الملخص الإنجليزي
abstract: 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
characterised 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 modernisation. 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.
