based on reaching data saturation.

The first author contacted, communicated telephonically with potential participants to set appropriate dates and times for the interviews. Four of the interviewees were senior specialists and consultants and another four were public General Practitioners. In addition, five private GPs were included in the study. We also interviewed four public TB focal point nurses. Three of the public senior specialists and all the private practitioners were men. All the nurses were women. Two of the GPs were women and the other two were men. Two public GPs, four private GP\'s and one nurse were non-Omani. Potential participants were initially contacted by telephone. Those who agreed to participate were then interviewed individually at a time and place of their own choosing. Consent was obtained from allwill go to private (doctor) and even if the doctor suspected TB he will ask him to hide himself. \"Don\'t go to government hospital, they will catch you and send you back home\" And he will ask him to take leave and go back to his country \"take your treatment and come back\". (Public, Omani)

The private providers, on the other hand, said that they had to ensure their practices remained competitive with those of other private providers. Financial profit was thus seen as an important and inevitable driving force in their daily work.

\"The health centers take a longer time in waiting and watching and to (carry out) investigations (examinations). As for the private (practitioners), they are here to survive and to make money. If a patient wants to