The Scientific Committee of the National Bioethics Committee held a meeting on 13 May 2026 in the Academic Council Hall, chaired by Sheikh Dr. Kahlan bin Nabhan Al Kharousi, Assistant Grand Mufti of the Sultanate of Oman and Chairman of the Committee. During the meeting, members discussed a number of issues of national importance in the field of professional and clinical ethics.

As part of its agenda, the meeting reviewed proposals for the Thirteenth Intellectual Forum, where a range of topics aligned with community needs were discussed, contributing to the enhancement of national policies and raising awareness of vital issues with ethical dimensions.

The Committee also discussed the draft Code of Ethics and Omani Professional Conduct in the Health Sector, submitted by the Ministry of Health. The draft aims to strengthen professional and humanitarian values within the workplace and promote the principles of respect, compassion, preservation of human dignity, and proper treatment of patients and their families, in a manner that reflects authentic Omani values.

In addition, the meeting addressed two draft national ethical guidelines. The first concerns the formation and development of Research Ethics Committees, serving as a proposed regulatory framework to support institutions in reviewing scientific research and emphasising the importance of adherence to ethical principles and the protection of participants’ rights, privacy, and safety. The second guideline relates to the establishment of Medical Ethics Committees in hospitals, with the aim of enhancing the capacity of healthcare institutions to address ethical issues that may arise during the provision of care and to support ethical decision-making in complex clinical cases.

Committee members emphasised the importance of these initiatives in building an integrated national framework for professional ethics, contributing to the enhancement of the quality of care, the promotion of sound ethical practices, and the strengthening of trust between the community and service-providing institutions in Oman.