The WHO Representative’s Office in Oman supports the Government and health authorities at central and local level in strengthening health services, addressing public health issues and supporting and promoting research for health. WHO is the major partner in health in Oman. Therefore, WHO plays a critical role not only in extending direct technical assistance to health programmes but also in brokering health partnership. In addition, Oman is an attractive health system model to pilot global health strategies and initiatives by WHO and other agencies.
Collaboration between WHO and the Ministry of Health started in 1971. This collaboration has since grown in substance, and there is a strong bond of mutual respect and appreciation. The close collaboration has resulted in many accomplishments despite the limited funds from WHO. This catalytic support has allowed the launching of new programme areas such as patient safety, injury prevention and road safety, mental health in primary health care, and occupational health. WHO collaboration has been instrumental in fostering partnership in a number of key areas such as intersectoral action on leadership in health promotion, the health-promoting schools initiative, national food-based dietary guidelines, integrated management of vector control and the WHO/EU project on biosafety and biosecurity. WHO support has lead to the establishment of a national human resources for health observatory and a regional advanced malaria microscopy training centre.
The WHO Information Centre in Muscat, Oman, is a service provided to facilitate public access to reliable and up-to-date health information. Health professionals and practitioners, university staff and students, media and researchers can gain access to more than 7000 documents published by WHO and other UN agencies as well as national health information materials. The Centre is also equipped with six computers which provide online access to more than 30 databases and 8000 online health-related journals, as well as online documentation from WHO and other UN agencies. In addition, the WHO Centre disseminates WHO documentation and information and can facilitate subscription to medical and health journals, on request.