Muscat – Ministry of Health has announced a successful reduction in child mortality rates across the Sultanate, marking a significant milestone in national public health. According to recent data shared by H E Dr Hilal al Sabti, Minister of Health, the mortality rate for children under the age of five has fallen to 9.9 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024, down from 10.3 recorded in 2021. Additionally, the infant mortality rate has been successfully lowered to 8 deaths per 1,000 live births. these improvements reflect the ongoing effectiveness of maternal and childcare programmes implemented throughout the country’s healthcare network.

Significant progress has also been reported regarding the efficiency of national tertiary hospitals. There has been a major qualitative shift in response times for complex specialist cases, with the percentage of patients waiting more than four weeks for treatment dropping from 50% to 30%. This 20% reduction in waiting times highlights the Ministry’s efforts to streamline medical procedures and enhance the capacity of specialised healthcare facilities to handle high-priority cases more rapidly.

Looking toward future developments, the Minister detailed a suite of strategic projects currently under planning and design as part of the 11th Five-Year Plan. These upcoming initiatives include the establishment of several specialised institutions, such as the National Centre for Women and Children’s Health, the National Centre for Ophthalmology, and the National Rehabilitation Centre. Furthermore, the Ministry is proceeding with the completion of hospital projects in Al Namaa, Samail, and Al Falah, alongside several other medical facilities aimed at strengthening the Sultanate’s healthcare infrastructure and providing comprehensive services to all regions.