Geneva – Oman is among nine countries worldwide and the second Arab country to achieve this feat, reflecting its commitment to improving quality of life, promoting health prevention, and raising public health indicators.

The recognition was announced during the opening of the 78th World Health Assembly (from May 19 to 27) in Geneva, where Oman’s Minister of Health, His Excellency Dr. Hilal bin Ali Al Sabti, received the official certificate of recognition.

In a press statement issued on the occasion, the Health Minister stated: “The elimination of artificial trans fats is a milestone in our commitment to promoting and protecting community health. We are proud to be among the nine leading countries globally and the second in the Arab world to implement this life-saving policy to eliminate this harmful component.”

This achievement is the culmination of the Sultanate of Oman’s tireless efforts to develop quality and safety standards in all areas that touch upon human health and enhance prevention for citizens and residents – in line with the strategic objectives of Oman Vision 2040.

It reflects joint efforts between the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, and relevant authorities to ban the use of artificial trans fats in food products.

This year’s World Health Assembly, held under the theme “One World for Health,” will discuss several topics in which the Sultanate of Oman’s delegation will participate, including the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2026–2027 and the role of the Global Coordination Mechanism for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases.

Discussions will cover mental health and social communication, as well as global strategies and action plans due to expire within one year, including the Comprehensive Implementation Plan on Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition 2021-2025, the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health, and Global Strategic Directions in Nursing and Midwifery 2021-2025.

The meeting will also address the issue of antimicrobial resistance, discuss the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body for the elaboration and negotiation of a WHO convention, agreement, or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, and the impact of climate change on health through discussion of the WHO Global Strategy on Environmental Health and Climate Change: The transformation needed to sustainably improve people’s lives and well-being through healthy environments.

The meeting will review integrated emergency, critical, and surgical care to achieve universal health coverage and protection from health emergencies. It will also address substandard and falsified medical products, as well as global strategies and action plans due to expire within one year, in accordance with the Global Strategy for Digital Health 2020-2025.