Mission to the Sultanate of Oman
The first mission of the INCB to the Sultanate of Oman was carried out from 3 to 5 April 2016. The mission was led by Major-General Ahmed Kamel Al-Din Samak, member of the Board accompanied by Ms. Hanifa Rebbani of the INCB secretariat. The objective of the mission was to discuss issues related to the Sultanate's implementation of the three international drug control treaties to which the Sultanate of Oman is party.
The mission held consultations with the Minister of Health, the Attorney General and senior officials from the Omani Government including, the Ministries of Health, Justice, Social Development and the Police Directorate. The mission met with senior officials at the Directorate General of Pharmaceutical Affairs and Drug Control and the National Committee for Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Affairs. The mission also had the opportunity to visit a detoxification / rehabilitation centre for drug users as well as the oncology department of the Central Muscat Hospital. The mission visited the office of the World Health Organisation in Muscat.
Discussions focused on the trends in trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors as well as measures taken or planned to address these issues, in particular, the legislative measures and administrative policies of drug control. Consultations also focused on issues related to the availability of controlled substances for medical needs such as opiates in palliative care as well as drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation services in the Sultanate.
The findings of the mission will be considered by the Board at is forthcoming 115 th to be held in May 2016, and will be reflected in the INCB Annual Report for 2016, which will be published in early 2017.
From left to right: Ms. Hanifa Rebbani, INCB Secretariat and Major-General Ahmed Kamel Al-Din Samak, INCB Board Member in discussion with H.E. Dr. Ahmed Bin Mohammed al-Sa'eedi, Minister of Health and Chairman of the National Committee for Narcotics & Psychotropic Substances and Dr. Mohammed Bin Saif al-Hosni, Undersecretary for Health Affairs of the Ministry of Health.