Oman’s Ministry of Health has introduced a comprehensive set of initiatives aimed at significantly reducing waiting times for medical services at Khoula Hospital and Al Nahda Hospital. These measures are expected to improve the overall efficiency and quality of healthcare in the country.
Cutting MRI Scan Wait Times
One of the key initiatives focuses on reducing the waiting times for MRI scans at Khoula Hospital. Under the leadership of Health Minister Dr. Hilal Ali Al Sabti, the hospital has committed to performing 12,000 MRI scans over the next year. With a daily target of 45 to 50 scans on weekdays and 20 on weekends, the initiative aims to bring MRI appointment wait times down to less than four weeks, a significant improvement from the 16-month wait that patients faced in 2021 and 2022.
Enhancing Endoscopy Services
The Ministry is also expanding endoscopy services at Khoula and Al Nahda hospitals. By increasing the number of endoscopy rooms from one to three, the Ministry expects to reduce waiting times for these procedures from one year to just two months, with the goal of reducing routine appointment waits to four weeks.
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Increasing Surgical Capacity
Several new surgical initiatives have been launched to further reduce waiting times. The Ministry plans to perform 1,000 tonsil and adenoid removal surgeries within a year, at a rate of 83 surgeries per month. This initiative is supported by the activation of additional operating rooms in Khoula Hospital’s Day Care Building.
The Ministry is also focusing on knee replacement surgeries, with plans to conduct 1,000 such procedures over the next year. With 27 surgeries scheduled each week, the initiative aims to reduce waiting times for knee replacements from 700 days to just 120 days.
Addressing Cataract Surgery Backlogs
Cataract surgery is another area of focus for the Ministry. The plan includes performing 1,500 cataract surgeries over the next year—1,000 at Al-Nahda Hospital and 500 at Khoula Hospital. This initiative is expected to reduce the cataract surgery waiting list by 50%, with an average of eight surgeries scheduled daily.
Evening Clinics and Special Care Programs
To further alleviate waiting times, an evening clinic has been activated at Al-Nahda Hospital’s Dentistry and Oral, Maxillofacial Surgery Department. This clinic is expected to treat over 900 patients in the next three months, reducing emergency case wait times to two weeks and routine appointments to less than six weeks.
Additionally, the Ministry has launched a program to expedite urgent dental treatments for special needs patients under general anesthesia. This program aims to complete these treatments within four months, supported by increased operating room availability during weekdays.
Optimizing Hospital Operations
In addition to patient care initiatives, the Ministry has introduced a revenue cycle management program at Khoula Hospital. This program is designed to improve the operational efficiency of the hospital’s billing system, which is critical for maintaining its role as a key center for emergencies and disaster response.
