Expat Guide To Healthcare In Oman

Despite foreign expats not being a part of the public healthcare plan, the emergency units of all public hospitals in Oman are legally obliged to admit medical emergencies for people of all nationalities. Emergency services are well maintained at all public and private healthcare centres across Oman. The national emergency hotline for healthcare services is 9999. It is advised that you arrange for transportation to the hospital, as ambulance services are sparse.

Expats must register themselves at a nearby primary care centre for accessing any kind of medical service. Most of the areas in the country are within a five-kilometre radius from a health care centre. For serious ailments that would need a specialist's diagnosis you can get a recommendation from your general practitioner.

However, for non-urgent treatment of illnesses, expats have to visit a private hospital and the fees have to paid for immediately, and often in cash. The Burjeel Medical Centre at Al Azaiba is the preferred choice of most expats when it comes to foreign hospitals. While the facilities and technology in these private hospitals are excellent, the prices can be a bit steep. Hence it is highly recommended to have a private health and medical insurance policy when traveling to the country.

Check that your medication is not banned in Oman

If you're moving to Oman as an employee, the chances are that your employer has already paid for your insurance plan. The government however does not make it mandatory for employers to provide employees with insurance. Therefore, it is advisable to verify the terms of the plan. Sometimes, these plans are limited in the options where the insurance is valid or exclude a few non-public clinics and hospitals. Some plans might not cover a range of medical services such as dental hygiene and mental health issues. It is very important to speak to your employer about your needs and negotiate a plan that works well for you.

When finalizing on a medical insurance plan one should ensure that the policy includes:

• Air ambulance to your home country in case you need to fly back in an emergency
• Complete medical cover for all healthcare bills
• Cover for the medical care of your dependents against diseases and travel related sickness
• Cover to transport the body home in the unfortunate scenario of death

There are ongoing talks to make health insurance mandatory and easily accessible for all expats in Oman. The Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry plans to bring this into effect from 2019. This would be good news for foreign nationals working in Oman in the private sector. The bill aims to make healthcare more affordable for everyone and would go a long way in promoting expat life in Oman.

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