Health Vision 2050.

The present document describes the Vision for a health system development over the coming 40 years. It provides a review of the current health system in Oman as the basis for the development of a long-term health vision for 2050. The aim of Health Vision 2050 is for the Omani people to live healthy and productive lives, through the establishment of a well- organized, equitable, efficient and responsive health system, grounded by societal values of equity and social justice.
Chapter 2 deals with environmental conditions establishing that the attainment of the health of the population requires more than just providing health services by the health sector. Sectors such as municipalities, environment, water, education, social development, agriculture, youth, media and electricity are examples of sectors supportive to health sector for health development. The Sultanate of Oman frequently passes through long periods of drought and as a result of population growth, social developments and changes in life-style, the demand for water is continuously growing in the country. Oman depends on groundwater and its limited rainfall. Several national activities have taken place for preserving water resources and rationalizing water use. A National Conservation Plan has also been drawn up to rationalize and improve water consumption practices and explore for new groundwater reserves. Drilling new wells or deepening or replacing existing one must be licensed by the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources (MRMWR).
Oman’s “Falaj” (water channels) is one of the ancient ways for water management. It had been viewed as an Omani cultural behavior. It is considered as an effective method of water management. Water falls from mountain-tops and travels from one Falaj to another forming a Falaj network that goes to populated areas. The water in Falaj is carried by the earth’s gravity and the natural incline of the land over long distances without using pumps or any other mechanical means.
The text consists of 11 Parts as follows: Demographic Characteristics of the Sultanate of Oman (1); Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal Determinants of Health in the Sultanate of Oman (2); Health Systems and the Health System in the Sultanate of Oman (3); Health Status in the Sultanate of Oman (4); Leadership and Governance (5); Health System Financing (6); Health Services (7); Human Resources (8); Medical Products and Technologies (9); Health Information and Health Research (10); Intersectoral Partnership; Collaboration (11).