Health

The implementation of mandatory health insurance in March 2019 is expected to have major effects on care provision in Oman. New regulations now require private sector employers to provide coverage for their expatriate staff, as well as their spouses and children. This comes as the government takes prudent steps to tighten its budget and looks to shift the cost burden of provision, which has been historically reliant on public coffers, to the private sector. Along with increased government efforts to invite private sector participation in hospital and clinic construction through public-private partnerships, the new mandatory health insurance law presents a significant opportunity for providers and insurers to expand their presence in the local market.