Royal Hospital Performs Over 14,000 Surgeries and Advances Robotic and Remote Medicine

Royal Hospital Performs Over 14,000 Surgeries and Localizes Robotic and Remote Surgery Technologies

Muscat:  The Royal Hospital has reinforced its standing as a national reference institution through strong operational performance during the past year, having carried out 14,446 surgical operations, received more than 213,000 outpatients, handled 55,611 emergency cases, and received 72,122 referrals from various health institutions across the Sultanate of Oman—reflecting the effectiveness of integration within the national healthcare system.

Dr. Amad bin Khamis Al-Araimi, Director General of the Royal Hospital, told the Oman News Agency that the hospital presented an advanced model of specialized healthcare delivery in 2025, affirming its role as a national reference center progressing steadily toward achieving the goals of health sustainability, innovation, and service quality, in line with national priorities and the Oman Vision 2040.

He explained that diagnostic services witnessed significant growth, with 82,004 radiology examinations conducted, including 1,316 cases referred from other health institutions, in addition to 4,437,964 laboratory tests, of which 224,621 samples were received from outside the hospital. This further strengthened the hospital’s position as a national hub for advanced diagnostics. Endoscopy services recorded 7,621 procedures, while 17,580 day procedures were performed, contributing to faster service delivery and an improved patient experience.

Dr. Al-Araimi noted that the Royal Hospital continued its leadership in organ transplantation, performing 52 transplant operations, including 32 kidney transplants and 20 liver transplants, within an integrated medical framework that adheres to the highest international standards.

He added that the past year witnessed a series of unprecedented medical achievements, including the first non-surgical laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, the first separation of conjoined twins, the first human heart transplant, and the first artificial heart transplant. The hospital also conducted a live broadcast of an aortic valve replacement surgery during the GIS Valve Conference in Dubai, launched the first locally produced 18F-PSMA molecular imaging service, and introduced Thermal Ablation technology for treating endometriosis without traditional surgery. In addition, the hospital successfully performed the first wireless dual pacemaker implantation via catheterization.

He explained that the Royal Hospital succeeded in localizing molecular diagnostic tests for colorectal cancer (KRAS, NRAS, BRAF) through the efforts of the Medical Laboratories Department and the Tissues and Cells Department. These tests were previously conducted abroad with waiting periods exceeding three weeks and are now performed locally for the first time.

Among the hospital’s notable humanitarian and medical milestones, Dr. Al-Araimi cited the successful removal of a rare malignant liver tumor from a three-year-old child, the execution of the first telesurgery in the region between Muscat and Kuwait, and the introduction of robot-assisted surgery, further enhancing advanced surgical capabilities.

At the level of institutional integration, he noted that the Royal Hospital carried out 429 surgical operations as part of a joint campaign with the Medical City for Security and Military Agencies. The hospital also contributed to training medical personnel and performing surgeries in several hospitals across the Sultanate, including Khasab, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Sur, Jaalan Bani Bu Hassan, Ibra, and Rustaq. In addition, campaigns to reduce waiting lists in pediatric surgery targeted 1,000 cases, contributing to a 30 percent reduction in waiting times.

In the field of quality and accreditation, Dr. Al-Araimi stated that the hospital achieved the highest quality standards in nuclear medicine from the International Atomic Energy Agency, completed the localization of HLA testing for organ transplantation, and received international recognition as a reference center for food allergy management. The hospital also won the Excellence Award at the World Hospital Congress – Geneva 2025.

He added that the Royal Hospital published 154 scientific research papers in international peer-reviewed journals and made significant progress in digital transformation, achieving 100 percent digitization of patient transfer requests, activating WhatsApp communication services for hospital residences—raising communication efficiency by 90 percent—and enhancing the digital patient journey through medication tracking systems, smart waiting solutions, and electronic prescriptions.

Dr. Al-Araimi affirmed that the Royal Hospital continues to consolidate its position as a leading national institution that combines clinical excellence, innovation, capacity building, and patient-centered care, translating investment in human resources into tangible achievements that serve the nation.

He emphasized that the hospital’s role extends beyond service provision within its facilities to supporting healthcare institutions nationwide through advanced diagnostic capabilities, unified standards, and improved accuracy and speed of medical decision-making—contributing to service localization, reduced referrals, and enhanced efficiency of the national healthcare system.

He concluded by noting that the coming phase will focus on deepening digital transformation, expanding national and international partnerships, strengthening scientific research, and empowering national competencies, to ensure the sustainability of healthcare leadership and achieve the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.