Muscat – The International Nurses Day is an occasion to honour the significant efforts made by nurses in serving the community. It also serves to highlight the importance of investing in this vital sector, not only to improve health services, but also to strengthen the national economy and achieve sustainable development.

Through its advanced nursing policies and initiatives, the Sultanate of Oman affirms that it views nursing as a fundamental component of health and development strategies, and that caring for and empowering nurses is the path to building a strong health system and a thriving economy.

On this day, the Sultanate of Oman highlights the vital role played by nursing professionals in strengthening the health system and supporting the national economy. It reaffirms its ongoing commitment to improving nursing conditions and enhancing their professional skills, emphasising that investing in nursing is pivotal in the health and economy of the society.

According to the Ministry of Health’s 2023 annual report, 15,425 nurses were employed across its health institutions by the end of last year. The Ministry has adopted strategic plans to increase the nurse-to-population ratio, ensure equitable distribution of skilled nursing staff across governorates, and strengthen nursing roles in areas such as school health, home care, and community outreach.

The Ministry also reported continued progress in developing nursing education and specialisation. Oman College of Health Sciences graduated 441 nurses in 2023, while 173 students enrolled in nursing diploma programs at the Higher Institute for Health Specialties, focusing on fields such as midwifery, psychiatric nursing, infection control, and emergency care.

Specialised diploma programmes have been expanded to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the population and to enhance the system’s readiness for emergencies and disasters.
The Sultanate has also made notable progress in Omanising the nursing workforce. The Omanisation rate reached 62 percent in 2023, reflecting the government’s commitment to building national capacity and offering Omanis stable, high-impact career paths in the healthcare sector. It also serves as a strong incentive to attract more Omanis to the nursing profession as a stable career path with high societal value.