Latest news with #HiAP
Zawya
11-04-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Oman launches new National Health Policy
Muscat – The Ministry of Health (MoH) on Wednesday launched the National Health Policy (NHP), marking a major step in advancing the sultanate's healthcare system and aligning health priorities with Oman Vision 2040. NHP was launched under the patronage of H E Sayyid Dr Sultan bin Ya'arub al Busaidi, Advisor at the Private Office, and attended by H E Dr Hilal Ali al Sabti, Minister of Health, senior government officials, international health representatives, and key stakeholders from across Oman's health sector. H E Dr Ahmed Salem al Mandhari, Undersecretary for Health Planning and Regulation in MoH, said the new policy was developed through a participatory process to ensure its alignment with national goals and responsiveness to global health developments. He emphasised that the policy is based on the principle of 'Health for All, by All', that prioritises the need for collaboration across sectors including education, housing, income, environment, and employment. 'To that end, the Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach has been adopted to promote cross-sector collaboration and integration,' he said. The HiAP framework is intended to strengthen public health, support health equity, and ensure that health is considered in policy decisions across government entities. H E Mandhari also referenced existing national initiatives including the committees on non-communicable diseases, tobacco control, and school health. He noted Oman's plans to host the third Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance later this year. Dr Hana Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, welcomed Oman's new policy, noting its alignment with the WHO's Fourteenth General Programme of Work, and the Strategic Operational Plan for the Eastern Mediterranean Region 2025-28. She pointed to its emphasis on health workforce development, access to medicines, and addressing substance use. 'Oman has demonstrated strong commitment to health as a shared responsibility, grounded in sustainability, governance and inclusive partnerships,' she said. Dr Qasim al Salmi, Director General of Planning at MoH, presented key aspects of the new policy, which replaces the 1992 framework. He outlined its guiding principles and structural enablers designed to meet future challenges, including demographic shifts, rising non-communicable diseases, population ageing, and the sustainability of healthcare financing. © Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Muscat Daily
09-04-2025
- Health
- Muscat Daily
Oman launches new National Health Policy
Muscat – The Ministry of Health (MoH) on Wednesday launched the National Health Policy (NHP), marking a major step in advancing the sultanate's healthcare system and aligning health priorities with Oman Vision 2040. NHP was launched under the patronage of H E Sayyid Dr Sultan bin Ya'arub al Busaidi, Advisor at the Private Office, and attended by H E Dr Hilal Ali al Sabti, Minister of Health, senior government officials, international health representatives, and key stakeholders from across Oman's health sector. H E Dr Ahmed Salem al Mandhari, Undersecretary for Health Planning and Regulation in MoH, said the new policy was developed through a participatory process to ensure its alignment with national goals and responsiveness to global health developments. He emphasised that the policy is based on the principle of 'Health for All, by All', that prioritises the need for collaboration across sectors including education, housing, income, environment, and employment. 'To that end, the Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach has been adopted to promote cross-sector collaboration and integration,' he said. The HiAP framework is intended to strengthen public health, support health equity, and ensure that health is considered in policy decisions across government entities. H E Mandhari also referenced existing national initiatives including the committees on non-communicable diseases, tobacco control, and school health. He noted Oman's plans to host the third Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance later this year. Dr Hana Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, welcomed Oman's new policy, noting its alignment with the WHO's Fourteenth General Programme of Work, and the Strategic Operational Plan for the Eastern Mediterranean Region 2025-28. She pointed to its emphasis on health workforce development, access to medicines, and addressing substance use. 'Oman has demonstrated strong commitment to health as a shared responsibility, grounded in sustainability, governance and inclusive partnerships,' she said. Dr Qasim al Salmi, Director General of Planning at MoH, presented key aspects of the new policy, which replaces the 1992 framework. He outlined its guiding principles and structural enablers designed to meet future challenges, including demographic shifts, rising non-communicable diseases, population ageing, and the sustainability of healthcare financing.
Times of Oman
09-04-2025
- Health
- Times of Oman
Oman National Health Policy launched to bolster healthcare
Muscat: The Ministry of Health launched Oman National Health Policy on Wednesday. This comes as part of efforts to bolster the healthcare system in the Sultanate of Oman and to achieve objectives of Oman Vision 2040. The launching ceremony was held under the auspices of Sayyid Dr. Sultan Ya'arub Al Busaidi, Advisor at the Private Office. The launch programme featured a speech by Dr. Ahmed Salem Al Mandhari, the Ministry of Health's Undersecretary for Health Planning and Regulation, who emphasised that this achievement would not have been possible without the tireless efforts and fruitful collaboration across various sectors and partners. He explained that the policy was developed in a participatory manner, ensuring its alignment with Oman Vision 2040 and its responsiveness to global health developments, making it the cornerstone for a more efficient, equitable, and sustainable healthcare system. Al Mandhari highlighted that the policy is grounded in the principle of 'Health for All, by All,' which reflects a shared vision where health is a collective responsibility that requires the joint efforts of all sectors and partners. He added that it is well-known that individual and community health is influenced by several factors beyond the traditional healthcare sector, such as education, housing, income levels, working conditions, environmental, and economic factors. This is why the Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach has been adopted. He emphasised the importance of cooperation and integration between government and non-government sectors, stakeholders, and the community to maximize health benefits and minimize the negative impact of public policies on individual health. He outlined that the goals of the HiAP approach include improving the health of populations, promoting health equity, ensuring the integration of health considerations into government policy-making, and supporting the sustainability of decisions that prioritize public health while preventing potential health harms. For her part, Dr. Hana Balkhy, Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, emphasized in her speech on behalf of the Organization that Oman National Health Policy aligns with the WHO's Fourteenth General Programme of Work, the Strategic Operational Plan for the Eastern Mediterranean Region 2025-2028, and the WHO's three regional flagship initiatives on expanding access to medicines, building up the health workforce, and tackling substance use. Dr. Balkhy also pointed out that one of the strengths of this NHP is its recognition that a population's health and well-being is a responsibility shared by all. The National Health Policy represents a pivotal advancement in the development of Oman's healthcare system and serves as a fundamental update to previous policies. It prioritizes sustainability, governance, and the strengthening of cross-sector partnerships. The policy introduces a comprehensive healthcare model that not only addresses demographic and epidemiological shifts but also emphasizes sustainable health financing and the integration of digital technologies to improve service delivery. This policy is designed to tackle the key challenges facing the healthcare sector, including the rise in non-communicable diseases, the growing elderly population, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of health financing.
