English abstract
The purpose of this study is to identify the major sources generating big data in
health sector in the Sultanate of Oman, to find out how significant is this data and in
what fields it can be invested, as well as its role in managing Covid-19 crises.
Moreover, the study points out the legalizations and laws followed in using big data
in health sector and identifying the major challenges facing users in getting real
values out of this data. The study relies on the qualitative descriptive approach.
Semi-structured personal interview is used in collecting data,(18) interviews were
conducted. The study community includes both government and private health
institutions in Oman. The study sample consists of (3) government hospitals, one
private hospital in addition to the Ministry of health. The specialties of the sample
members varied, as the focus is on those dealing directly with data, such as: IT
specialists, statisticians, and medical records personnel. A number of medical
specialties have been added, such as: a doctor, a nurse, and a pharmacist.
The most important results of the study includes: the electronic health systems
are considered as one of the most important sources of big date in the health sector in
Oman. The results reveals that big data is very important in health sector for medical
diagnosis, prescribe appropriate medication to the patient and taking the right
decisions based on data. Furthermore, big data is used in Artificial intelligence
technology, making surveys, studies and researches, reducing costs for health
institutions, predicting diseases, and directing the use of medical resources. During
Covid-19 crisis, big data plays a prominent role in managing this crisis through the
electronic medical records for Covid-19 patients, which contributes in providing
accurate data on patients at the time of the pandemic through quick access to
demographic data and addresses of patients which helps a lot in the epidemiological
investigations, and determine the areas where the epidemic is spreading.
The results of this study shows that there is no comprehensive law on health
data, weather about personal information or data related to patient's medical history.
Regarding these regulations, it is based on a number of existing laws such as:
Information Security Act issued by Information Technology Authority, Infectious
Diseases Act which is updated during Covid-19 pandemic, Information and Statistics
law and the Law Governing the Practice of the Medical Profession and Allied Health
Professions. In some health institutions, internal laws are set up as a kind of
workflow organizing. The study concluded in some recommendations. The most
important of them include: cooperation between the government and private health
sectors in order to find out a national data system includes all health fields which
facilitates access to patients health information if necessary, the importance of
establishing clear policies and legislations for big data use in the health sector.
