Go Lean, Get Leaner: The application of lean management in Omani healthcare
Journal Title: Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal - Year 2018, Vol 1, Issue 4
Abstract
As in many countries, the public health- care system in Oman strives to maintain high- quality services despite rising costs.1 Between 1970 and 2017, healthcare services in the country have witnessed remarkable improvements, resulting in an increase in the life expectancy of Omanis from 49 to 75 years and a drop in the infant mortality rate from 120 to 9 cases per 1,000 live births.2 Notably, the World Health Organization ranked the health system in Oman to be the eighth best in the world in 2000.3 Te Omani government provides universal health coverage, ensuring free access to Omani citizens and subsidised services for expatriates; however, this makes the system vulnerable to unnecessary waste and results in avoidable operational costs. Between 2000 and 2010, healthcare expenditures constituted approximately 3% of the gross domestic product; in 2016, this was equivalent to about $3.4 billion USD allocated mainly to the Ministry of Health, which handles almost 80% of all healthcare expenditures.4 In 2017, the Omani government reduced overall healthcare expenditures by 47% to $1.6 billion USD.5 Nevertheless, it has been projected that healthcare expenditures in Oman will continue to rise at an annual rate of 12.9%, with total healthcare expenditures reaching $4.3 billion USD by 2020.6 As in other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, securing and maintaining sufcient fnancial support for healthcare expenditures in Oman can be challenging due to fluctuations in crude oil prices. As a result, there is an urgent need to adopt sustainable cost-reducing operational models, thereby reducing costs without compromising the quality of healthcare services.
Authors and Affiliations
Yahya M. Al-Farsi, Shahid M. Al-Balushi
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP37468
- DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.18295/10.18295/squmj.2018.18.04.001
- Views 318
- Downloads 0
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