AJIB SALIM AL HAJRI
MUSCAT, SEPT 21
The 15th edition of the Oman Health Exhibition and Conference opened at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre on September 21, presenting the Sultanate of Oman’s healthcare sector as a destination for investment in pharmaceuticals, medical products and health technology.
Held under the supervision of the Ministry of Health and organised by CONNECT, the three-day event runs until September 23 under the theme of integrating health tourism, sustainable care and clinical innovation. According to the organisers, it brings together about 120 exhibitors and 10 country pavilions, with more than 5,000 visitors expected. Entry is free, with doors open from 11 am to 9 pm.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Dr Ahmed bin Salim al Mandhari, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Health for Planning and Health Regulation.
“It aims to bring together all those interested in the health sector and the industries of the health sector to share experiences, share successes and explore opportunities”, Dr Al Mandhari said.
The event seeks to highlight investment opportunities in the Sultanate of Oman’s pharmaceutical and medical-product industries, he said, with companies from inside and outside the country presenting diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitation technologies, including artificial intelligence applications.
Balqees al Makhmari, Director of Investment Empowerment at the Ministry of Health, told the opening ceremony that enabling investment “begins with understanding the needs of the investor and the sector together”, easing the investor’s journey and supporting projects “from idea to implementation”.
The real value of health investment, she said, “lies in its impact on people’s health and the quality and sustainability of the care they receive”.
Participants ranged from Omani digital-health start-ups exhibiting for the first time to established regional suppliers and new international entrants.
“An excellent exhibition, as always”, said Abdullah bin Mahmoud al Sharfi of a Gulf medical-equipment supplier that has operated in the region since 1989 and in the Sultanate of Oman since 2017, supplying surgical, imaging and laboratory equipment. “We hope more companies come forward and take part in the years ahead”. Among the first-time exhibitors, Arsalan Ashtari, Quality Assurance Manager at Homa Pars Darou, an Iranian manufacturer of herbal pharmaceutical ingredients, said the company had come “to build business with Omani companies”.
“I hope we find customers here”, he added.
Health tourism, one of the conference’s central themes, was raised during the ceremony by Majid Zangooei, Secretary-General of the Health Tourism Development Centre for Islamic Countries. He said Oman’s challenge “is not only building hospitals or developing infrastructure”, but also raising international awareness of its healthcare services and building confidence in their quality.
The centre, he said, “is ready to support Oman through its international network”.
The conference programme features keynote addresses and eight panel discussions over three days. It continues on September 22 with a session examining international experience in health tourism.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
