Promoting Preventive Healthcare: Sohar International Partners with Athar to Provide ABPI Devices Across Four Health Complexes

Muscat : Extending its social investment into an area with direct implications for community wellbeing, Sohar International has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Health Endowment Foundation (Athar), whose Board is chaired by the Omani Minister of Health, to fund the implementation of the ‘Pulse of Life’ initiative. As part of the initiative, four Ankle-Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI) devices will be introduced at selected health complexes operated by the Ministry of Health, supporting the early detection of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) and helping to reduce the risks of heart attacks and strokes.

Under this partnership, Sohar International will cover the provision of the devices, and the Directorate General of Health in Muscat will be in charge of training healthcare professionals on their operation and the interpretation of results, while working to integrate the early screening service into diabetes and chronic disease clinics at the targeted health complexes. The initiative will also be closely monitored through performance indicators to assess the impact of the service and its contribution to enhancing patient safety and quality of care. This comprehensive funding approach, which combines equipment provision, capacity building, and oversight mechanisms, is designed to establish a sustainable healthcare service that becomes an integral part of routine care, while complementing national efforts to strengthen preventive healthcare across the Sultanate.

Commenting on the partnership, Dr. Mazin Mahmood Al Raisi, Chief Marketing Officer at Sohar International, said, “Preventive healthcare can make a decisive difference to both individual wellbeing and the wider healthcare system. At Sohar International, we view social investment as a responsibility to direct support towards areas where it can address a defined need and produce lasting benefit. Our partnership with Athar puts this approach into practice by helping make an important diagnostic capability available to more patients within the public health system.”

Hilal Al Sarmi, CEO at Athar added, “The value of ‘Pulse of Life’ lies in how it can strengthen care at the point of delivery. By placing fast, reliable and non-invasive tools directly in the hands of frontline healthcare providers, the initiative will support more informed decisions while offering patients a simpler and more comfortable experience. Partnerships with institutions such as Sohar International are essential to turning healthcare priorities into practical improvements. We value the bank’s confidence in ‘Pulse of Life’ and its contribution towards taking it forward.”

The devices funded by Sohar International will be allocated to Seeb Specialist Health Complex, Musanaa, Suwaiq and Sohar Health Complex. Suitable for outpatient and primary healthcare settings, the systems can be used during routine consultations, allowing medical teams to assess patients and make more appropriate referral decisions.

PAD can develop without obvious symptoms and may only be recognized after complications have emerged. People living with diabetes, hypertension or high cholesterol are at greater risk, as are smokers and older adults. For these groups, greater access to assessment can support timely care and help reduce the risk of serious outcomes, including diabetic foot complications and, in severe cases, lower-limb amputation.

For Sohar International, corporate responsibility involves directing its resources towards partnerships that combine specialist expertise with public-sector reach. The bank will continue to engage in areas of clear social relevance, with an emphasis on programs that strengthen essential services and build institutional capability.

About Sohar International:

Sohar International is Oman’s fastest-growing bank, guided by a clear vision to become a world-leading Omani service company that helps customers, communities, and people prosper and grow. With a purpose to help people ‘win’ by delivering responsive banking for their ever-changing world, the bank offers innovative solutions across Commercial and Investment Banking, Wealth Management, Islamic Banking, and more. Operating with a strong digital-first approach and an expanding regional footprint—including presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia—Sohar International is committed to driving value through strategic partnerships and a dynamic customer experience. Learn more at www.SIB.om