MUSCAT : Oman has added death cases involving Omani citizens to the categories exempt from healthcare service fees, under a new decision issued by the Minister of Health.

The decision by Health Minister Dr Hilal bin Ali Al Sabti introduces “death cases involving Omanis” as a new exemption under Article 7 of the Healthcare Services Fees Regulation, bringing the total number of exempt categories to 18.

The amendment means fees covered by the exemption will no longer be charged in cases involving the death of an Omani citizen under the regulation.

The Healthcare Services Fees Regulation was introduced through Ministerial Decision No. 126/2023 and sets out the fees applicable to healthcare services as well as the categories eligible for exemptions.

Other exempt groups include Omani children under the age of two, Omani pregnant women, Omani cancer patients and those undergoing chronic kidney dialysis, Omani persons with disabilities registered with the Ministry of Social Development, social security beneficiaries and their families, and prison inmates and pre-trial detainees.

Exemptions also apply to certain public health services, including national vaccination campaigns, early screening programmes for Omanis and treatment related to specified epidemic or infectious diseases that pose a threat to public health.

The 2023 regulation requires healthcare institutions to facilitate access to treatment for citizens and residents while collecting prescribed fees. It also stipulates that fee collection procedures must not prevent emergency cases from receiving treatment.

The latest amendment expands the exemption framework by formally including death cases involving Omani citizens as the 18th category.

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