Focus: Ensuring continuous availability, quality, and safety of medicines, while strengthening national supply chain resilience and preparedness.

Priority Topics:

1. Supply chain vulnerability mapping and national supply chain resilience frameworks
2. Predictive models, early warning systems, and strategic medicine reserve planning for drug shortages

Expected Outputs:

• National-level frameworks and models for shortage prevention
• Early warning or risk prediction tools
• Policy recommendations for medicine security and preparedness

B. Pharmaceutical Economics & Cost Optimisation

Focus: Improving efficiency and sustainability of pharmaceutical spending in Oman.

Priority Topics:

1. Centralised vs decentralised procurement models
2. Pharmacoeconomic evaluation of high-cost medicines, including generic and biosimilar medicine uptake strategies

Expected Outputs:

• Cost-effectiveness / budget impact models
• Policy recommendations for procurement and reimbursement
• Quantifiable cost-saving strategies for the Omani health system

C. Pharmaceutical Governance & HTA for Strategic Decision-Making

Focus: Strengthening decision-making systems and policy frameworks for pharmaceutical governance.

Priority Topics:

1. Integration of HTA into policy and clinical guidelines
2. National pharmaceutical security index development

Expected Outputs:

• Policy frameworks integrating HTA into decision-making
• National pharmaceutical security monitoring framework (index)
• Evidence-based policy recommendations for system strengthening

D. Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturing & Industry Development

Focus: Strengthening domestic production and reducing reliance on imports.

Priority Topics:

1. Feasibility of local production (generics, biosimilars)
2. Strategies for expanding pharmaceutical manufacturing

Expected Outputs:

• National manufacturing strategy frameworks
• Feasibility and investment models
• Policy recommendations to support local industry

E. Clinical Pharmacy, Rational Medicine Use & Patient Safety

Focus: Optimising medicine use to improve outcomes and reduce avoidable costs.

Priority Topics:

1. Expansion and impact of clinical pharmacy services, including rational prescribing, deprescribing, medication safety, and adherence to national prescribing guidelines

Expected Outputs:

• Scalable service models applicable across the Omani health system
• Measurable improvements in patient outcomes and safety
• Evidence of cost savings from optimised medicine use

·      Principal Investigator (PI): PhD holder or equivalent (clinicians: senior specialist or higher)

·      PI should be from an organisation that is electronically connected to Ministry of Higher Education Research and Innovation

·      MoHERI will fund up to 50% of the total project cost with a maximum cap of OMR 50,000

·      PI and Co-PI should be from the same organisation

·      PI and Co-PI should not have any ongoing funded projects from MoHERI

·      Confirmation and details of cash/material/in-kind contribution in writing to be attached with the proposal

·      Alignment to CFP described theme/challenge research areas

·      Applicant knowledge of and experience with the area

·      Capability of carrying out the work

·      Inter-sectoral collaboration

·      Potential impact and expected outcomes of the project

·      Adaptation of the outcomes by the stakeholders

·      Dissemination strategies

·         30 May 2026 Full Proposals due

·         15 July 2026 for pending relevant ethical approval letters

• Full Name
• Staff number
• Institution Name

Please ensure respective ethical approvals are obtained (as appropriate).