Emerging Burden of Frail Young and Elderly Persons in Oman: For whom the bell tolls?

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