Seven Omani primary healthcare institutions become the first in the country to receive WHO‘s Patient Safety-Friendly Primary Health Care Institution certification

February 2026- Oman’s Ministry of Health marked a significant milestone in its healthcare quality journey on Wednesday, hosting a recognition ceremony at its headquarters to celebrate health centers that earned the World Health Organization‘s prestigious Patient Safety Friendly Primary Health Care Institution certification for 2025.

The ceremony took place under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Ahmed bin Salem Al-Mandhari, Undersecretary of Health Planning and Regulation. Among the dignitaries present were H.E. Dr. Jean Jabbour, WHO Representative in Oman, along with Directors General from across various governorates and leaders of primary healthcare institutions and quality departments who participated in this year’s evaluation process.

The WHO recognition programme is designed to embed a culture of patient safety within healthcare settings, measuring institutions against a set of globally approved benchmarks. These benchmarks address key priorities including creating safer care environments, minimising clinical risks and adverse incidents, and fostering meaningful participation from both patients and healthcare workers in safety-related decision-making.

Addressing the gathering, the ceremony’s patron stressed that the adoption of the Patient Safety Framework is central to elevating healthcare service quality across the country. He underscored that compliance with such international standards is a direct reflection of the Ministry’s unwavering dedication to advancing Oman’s healthcare system for the benefit of all community members.

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Dr. Qamra Al-Sariri, Director General of the Quality Assurance Center, provided delegates with a comprehensive overview of the Patient Safety-Friendly Primary Care Initiative, walking attendees through its evaluation methodology and core focus areas. She pointed to measurable improvements already observed in patient safety outcomes and overall care quality at participating institutions as evidence of the framework’s real-world impact.

The highlight of the ceremony was the announcement of seven health centres achieving international recognition. The honoured institutions span four governorates Al-Wattayah and Al-Mawaleh in Muscat; Al-Akhdar and Yanqul in Al Dhahirah; Awqad and Al-Dhahariz in Dhofar; and Al-Qabil in North Al Sharqiyah.

These seven facilities hold the distinction of being the pioneering primary healthcare institutions across Oman to undergo assessment under the Patient Safety-Friendly Primary Care framework, setting a new benchmark for quality and safety standards in the Sultanate’s primary healthcare sector.

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