MUSCAT: “I had a dream, and my dream, unlike Martin Luther King’s, was to become a doctor; this dream was initiated by the suffering I witnessed around me,” stated Dr. Ahmed Al Saidi, former Health Minister, at the second edition of TAS Conclave.

What triggered his passion for health care was the high infant mortality rate that he saw around him during his early years. “It was a high as 25%,” he said, pointing out that before 1970 many did not even see their fifth birthday. “Today, our life expectancy is better than many other countries. We have a good health sector, and this is thanks to the team of health workers, who continue to shape this industry,” he added, extending his gratitude to expatriate doctors and nurses who serve Oman’s health sector.

Health care, he noted, will continue to grow in a strategic manner; however, what he desires most to see is this growth getting enhanced with the participation of the private sector in the health industry, “I want the private sector to be a partner in this growth,” he asserted.

He also wishes to see Oman becoming a hub for vaccine production in the near future, with potentials to develop into a healthcare destination.

Talking about his personal medical career, he maintained that his journey wasn’t easy, “but the lessons I have learnt are huge,” he added, noting that the best reward, as a doctor, is to see ones patient recovering without complications.