logo
Basic Emergency Medical Sciences Course concludes

Basic Emergency Medical Sciences Course concludes

Observer27-02-2025
MUSCAT: The Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority celebrated on Wednesday the graduation of the fourth batch of the Basic Emergency Medical Sciences Course, under the auspices of Eng Odai bin Hilal al Maawali, Chairman of the Medical City for Military and Security Services.
Throughout the course, the graduates participated in the Basic Emergency Medicine Programme, which spanned two semesters, each lasting 16 weeks. Additionally, they completed 8 weeks of practical training in ambulance centres, following the course's objectives and requirements.
The curriculum included English language courses, preparation for the IELTS test, anatomy and medical terminology relevant to pre-hospital emergency services. - ONA
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

First successful CAR-T Cell therapy for cancer patients in Oman
First successful CAR-T Cell therapy for cancer patients in Oman

Times of Oman

time2 days ago

  • Times of Oman

First successful CAR-T Cell therapy for cancer patients in Oman

Muscat: The University Medical City, represented by the National Centre for the Treatment of Blood Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplantation, has successfully implemented the first Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy in the Sultanate of Oman, utilising national medical personnel and international partnerships. This achievement marks a pioneering medical milestone, positioning Oman among regional leaders in providing advanced and precision treatments for blood cancer patients. CAR-T cell therapy is one of the latest immunotherapies, where T-cells are extracted from the patient, genetically modified, and then reinfused to precisely target cancer cells. The treatment has shown remarkable response rates in patients with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL) and Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), particularly for those unresponsive to conventional therapies. Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Al Nabhani, Assistant Professor at Sultan Qaboos University's College of Medicine and Health Sciences and Consultant Hematologist specializing in lymphoma and cellular therapy at the University Medical City, stated that this accomplishment reflects the rapid advancement of Oman's healthcare sector in biomedical innovation. He emphasised that this high-efficacy treatment, previously limited to select international centers, now offers hope to patients and their families at the University Medical City in Oman. In his turn, Dr. Murtadha Khamis Al Khabouri from Sultan Qaboos University's College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Senior Consultant in Hematology and Head of the Hematology Department at the University Medical City, explained that the therapy's implementation resulted from collaboration between the lymphoma and myeloid oncology team, bone marrow transplantation, and cellular therapy at the National Centre for Blood Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplantation, the Ministry of Health's Overseas Treatment Department, and academic partners from the Fortis Memorial Research Institute. The goal is to localise cutting-edge medical technologies, establish a national center for advanced therapies, and translate research into clinical applications. Meanwhile, Dr. Sultan Salim Al Harthi, Director of the Overseas Treatment Department at the Ministry of Health, highlighted that this treatment is part of key programs to localise specialised care, easing patient burdens and delivering top-tier medical services within Oman. By introducing CAR-T therapy through the University Medical City, Oman takes a step toward medical self-sufficiency and cost reduction compared to overseas referrals, supported by substantial investments in national workforce training and global collaborations to ensure compliance with international standards.

Agreement inked to provide low-income segments with home ventilators
Agreement inked to provide low-income segments with home ventilators

Times of Oman

time6 days ago

  • Times of Oman

Agreement inked to provide low-income segments with home ventilators

Muscat: The Ministry of Health on Thursday signed a funding agreement with Oman India Fertilizer Company (OMIFCO) to purchase ventilators for patients from low-income and social security segments. The agreement was signed by Saud Amer Al Nudhairi, the Ministry's Director General of Financial Affairs, and Khalid Mohammed Al Fannah Al Araimi, OMIFCO's Director of Sustainability and Institutional Communication. Al Nudhairi stressed the importance of partnerships between the government sector and other sectors in the Sultanate of Oman to serve members of the public. He hailed the company's noble initiative which, he observed, has been undertaken for the sixth time in a row. For his part, Al Araimi expressed his appreciation for the Health Ministry's ongoing partnership in supporting needy segments of society. The devices minimises the need for hospitalisation, improves the quality of life for patients and provides better monitoring and control of health conditions. They are an essential part of some home care programmes as they provide a safe and sustainable option for some patients who require long-term mechanical ventilation outside the hospital.

10,000 patients benefit from early retinopathy screening programme in various governorates
10,000 patients benefit from early retinopathy screening programme in various governorates

Times of Oman

time7 days ago

  • Times of Oman

10,000 patients benefit from early retinopathy screening programme in various governorates

Muscat: The National Programme for Early Detection of Diabetic Retinopathy using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has successfully screened over 10,000 eligible patients. This achievement reflects the programme's rapid implementation and its impact on preventing retinopathy complications and protecting diabetic patients from the risk of vision loss. The AI-powered national screening programme has expanded its services to 25 health centres across all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman. This expansion is part of national efforts to enhance ophthalmology services, leverage modern technologies, and utilise AI to support early diagnosis and ensure timely access to screening and treatment. Dr. Majid Salim Al Shaibani, Retina and Intraocular Inflammation Consultant at Al Nahdha Hospital and Operational Director of the National Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Program, told Oman News Agency (ONA): 'Since the programme's nationwide launch, we have screened over 10,000 patients in less than six months, detecting numerous retinopathy cases at early stages before noticeable symptoms appeared." He added that preliminary data indicates a detection rate exceeding 30% of screened cases—a level of effectiveness unattainable before the introduction of AI technologies. Dr. Al Shaibani explained that diabetic retinopathy is a silent disease in its early stages, often diagnosed only after serious complications arise. Early detection enables prompt intervention, whether through close monitoring, laser treatment, or intraocular injections, significantly reducing the risk of progression to advanced stages that may cause permanent blindness. This aligns with global recommendations to prevent diabetes-related blindness. Regarding referral mechanisms, he noted that the programme is electronically linked to the national health records system (Shifa), allowing detected cases requiring further evaluation or treatment to be directly referred to specialised eye clinics in reference hospitals. Priority is determined based on severity to ensure urgent cases receive timely care. He pointed out that the program utilizes globally approved AI systems for retinal image analysis, capable of detecting various stages of diabetic retinopathy. These advanced deep-learning algorithms provide results within seconds of image capture. The AI models were trained on hundreds of thousands of high-quality global images and validated across diverse populations, with local verification conducted at Oman's dedicated reading center to ensure clinical accuracy. Dr. Al Shaibani highlighted plans to develop a localised AI database incorporating demographic and epidemiological characteristics to improve diagnostic precision. The program also coordinates with periodic diabetes check-ups, integrating retinopathy screening with other essential tests (e.g., diabetic foot exams, kidney function, blood pressure) into a single visit for patient convenience. He underlined awareness campaigns targeting diabetic patients through clinic staff, electronic reminders, social media, and educational materials to stress the dangers of delayed screening. Parallel community outreach initiatives aim to increase participation and encourage pre-symptomatic testing. As the third country globally to implement such an AI-driven initiative, Oman demonstrates its commitment to adopting cutting-edge technologies for enhanced diagnostic accuracy, cost efficiency, and timely intervention. The programme covers all Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes patients, playing a pivotal role in preventing vision loss through early detection.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store