Web Report
Health services previously suspended at the Ministry of Health and Prevention’s facilities following the preventive measures put in place to combat the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus are being gradually resumed starting Sunday.
“All the services will be provided in a safe way to meet patient’s needs in all specialties and at all service delivery points,” the ministry said.
Hospitals will now be allowed to perform scheduled surgeries of urgent medical conditions. However, plastic surgeries will remain suspended, except in urgent cases.
Services of outpatient clinics will be restored in morning and evening shifts, based on scheduling systems and after confirming the appointments with customers.
The list of the resumed services includes cardiology, pediatrics, general surgery, gynaecology and obstetrics, orthopedics, mental health services including psychiatric and social consultations, and rehabilitation programs for addiction patients, and other psychiatric and community psychiatry departments that serve different age groups such as adults, the elderly, children and, adolescents, while the ENT department (ear, nose, and throat) will continue to provide services for emergency cases.
The ministry has also issued an organisational guide for hospital services, it announced.
Dr. Kalthoum Al Balushi, Director of the Hospitals Department, underlined that the decision on the resumption of the work has been made after having taken the necessary preparations and precautions, including enhancing the operational readiness, resources capacity supported with policies, procedures, and an organisation guide, with taking utmost precautions to maintain the safety and prevent infection of patients and medical cadres.
Al Balushi pointed to the full readiness of medical, nursing, and technical cadres to receive patients and to provide them with healthcare services according to approved standards, while the virtual and telemedicine services in all medical, nursing and supporting specialties will remain in place.