Children born in Oman began to be issued a Child Health Card – commonly known as the Pink Card – on 1 August 1988. Issued to all children, the card serves as a record for health care providers, containing information about the child's immunization status, nutritional condition and growth charts. Covering the first 6 years of a child's life, the card is a mandatory requirement for school admission.
Over the years, the card has undergone several revisions. In 2006, the Pink Card began to include developmental assessments and scheduled visits with doctors and nurses. The change aimed to strengthen the relationship between parents and health care providers and expand the physical, nutritional and developmental evaluation of children.
Currently, Oman’s child health surveillance system includes 9 structured visits in the child's early years, with a focus on 5 key areas during the first 2 years of life – immunization, physical examination and screening for congenital anomalies not detected at birth, feeding assessment and promotion of breastfeeding (exclusively for the first 6 months and continued up to 2 years), psychosocial assessments and parent health education and counselling with age-appropriate messages. In 2017, autism screening using M-CHAT was introduced.
The goal is to address conditions that can have long-term effects on physical growth and cognitive development if not properly managed.
The school entry process was revised in 2021 to align with updated standards and practices, and in 2024 the child health record was again changed to entrench a more comprehensive and integrated approach to early childhood care.
The revised framework now includes the identification of red flags, evaluation of screen time exposure, physical examinations, accident prevention and oral and dental health checks. A structured referral system has been developed to ensure timely follow-ups and assessments at the secondary health care level, and educational content and health tips for parents are part of the package. Standard operating procedures have been developed, along with training programmes on the latest changes for health care providers.
The 2024 update introduced scheduled “well-child visits” for children aged 3 and 4. The visits aim to support early detection of developmental regression and identify potential disabilities at a time when intervention can be most effective. To enhance parenting practices, health educators at primary health centres receive positive parenting training covering the prevention of child maltreatment and positive discipline, the promotion of breastfeeding and disability rights. Doctors now refer parents who need further support to the health educators.
This proactive and preventive approach to child health is a highlight of Oman’s commitment to comprehensive care and early childhood development and intervention.
The introduction of the child health surveillance system has facilitated the identification of numerous congenital anomalies, enabling timely interventions and the prevention of complications. It has promoted breastfeeding and enhanced the nutritional status of children, and strengthened the relationship between parents and health care providers, ultimately improving parenting practices.
