Muscat – The Ministry of Health (MoH) on Thursday inaugurated Sohar Hospital’s extended wing that enhanced the capacity of the hospital from 270 to 636 beds at a cost of RO28mn.

The inauguration was held under the patronage of Abdulsalam bin Mohamed al Murshidi, president of Oman Investment Authority, in the presence of H E Dr Hilal bin Ali al Sabti, Minister of Health; H E Dr Said bin Harib al Lamki, Undersecretary for Health Affairs in the ministry; and H E Dr Fatma bint Mohammed al Ajmi, Undersecretary for Administrative, Financial and Planning Affairs in MoH.

The first phase of the project was completed under the direct supervision of the Royal Court Affairs, represented by the Royal Establishments.

The project – keeping pace with the government’s tireless efforts, represented by the Ministry of Health – ensures people’s access to health services and promotes decentralisation as envisaged in Oman Vision 2040.

H E Dr Lamki pointed out that the latest expansion enhances the quality and accessibility of healthcare in the hospital through upgradation of its services at par with premier hospitals in the country. “These services are supervised by a qualified Omani team,” he informed.

The units and services that have been added, expanded, and improved, include a cardiac catheterisation and interventional radiology unit, an emergency unit – the biggest one in Oman, a 33-bed obstetrics and gynecology unit, ICUs, an advanced orthopedics unit, and a pediatric intensive care unit equipped with 16 beds.

“All these services are equivalent to those available in Muscat,” H E Dr Lamki assured.

Mohammed bin Suleiman al Kindi, governor of North Batinah, stated that his governorate is considered the biggest in terms of the Omani population.

“The population of this governorate was around 872,000 till the end of 2022. This is the reason why the government paid so much of attention to healthcare services in this governorate.”