Muscat – Oman has advanced its healthcare sector by introducing a national project for diabetic retinopathy screening using artificial intelligence, making it the third country worldwide to adopt this system. Managed by the Ministry of Health, the initiative addresses significant health challenges by targeting diabetes-related vision loss. Approximately 15% of the adult population in Oman suffers from diabetes, putting a large proportion at risk of retinopathy.

Anas Al Kamyani, Director of National Center for Virtual health at the Ministry of Health, noted that the programme has delivered substantial health, operational, and economic benefits since its launch. Over 43,000 patients have utilized the service, with goals to reach 100% coverage for registered adult diabetes patients. The system has analysed over 43,000 retinal images, identifying that more than 12,000 patients, representing about 30%, required specialized clinical examination for early treatment.

The technology achieved a scientific accuracy of 91.3% and an 85% sensitivity rate. Operationally, the programme reduced waiting lists in specialized eye clinics by 87%, cutting patient waiting times from 62 days down to 8 days within the first seven months. Furthermore, diagnostic assessment times dropped from 60 to 90 minutes down to just 15 minutes. Economically, the project lowered operational costs by 43.2% annually and is currently active across 25 health institutions, with future expansion plans to cover conditions like glaucoma and keratoconus.