Oman

General

Capital – Muscat

Land Size – 309,500 sq km

Population – 2,967,717

Language(s) – Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects

1985 (June) – EMS planning first initiated
1986 – Formation of EMS national committee
1991 – Public Authority of Ambulance Services (PAAS) established
2000 – program reactivated under Royal Oman Police (ROP)
- Joint committee between ROP and MOH formed for development of modern EMS system
2001 – Ambulance Division Project Committee formed
- Group of Omani MDs and RNs from various specialties sent to Ronald Regan Institute of Emergency Medicine to formulate advanced emergency medical care training program
- Trained as instructors and set standards for Omani EMS
April 6^th, 2004 – service officially launched
- Personnel qualified to AEMT level
- Scope originally directed towards trauma and injuries
  - Has since expanded to all medical emergencies

Funded entirely by Royal Oman Police (government)
- Provided free of charge, regardless of insurance status

Course Requirements (Khalifah, 741):
- 1. Completed general science secondary school certificate with 70% or above grade.
- 2. Physically and medically fit.
- 3. Never been convicted in any criminal record.
  - After passing the recruitment process the training program for AEMTs is divided into three periods:
    - First period: this lasts for 6 months and it covers basic police sciences and police training. This period is spent at the Sul- tan Qaboos Academy of Police Sciences.
    - Second period: this is a foundation course that lasts for 1 year and covers English language, Physiology and Anatomy and basic computer sciences.
    - Third period: this is a 1-year period of specialized training. This is divided into three semesters of 16 weeks each:
      - A – 1st semester: covers trauma and patient assessment.
      - B – 2nd semester: covers medical emergencies and patient assessment.
      - C – 3rd semester: covers special cases and selected topics.
- Written and practical examinations after each semester
  - Linked to tertiary hospitals to further expose them to emergency cases and skills practice
- Graduates given Field Preceptors (senior AEMTs) for 6-8mos prior to field assignment
Instruction
- Provided by specialized Omani instructors trained by respected international EMS institutes
  - AHA, NAEMT
- Courses (originally adopted from US-NHTSA EMT-Paramedic curriculum)
  - BLS, ACLS, BTLS, PHTLS, PALS, and other emergency care courses

On-line and off-line medical control
Communications
- Muscat – Digital communication system (TETRA)
- Outside capital – VHF radios connected to central communication centers

First aid/injury prevention programs are taught by Omani EMS
Community-based activities aimed at teaching recognition and treatment of life-threatening conditions prior to ambulance arrival

9999 – nationwide toll-free emergency number
- Connected to central public service call center
- Forwarded to appropriate service
Currently no medical assistance provided by dispatchers to callers

“Develop and run a medically oriented EMS exclusive dispatch center” (Khalifah, 742)
- More interagency communication
- Allow dispatchers to provide online medical instructions to callers
- Improve initial triage
Cover entire country w/in 5 years (as of 2009)
Plans for Aero-medical ambulance incorporation

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mu.html
Khalifah Al-Shaqsi SZ: “EMS in the Sultanate of Oman.” Resuscitation 2009;80:740-2.