Oman plans to build six health polyclinics at a cost of over RO20 million ($52 million), a report said.

Agreements to construct the clinics have been signed, said Dr Ali bin Mohammed bin Moosa, Minister of Health.

As per the agreements, four old health complexes would be replaced in the wilayats of Sohar, Nizwa, Ibra and Sur; and two new will be built in the wilayat of Seeb and Al Buraimi, a report in Oman Times said.

Dr Moosa said the Health Ministry was planning in a long-term strategy to enhance the primary health care in the wilayats whose population exceeds 20,000 by constructing health polyclinics in each of them.

So far 16 health polyclinics have been constructed in the wilayats of Barka, Al’Musana’a, A’Rustaq, A’Suwaiq, Al Khabourah, Saham, Shinas, Bausher, Qurayat, Izki, Bahla, Sumail, Ibri, Khasab, Salalah and Jaalan bani Bu Ali, he noted.

With the signing of the agreements, the number of health polyclinics in the sultanate will increase to 22, Dr Moosa added.