Emerging burden of frail young and elderly persons in Oman : for whom the bell tolls?

Abstract EN

Recent improvements in health and an increased standard of living in Oman have led to a reduction in environment-related and infectious diseases.

Now the country is experiencing an epidemiological transition characterized by a baby boom, youth bulge and increasing longevity.

Common wisdom would therefore suggest that Omanis will suffer less ill health.

However, a survey of literature suggests that chronic non-communicable diseases are unexpectedly becoming common.

This is possibly fuelled by some socio-cultural patterns specific to Oman, as well as the shortcomings of the ‘miracle’ of health and rapid modernization.

Unfortunately, such new diseases do not spare younger people ; a proportion of them will need the type of care usually reserved for the elderly.

In addition, due to their pervasive and refractory nature, these chronic non-communicable diseases seem impervious to the prevailing ‘cure-oriented’ health care system.

This situation therefore calls for a paradigm shift : a health care system that goes beyond a traditional cure-orientation to provide care services for the chronically sick of all ages.