15th Arab Blood Transfusion Conference opens in Kuwait
Kuwait collects 96,000 units of blood and platelets, marks operational milestone; Central Department of Blood and Cell Therapy advances standards and safety -- Health Minister.
Health Minister Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadhi announced that Kuwait’s blood and cell therapy system achieved a notable milestone in 2026, collecting approximately 96,000 units of blood and platelets, marking a 2 percent increase over last year.
He emphasized that this growth reflects continuous improvements in operational performance and underscores the importance of regular voluntary blood donation to meet the needs of patients.
The announcement came during the opening of the 15th Arab Conference on Blood Transfusion Medicine on Sunday, where winners of the Arab Award for Blood Transfusion Services were honored.
Recipients included Dr. Salama Hamida, Director General of the National Blood Transfusion Center in Tunisia, and Dr. Arwa bint Zakaria, Senior Consultant of Hematology at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital in Oman, recognizing their significant contributions to the field.
Dr. Al-Awadhi noted that hosting the conference in Kuwait for the third time highlights the country’s organizational and scientific capabilities and its commitment to supporting specialized scientific events.
“This platform invests in the development of national expertise and keeps pace with global advancements in transfusion medicine, cell therapy, and patient blood management,” he said.
He explained that the Blood Transfusion Services Department has been updated and renamed the Central Department of Blood and Cell Therapy, ensuring adherence to the highest international standards of quality and accreditation across all stages, from donor collection to patient delivery.
The national network currently comprises three main centers and six branches, with plans to open a fourth center in the near future.
Conference chair Dr. Reem Al-Radwan, Director of the Central Department of Blood and Cell Therapy, added that the three-day conference hosts more than 50 lecturers from Arab and foreign countries, featuring 19 specialized workshops, 12 scientific sessions, and 80 research papers, presenting the latest studies and practices in blood transfusion and cellular therapy.
She highlighted that the event serves as a key scientific platform for exchanging experiences, developing skills, and enhancing regional and international cooperation.
In a related development, Dr. Al-Awadhi issued a decision to standardize official work identity, seals, and correspondence across the health sector.
The move aims to enhance institutional discipline, security, and reliability, regulate identity cards for medical, administrative, and support staff, and link them to electronic access systems within health facilities.
