Oman's government is keen to develop its RO300-million ($775 million) medical city project in the Barka region of the sultanate on a public-private-partnership (PPP) model, said a report.

The flagship healthcare venture will feature a cluster of world-class tertiary care hospitals, medical college and R&D (research and development) facilities, reported the Oman Observer.

The medical city, which will come up in a five million sq m area, boasts an array of speciality hospitals offering a total of 1,200 beds, it stated.

In addition to a dedicated paediatric hospital and general tertiary care hospital, the complex will also include a trauma centre, rehabilitation centre, neurology centre, diagnostic radiology centre, medical laboratories centre, medical college, and research hub, the report said.

Earlier this year, the ministry had signed an MoU that secures the support of the Supreme Council for Planning and the wholly government-owned sovereign wealth fund, Oman Investment Fund (OIF), in the execution of the landmark project.

PPP has long been the cornerstone of the government’s strategy for attracting private investment in the electricity and water sector, a policy that is also sought to be progressively promoted in a number of other infrastructure sectors, including ports, logistic chains, civil aviation, solid waste management, said the report, citing a senior official.

The PPP model delivers outstanding outcomes in the provision of large-scale public services, stated Dr Fabio Scacciavillani, the chief economist at OIF.

“Contracts based on a PPP framework help improve transparency, enhance accountability, reinforce responsibility, and establish performance benchmarks for the benefit of the citizens. PPP is not merely a cost-containment exercise; it sets standards of excellence; it enables the delivery of professionally managed public services according to international best practices,” he added.