International Trade in Services.pdf - DSpace at Khazar University

106 International Trade in Services
Box 4.1: Case Study: Remedying Health Shortages through Trade under
Modes 4 and 2, Oman (continued)
Despite these significant imports, the Omani health sector still falls below
international benchmarks, with a density per 10,000 inhabitants of 12.6 doctors, 31.6
nurses, 0.7 pharmacists, and 0.7 dentists. Therefore, Oman has to supplement these
imports under Mode 4 with imports under Mode 2, that is, it sends some of its patients
for treatment abroad. Accordingly, there is an official policy to sponsor Omanis for
treatment abroad if treatment is not available locally. The average annual cost was US$3
million in 2001–03. The number of patients treated abroad dropped from 418 in 1990
to 237 in 2006 because of public investments in the sector (figure 4.2). In 2006, 44
Omani patients were treated for neoplasm abroad (compared with 180 in 2000), 58 for
orthopedic ailments, 39 for cardiac ailments, and 31 for ophthalmologic ailments.
Targeted public investment could help reduce significantly the cost of these health care
imports. For example, government-funded medical travel for oncology fell by
92 percent from 2004 to 2005 after an oncology center opened.
At the margin of health care services, Oman also imports medical education
services under Mode 2. In 2003/04, 1,341 medical students received foreign training;
52 percent were government sponsored, and 48 percent were self-sponsored.
Figure 4.2. Omani Patients Treated Abroad, 2006
Jordan
1
United States
3
Kuwait
4
Germany
8
Egypt, Arab Rep.
1
Thailand
1
other
6
United Kingdom
31
India
182
Sources: Suleiman (2005), http://www.who.int/en/, http://www.moh.gov.om/.