Oman’s Virtual Hospital Progress
Oman is witnessing the development of the concept of virtual health as part of the digital transformation strategy in the healthcare sector. The goal is to reduce the need for in-person visits and to decrease referrals to specialized referral hospitals, especially given the rise in external visits and medical trips abroad, which exceeded 1,680 patients in 2024, with variations across specialties such as ophthalmology and infertility. The project relies on providing services like remote imaging, second medical opinions, and artificial intelligence diagnostics. Its aim is to lower costs and improve resource management by reducing unnecessary referrals and minimizing time and effort. Despite these efforts, the system faces challenges related to enabling data exchange, providing the necessary infrastructure, and developing the workforce to ensure the effectiveness of virtual health and achieve financial savings. Healthcare expenses increased from 954 million Omani rials in 2020 to over one billion rials in 2024. Oman is closely monitoring other Gulf experiences, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which have developed extensive digital services to create an integrated digital health system that helps improve quality and reduce costs.
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