The Royal Hospital is a major teaching hospital for the MD course conducted by the Sultan Qaboos University. It also serves as the main training facility for the post-graduate Residency Program of the Oman Medical Specialty Board in Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Child Health and Laboratory Medicine. Further, the Royal Hospital is recognized by the Royal Colleges of UK and Ireland as an official center for the membership examinations in Medicine, Pediatrics and Surgery.
Nursing and paramedical students of the Nursing Institutes in the capital area, the Institute of Health Sciences, and the Sultan Qaboos University are also provided clinical training at the Royal Hospital.
Royal College confers Fellowship on Omani Consultants
On the occasion of the inaugural meeting of the Gulf Chapter of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, an honorary fellowship was awarded to His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Mohammed bin Moosa, Minister of Health, and fellowships under by-law 5(c) were bestowed on 8 leaders of the medical profession in Oman including Dr. Abdulla Mohammed Al Riyami, Dr. Saleh Mohammed Al Khusaiby, Dr. Saadia Amer Al Riyami, Dr. Sayed Mohammed Laiq and Dr. Riaz Ahmed Syed from the Royal Hospital.
The honorary fellowship awarded to His Excellency the Minister is the highest honour that the College can award and was in recognition of His Excellency's singular contribution to the Omani health services.
The College has had a connection with doctors in the Gulf area over many years. Many medical graduates have taken the Membership exams and been successful, but until recently they had to travel to Ireland in order to gain this qualification. However ten years ago, the Part I Membership examination was held in Muscat for the first time. Not only Omani graduates but also candidates from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Sudan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and other countries have taken the exam in Oman. In March 2002 the Part II written examination was held for the first time in Oman, followed in May 2003 by the Part II Clinical examination.
The College has formed a College Chapter of the GCC States, which will be based in Oman. This Chapter will organize the College activities in the region and advise the College regarding relevant policy. Many people have been involved in the setting up of the examinations and the Chapter particularly appreciated the efforts and leadership of Dr. Kadhim Jaffer Suleiman, who was appointed the Chairman of the new Gulf Chapter.
