Muscat: In the year 2023, the Ministry of Health's institutions within the Sultanate of Oman conducted a total of 86,955 surgical operations across their operating rooms. Among these, 39,976 were performed on males, while 46,979 were on females.
The annual health report for 2023 revealed that the Sultanate of Oman boasted a total of 92 hospitals, inclusive of 7,691 hospitalization beds. This expansion in the healthcare infrastructure has led to an increase in the bed-to-population ratio, rising to 14.9 beds per 10,000 individuals in 2023, an improvement from the previous year's figure of 14.7 beds per 10,000.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Health's expenditure for the year 2023 surpassed OMR1 billion, marking a 24.6 percent increase from the previous year's expenditure. The primary driver of this increase was the ongoing development projects, which included the establishment and expansion of numerous hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
The report also highlighted a decrease in the infant mortality rate, dropping to 8.5 deaths per 1,000 live births, a significant improvement from the rate of 8.8 deaths per 1,000 live births recorded in 2022. Additionally, the mortality rate among children under the age of five decreased from 11.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022 to 10.8 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023, contributing to a reduction in mortality rates across the country. The maternal mortality rate also saw a notable decline, reaching 19.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, with a rate of 17.5 deaths per 100,000 live births among Omani mothers.
The Ministry of Health's network of affiliated health institutions saw a significant expansion, with a total of 265 health institutions by the end of 2023. This network includes 50 hospitals, housing 5,024 beds, 21 health complexes, and 194 health centers.
In an effort to enhance the quality of healthcare services provided at all levels, the Ministry has been actively expanding the number of health institutions and introducing a wide range of health services within these institutions, as affirmed in the report.
