Emergency medical services functioning non-stop

MUSCAT: The National Centre for Emergency and Health Risk Management said that a number of health facilities located near wadis were closed as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of staff and patients. Al Rahma Hospital in Muscat Governorate was evacuated and temporarily closed and patients were transferred to Al Masarra Hospital.
Dr Mohammed bin Saif al Bousafi, Director of the National Centre for Emergency and Health Risk Management, said: “The centre’s emergency operations room and the operations rooms in the affected governorates have been fully activated, with staff working around the clock. The health facilities were not directly affected, however some were closed as a precautionary measure due to their location near wadis. Al Rahma Hospital in Muscat Governorate was evacuated and closed as a precautionary measure, and patients were transferred to Al Masarra Hospital.” He added that citizens and residents were advised to reschedule appointments at specialist clinics and surgeries to spare patients, visitors, and their families the risks associated with venturing out and crossing roads during rainfall or flash floods.
Working hours were extended at some healthcare institutions to operate around the clock, and some facilities located near wadis were closed as a temporary precautionary measure to protect staff and visitors.
Dr Al Bousafi noted that direct coordination is maintained with supporting and partner agencies through on-duty personnel in the Ministry of Health’s operations rooms, the National Emergency Management Center at the National Emergency Management Committee, and the subcommittees in the governorates. He added that continuous communication is also maintained with the National Emergency Management Committee to overcome any difficulties and challenges.
Regarding the measures taken to ensure the continuity of emergency services (ambulance, childbirth, dialysis), oxygen, medicines, and others, Dr Al Bousafi said that all directorates and health institutions were instructed to ensure the availability of all medicines and medical supplies and the provision of the basic requirements during the adverse weather period. Dialysis sessions for patients will be rescheduled in a way that does not affect their safety and ensures the continuity of medical care. All health institutions were instructed to keep providing emergency medical services around the clock, with health institutions continuing to perform emergency surgical operations and childbirth operations around non-stop.