In a first for the region and a blessing for the over-stressed public healthcare, a voluntary hospital for the treatment of COVID-19 patients has been opened in Amerat, Muscat. 

H E Dr. Ahmed Mohammed al Sa’eedi, Minister of Health, opened the 64-bed ‘Oman Medical Association (OMA) Temporary Hospital for COVID-19’ on Sunday. 

The opening of the hospital by OMA marks a novel step by the medical fraternity to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In his remarks, Dr Sa’eedi said, “I am very thankful to see the initiative of OMA take shape and this is a need of the hour. I thank all the volunteers who are part of this project. Special thanks to the owner of the hospital as well as members of OMA who will run the hospital independently but under the support of MoH.”

Managed by more than 40 members of OMA, the hospital consists of 64 beds, of which four beds are for the intensive care unit. The hospital has been receiving confirmed cases with mild to moderate symptoms. 

Dr Waleed Khalid al Zadjali, president of the Oman Medical Association, said, “The hospital contains all the supportive departments for the treatment and follow-up of COVID-19 patients such as emergency departments, intensive care, laboratories and sterilisation sites. The work was divided into administrative and professional medical, financial and marketing teams to communicate with the supporters of this initiative which received a good response from some institutions and companies which contributed to the provision of medical supplies and devices and medicines along with providing diagnosis and treatment devices for the patients.”

The OMA president added that the hospital is the first voluntary hospital for the treatment of epidemics in the region under the full management of Omani staff. “This is a great challenge, which requires accuracy, thoroughness, responsibility and dedication by strictly fulfilling all the medical guidelines and protocols.” 

Dr Zadjali stated that several medical professional teams have been formed including a specialised team of nurses to develop and divide the hospital’s medical assistance staff in accordance with international protocols. “In addition to quality assurance and patient safety team, as well an infection control team in cooperation with the Directorate General of Private Health Establishments and Al Nahdha Hospital, as well as a medical follow-up team led by a doctor from the OMA, there is a team to support the administrative, financial, facilities and catering aspects.”