Work has started on a RO155,000 ($181,380) prosthetic and orthotic services centre being built by Omani group Sohar Aluminium at Khoula Hospital in collaboration with Salalah Methanol Company (SMC) and Oman India Fertilizer Company (Omifco), said a report.

Once completed, the new facility will utilise the industry’s latest medical technology and serve more than 7,000 patients annually, reported the Times of Oman.

The three firms are working together to build the facility as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts.

Scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2020, the state-of-the-art centre will enable Khoula Hospital to expand its services by making additional space available for clinics, staff, and modification workshops, said the report.

With both prosthetic and orthotic services available on site, patients can have their artificial limbs and devices designed, manufactured, and fitted in one place. The new centre will also have more examination rooms, training rooms, and designated fitting areas for males and females, allowing patients to receive treatment in a more comfortable environment, it added.