straits..

When you look from other side grass is always green . Aryan come down you will understand --

Dental diff to get jobs -- more of clinics  -- there is one dental college here
Govt  Moh sisters are payed 1000 riyals with 40 days of paid leave
Dental pay is also less may  be 1000 plus cuts I think

hashir,
i m giving prometric exam dis month. i knw its difficult to get a job as a dentist. i m not concerned wid the pay,(as schaz mentioned),what i want is more of an oppurtunity to show my skills n expertise in the field that i  m trained in..
With relation to pay,its a supply-n-demand thing.
I felt bit bad,when Schaz mentioned doctors as "helpers" n v gv simple medical test to qualify for the job in Oman as a doctor.
But just to let everyone know,to get to the level of 'simple medical test',how much hard work each n every doctor must have put,that only that concerned doctor knows.
Nowadays,people look at doctors wid raised eye-brows.
Its like being a doctor,is a like paying for one's Sins,it seems.
Trust me guys,being a doctor is one of the toughest job on dis planet..no one wud ever understand,how much sacrifice a doctor has to bear..on a professional as well as personal front!
(dont get me wrong,schaz...u r my buddy,n will definitely meet when i turn-up in Oman

Moderated by Gavind.
Please post said ad in our Healthcare jobs in Oman,thank you

jaibir wrote:

We are looking for dentist forbour upcoming clinic in madinat qaboos... Write to aicha@myclinicmydoctor.com

Let me quote stumpy's comments seen elsewhere in the forum, here :

As advertising is not permitted on this section of the forum can you please place a free ad in the jobs section located at the top of this page. There the ad will get more exposure to potential employees.
When you place the ad please give more information about the job like work hours pay etc so that others can make an informed decision.

I don't have time to read all of what Sumitran wrote, but I have to assert that gov't clinics and hospitals have NOT been "only for Omanis"..........at least for the past 10 yrs I've worked here. If you are a gov't employee, you can go ANYWHERE for treatment.....even gov't hospitals. When I went to the gov't hospital for orthopedics last week, they thought I wasn't a gov't employee (I'm a teacher) and they asked for $20. No referral, no paperwork.....NOTHING. Then they asked for $3.50 when I showed my ID.
All the gov't hospital Operating Rooms have been fully "Omanised".............except when an Omani dr. can't do a procedure. Even then, an Oman dr. will do ALL the prep and final work ........leaving only the specialty to an expat dr.
I got "outside" insurance after a friend had colon cancer surgery go horribly wrong in a gov't hospital here. But then she went back to the U.S.........and drs there operated on the wrong kidney! So mistakes happen everywhere!

It is easy to criticise, as expats do, and yes, I understand a lot of the scams that go on which is as big an argument against private medicine as there can be. Take note NHS - oh too late the English voted the Tories. Fools. Never mind,  I have got to say when I needed it, it was all there. I was able to bring all my notes home with me and the docs here confirmed that what was needed was done exceptionally quickly and, most importantly,  well. The testing although it did seem excessive was appropriate. Far quicker than back home. It is simply a question of being informed and not treating doctors as gods, they are after all highly qualified plumbers many of whom have worked in Europe or North America. How many docs from the subcontinent in the UK?  I also found the guys in the pharmacies very useful fonts of knowledge when I needed to back up something I had read online before seeing the docs themselves. All sorted now so I have no complaints.