Arab News
04-02-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Officials highlight importance of research ecosystems to develop Saudi health policy
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is building a robust health research ecosystem to inform policy development and promote sustainable growth, three Saudi health officials said on Tuesday. The comments were made during a panel discussion at the Global Healthspan Summit 2025 in Riyadh, which has Arab News as a media partner. Speaking during the panel discussion titled 'GCC Exchange,' Dr. Nouf Al-Numair, secretary general of the Saudi Ministerial Committee for Health in All Policies (HiAP), highlighted how the Kingdom is embedding health considerations into all sectors to tackle age-related diseases and foster collaboration across the Gulf Cooperation Council. 'In Saudi Arabia, we are governing HiAP at a higher level — it's embedded within the central government,' said Dr. Al-Numair. She added that through a ministerial committee exercising this topic, HiAP is supported by 11 ministries working together to activate health in all policies across the Kingdom. Dr. Al-Numair highlighted Saudi Arabia's focus on developing a strong research ecosystem as a foundation for addressing national challenges. 'This ecosystem is crucial because it informs policy development and research allows us to set priorities, understand challenges and proactively solve them through policies — not just isolated initiatives or programs,' she said. Dr. Al-Numair outlined five key pillars essential for building a strong research ecosystem: Strong governance and alignment, building capabilities, clear funding mechanisms, data and digital infrastructure, and collaborative platforms. 'We need a robust governance structure to align research with national strategies,' she said, highlighting the importance of central coordination to ensure that research addresses priority areas. Dr. Al-Numair said that investing in the workforce and preparing for futuristic jobs within the research environment is key to creating a sustainable ecosystem. 'A defined funding mechanism ensures that researchers, scientists and innovators are adequately supported to contribute to the ecosystem,' she added. Digitalizing data and creating a comprehensive digital infrastructure is critical for enabling research and collaboration, she said. Dr. Majed Al-Jeraisy, executive director of research and education at the Saudi NIH, further highlighted the challenges of building research infrastructure from scratch and highlighted the need to first change cultural mindsets. 'This is the most important element to start with,' said Dr. Al-Jeraisy. 'We need to shift the mindset and culture around research before focusing on other key elements such as setting clear milestones and measurable goals within the strategy.' Dr. Al-Jeraisy also highlighted the importance of recruiting high-caliber scientists to support the collaborative nature of research into extending the healthy human lifespan. He said that this research requires a collaborative approach between scientists and clinicians. 'This integration doesn't exist yet, so we need to foster more collaboration and even recruit experienced scientists from abroad to embed this culture within the system.' Leveraging artificial intelligence and big data is another critical priority, Dr. Al-Jeraisy added. 'Without a robust database for our community, we cannot develop a strategy, road map, or even efficient planning and funding,' he said. Dr. Al-Jeraisy added that having sustainable funding is crucial. 'Setting up infrastructure requires securing resources to support long-term healthspan and longevity research.' He added that the field demands sustained momentum and stakeholder engagement over time. Adding to the discussion, Dr. Walid Al-Keridy, director, home health care administration at the Ministry of Health, highlighted how the ministry is taking a holistic approach to address healthy longevity and lifespan in alignment with Vision 2030. 'In the Ministry of Health, our North Star and vision are to ensure that every individual in our society is not only living longer, but also healthier, supported by a resilient healthcare system,' Dr. Al-Keridy said. He outlined the ministry's guiding principles, which prioritize prevention, health and digital transformation, private-sector partnerships and program sustainability. Dr. Al-Keridy highlighted the importance of designing programs that meet people where they are, linking them to Vision 2030 priorities and ensuring sustainability. 'We address this at multiple levels within the ministry through resilient programs that ensure value in the healthcare system. These principles are embedded in our initiatives, such as the value-based program and even in our contractual agreements with new therapies,' he said. The 'GCC Exchange' panel explored how Gulf countries are fostering collaboration to tackle age-related diseases and promote sustainable growth in healthspan research. Dr. Al-Numair concluded by highlighting Saudi Arabia's leadership in health policy and research innovation within the region. 'By focusing on governance, capabilities, funding, infrastructure and collaboration, we can build a health ecosystem that not only addresses current challenges, but also prepares us for the future,' she said.
