OCCI seeks investments in health sector
Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) held a meeting with owners of some private institutions operating in the health sector on Wednesday. The meeting aimed at discussing the challenges facing these institutions, as part of the OCCI’S efforts to ease the difficulties faced by these private institutions and find solutions to enable them adapt with the economic conditions amid pandemic.
Ridha bin Juma al Saleh, Chairman of the OCCI, welcomed the owners of private health institutions and hailed their role in supporting the health sector . He commended the contributions of these institutions to providing health, treatment and preventive services, in collaboration with the public health sector.
“This meeting was held with a view to promoting the partnership of the private health sector and enhancing its role in supporting the health sector in the Sultanate. At the OCCI, we strive to set visions and suggestions for developing the economic sectors including the private health sector. These private medical and health institutions play a significantly important role in providing treatment services and taking them to the levels we aspire to.”
The OCCI’S Chairman explained that the government supports national and foreign investments in the health sector as part of its efforts exerted to encourage investments in various economic sector. He stressed that the investment in this field is promising and bodes well. The government strives to support investments in the health sector through some initiatives such as obligating companies to provide insurance services for its employees.
Al Saleh also pointed out that the government encourages foreign
investments, which aim to add value to the national investments in the health sector. He emphasised that there is a dire need for medical expertise in the secondary and tertiary health saying: “We hope that the private health institutions will invest qualitatively in a way that supports the health sector. Foreign investments should focus on specialised hospitals and health centres to provide a qualitative addition to the health sector.”
On the other hand, the owners of private health institutions stressed the importance of investing in big health projects. They explained that such projects open up wider horizons for the specialised national cadres.
The meeting also discussed the importance of involving OCCI in the decision-making process in the health sector. It also touched upon the fees levied on private health institutions and the necessity of reconsidering them to ensure the sustainability of such institutions.