In recent years, the Sultanate of Oman has made strides in telehealth services to improve healthcare access for underserved patients, specifically through telephone consultations and digital appointment scheduling. However, the lack of technological infrastructure, insufficient training for healthcare providers and the absence of a unified digital system limit its full potential. As a result, patients in remote areas experience delays in diagnosis and treatment.

Alcohol use disorder is a global public health concern and national policies are often implemented to help control alcohol consumption and related consequences. Increasingly, many countries are resorting to transient (short-term) alcohol policies which are implemented for a restricted period of time as an action plan for particular events or health-related issues. The COVID-19 pandemic emphasised the need for rapid decision-making and short-term fast-acting policies. This paper discusses contexts in which these transient policies are used and highlights the need for impact measurement and global exchange of experiences. This is particularly important to avoid gaps that the global alcohol industry could utilise to expand its influence and market.