Omanis to replace expat pharmacists: Ministry of health

Muscat: The Ministry of Health (MOH) has issued Circular 167/2025 mandating the Omanisation of pharmacies located in commercial complexes and hospital facilities.

The directive states that contracts of non-Omani pharmacists and their assistants will no longer be renewed, opening up opportunities for Omani nationals in the pharmaceutical sector.

Expatriate pharmacists have long dominated the private sector in Oman. The new policy is expected to create jobs for many unemployed Omani graduates in pharmacy.

Ahmed Al Wadahi, a recruitment expert, told Gulf News that the decision has been long awaited. “This move gives Omanis a real chance to join the pharmaceutical workforce and become financially independent, instead of relying on their families,” he said.

“Oman is making solid progress in replacing expat workers in key private sector roles. For years, employment of Omani pharmacy graduates has remained low — but they deserve this opportunity.”

Nasser Al Muqbali, a 28-year-old pharmacist who has been unemployed for five years, expressed hope. “I’ve been waiting a long time. Like others, I dream of being independent and starting a career,” he said.

The pharmacy profession in Oman has expanded significantly over the past two decades. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of pharmacists more than tripled between 2005 and 2018.

By 2018, Oman had 2,692 pharmacists and 1,998 assistant pharmacists — equivalent to 5.57 and 4.2 per 10,000 people, respectively. The number of Omani health workers, including pharmacists, grew by over 40% between 2016 and 2019.

Oman introduced the Omanisation programme in 1988 to gradually replace expatriate workers with skilled Omani nationals. While government departments and oil and gas companies have reached Omanisation rates of up to 90%, sectors such as construction remain heavily dependent on foreign labour.

-- Fahad Al Mukrashi is a freelance journalist based in Muscat