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Times of Oman
07-04-2025
- Health
- Times of Oman
Use of AI in pharmacy practices to be discussed at Muscat forum
Muscat: Oman International Pharmacy Congress and Exhibition (OIPCX) Regional Forum, organised by the Ministry of Health's Directorate General of Medical Supplies, kicked off on Monday. The event is held under the theme From Cost to Value Based Health Care 'Integrating Clinical Aduits and Pharmacoeconomics Evidence for Healthcare Optimisation'. The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr. Hilal Ali Al Sabti, Minister of Health. Pharmacist Ibrahim Nasser Al Rashdi, Director General of Medical Supplies and Congress Chair, highlighted in his speech the significance of the event being one of the most prominent scientific activities in the region. It brings together a group of experts and speakers from various fields, with the aim to develop the pharmacy profession and enhancing the exchange of experiences between countries in the region. Al Rashdi pointed out that the current edition of the congress has expanded its scope to include vital areas such as the use of artificial intelligence in pharmacy practices, the digital transformation of pharmaceutical care services, drug economics, health technology assessment, clinical auditing, clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical education development, and enhancing drug safety, especially in critical cases, to ensure patient safety. He noted that one of the important areas of the forum is the exchange of experiences in the field of health economics. Arab and GCC experiences in building foundations and programmes for health economics were presented, including: the Sultanate of Oman's experience, represented by the Ministry of Health, in developing methodological guidelines for health technology assessment and the process of evaluating high-cost drug approval requests; the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's experience in managing medications for rare diseases and implementing value-based healthcare; and Jordan's experience in Hospital-Based HTA Program in the King Hussein Cancer Center. At the end of the opening, the patron of the event took a tour of the exhibition that featured a showcase by global pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, alongside prominent pharmacies in the Sultanate of Oman. The exhibition also included leading companies from the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector. The three-day forum brings together over 600 healthcare professionals, with 46 esteemed international, Gulf, and local speakers. It will also feature 43 scientific papers, 13 of which are from Oman, exploring the latest advancements in pharmaceutical practices and drug research. Furthermore, the event includes five general workshops and four specialised workshops focusing on health economics, providing a comprehensive platform for knowledge sharing and professional development.
Times of Oman
29-01-2025
- Health
- Times of Oman
Health Ministry announces expansion of newborn screening programme
The Ministry of Health today launched the expanded newborn screening programme and the enhancement of pre-marital medical examination programme. This comes as part of efforts aimed at enhancing public health and improving the quality of life, as well as preventing genetic diseases and congenital defects. The launch ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr. Mohammed Said Al Mamari, Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs, in the presence of Dr. Hilal Ali Al Sabti, Minister of Health. In his speech during the launch of the two vital programmes, Dr. Said Harib Al Lamki, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Health Affairs, stated that these two programmes, are part of preventive health initiatives aimed at achieving the health priorities outlined in Oman Vision 2040. He added that these diseases pose significant social and economic burdens on individuals, communities, and health systems. According to the latest health surveys conducted by the Ministry of Health, the prevalence of these diseases is estimated at 9.5%. As a result, the establishment of preventive programmes focused on early detection of these conditions has become essential to limit their spread. In line with the principle of universal health coverage—whether through expanding coverage in health institutions or creating community-focused programs—the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with all relevant sectors, developed a detailed national plan which was submitted to the Council of Ministers. The Undersecretary also pointed out that the Council of Ministers has endorsed the implementation of these important programmes on three phases. The first phase, which will take place during the years 2024-2025, will make pre-marital examination optional, along with efforts to raise community awareness about the importance of pre-marital medical examination. The second phase will involve the continuation of optional examination, expanding the scope by including screening for tenth-grade students at the beginning of the 2025-2026 academic year. The third phase, scheduled for 2026, will make pre-marital medical examination mandatory, with the issuance of a legislative framework that mandates the screening as a prerequisite for completing marriage procedures. Dr. Jamila bint Taisir Al-Abri, Public Health Consultant and Director of the Women's and Children's Health Department, stated that a national media campaign was launched under the slogan 'Start Right'. A comprehensive action plan has been developed to implement the campaign throughout 2025 as a preparatory phase for the mandatory examination in 2026. Al Abri added that the campaign will consist of three phases, each lasting four months. The first phase will focus on introducing the pre-marital medical examination programme. The second phase will highlight the health impacts of genetic and infectious diseases. The third phase will emphasize the mandatory nature of pre-marital examination as a required condition for completing marriage procedures. She stressed that the awareness campaign aims to target all segments of society, especially those preparing for marriage and parents. During the campaign, audio-visual awareness messages will be disseminated through various media outlets and social media platforms. The activities outlined in the plan will include direct community outreach, awareness in health institutions, media engagement, and the distribution and broadcasting of educational materials. She also noted that preparations for the campaign included the development of various educational audio-visual materials. In addition, an introductory meeting was held at the beginning of the month, where all relevant sectors involved in the national campaign were invited. During the meeting, the campaign's objectives were introduced, and participants from the involved sectors received training to help implement the campaign effectively. Dr. Riya Said Al Khamyani, Specialist in Public Health and Head of the Pre-Marital Medical Examination Department, emphasized that pre-marital medical examination is a preventive health programme classified by the World Health Organization as part of pre-conception care. The examination is defined as providing counseling and conducting laboratory tests for those preparing for marriage to ensure that the union is not associated with health risks that may affect either spouse, or both, or their future children. This is done by detecting whether either party, or both, carries or are affected by any conditions included in the examination that could be transmitted to their offspring or between the spouses, to build a healthy family. Al Khamyani indicated that the examination includes testing for genetic blood disorders (such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia "B") and certain sexually transmitted infections such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS. The objectives of the pre-marital screening are to reduce the spread of these conditions, raise awareness about the concept of healthy marriage, alleviate pressure on health institutions and blood banks, and help prevent social and psychological issues for families with affected children. It also reduces the financial burden of treatment on both the family and the community. Dr. Riya pointed out that pre-marital medical examination has been implemented in the Sultanate of Oman since 1999. This service is available on an optional basis at all government primary healthcare institutions, specifically health centers. Beneficiaries approach the healthcare facility and request the service, after which a doctor conducts an examination and takes a blood sample. A follow-up appointment is then scheduled within a short period for the medical counseling based on the test results.
