Healthcare in Arabia, between Past and Present, Migrants and Nationals. The Case-study of Oman and COVID-19

This chapter, founded on joint research carried out by an Italian scholar and an Omani scholar, is focused on the case-study of Oman, during and after the pandemic. The inherent fragilities of the health system of this country, highly reliant on migrants, are investigated, within a historical perspective, which considers the cultural roots, the regional framework, and the specific social environment as well. As part of the history of modern Oman, Sultan Qaboos’ reign (1970-2020), the development of the health sector in those years, the related reforms and changes in Omani society are studied. The issue of human security comes to the fore, as it was crucial during the health emergency in 2020. The crisis was confronted better than in other parts of the world, but COVID-19 was perceived as a threat to the population’s health and the country’s healthcare system. Internal balances related to the broader issue of human security were threatened, given the necessary reliance on foreign expertise and human resources. The available literature and data in Arabic and in English are integrated by fieldwork and a series of interviews in this part of Arabia, and on the role of immigrant and national healthcare staff.