AmCham Kuwait, NCHL spotlight telehealth’s role in GCC healthcare

• The event titled, ‘Navigating the Future of Healthcare in the GCC and Kuwait,’ served as a vital platform for examining how telehealth is revolutionizing healthcare accessibility, enhancing patient outcomes, and addressing ongoing challenges in healthcare delivery.

AmCham Kuwait, in partnership with the National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL), successfully hosted “Navigating the Future of Healthcare in the GCC and Kuwait,” highlighting telehealth innovations and healthcare digitization.

Building on the success of Kuwait’s 2022 healthcare conference, this year’s discussions delved deeper into the transformative role of telehealth in healthcare delivery. Esteemed speakers from around the world shared insights on cutting-edge technologies, presented successful case studies, and explored future opportunities in the field. The event served as a vital platform for examining how telehealth is revolutionizing healthcare accessibility, enhancing patient outcomes, and addressing ongoing challenges in healthcare delivery.

Featured speakers included:

Ali Alassy, Sales Manager at Oracle Health, MEA, who brings over 20 years of experience in driving healthcare business systems and digital transformation projects across the Middle East and Africa.

Ashraf Khader, Executive Director for Microsoft Cloud Solutions, with over 25 years of experience in the technology sector with a proven record of sales execution, sales excellence, business development, people management, strategy planning, and digital transformation.

Jarrett Fowler, Senior Director of Strategic and International Initiatives at NCHL, plays a crucial role in fostering NCHL’s international projects and global business development in healthcare.

Jens Dommel, Head of Healthcare at Amazon Web Services (AWS) for EMEA, known for pioneering digital transformation and cloud services for healthcare across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Dr. Karen Louise Smith, MD, MEd, SFHM, Medical Director of Global Services at Children’s National Hospital and Practice of Medicine Coach at George Washington School of Medicine, a distinguished professional with extensive expertise in pediatrics, hospital medicine, and healthcare leadership education.

Mohamed Al Khatib, Solutions Architect at CISCO, a specialist in designing and implementing solutions for the oil and gas and healthcare sectors.

Dr. Mussaad Al-Razouki, Operating Partner at Deerfield Management in New York, a healthcare investment expert leading initiatives to enhance global healthcare quality and accessibility.

Key partnerships and future goals

The event concluded with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing between AmCham Kuwait and the National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL), underscoring their commitment to strengthening ties between American healthcare institutions and Kuwait.

A delegation of leading U.S. hospitals attended the ceremony, expressing keen interest in supporting Kuwait’s healthcare digitization efforts. The event served as a pivotal platform for fostering partnerships and shaping the future of healthcare in the region, marking a significant step toward enhancing accessibility and quality across the GCC, particularly in Kuwait.

AmCham Kuwait and NCHL extended special thanks to their Platinum Sponsor, Al Hajery Pharmacy, represented by Mohamed Nasser Al Hajery. Established in 1946, MNH played a pioneering role in Kuwait’s pharmaceutical sector, introducing the country’s first distribution of Penicillin. Over the decades, it has built strong partnerships with global suppliers and cultivated a loyal customer base, securing a 13% market share in the pharmaceutical industry.

Representing renowned agencies such as GSK and Abbott, MNH operates 28 retail pharmacies with plans for expansion, driven by a commitment to regulatory excellence and customer satisfaction. Actively engaged in healthcare development, the company strengthens its industry presence through participation in exhibitions, conferences, and seminars.

Mass General Brigham, the event’s Gold Sponsor, was represented by Karen Lemaire, Vice President, and KarimTalleh, Senior Director, of International Patient Services. They attended the Telehealth event and received a token of appreciation from AmCham Kuwait and NCHL. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Mass General Brigham is an integrated academic healthcare system affiliated with Harvard Medical School. Its five Harvard-affiliated hospitals rank among the best in the U.S. and globally, with thousands of physicians serving as Harvard faculty. A leader in medical research and patient care for over 200 years, the institution has produced 14 Nobel laureates and operates the largest hospital-based research program in the U.S., backed by an annual research budget exceeding $2.1 billion.

Treating 2.6 million patients annually, Mass General Brigham welcomes individuals from over 120 countries, offering advanced treatments, surgeries, and access to cutting-edge clinical trials. Its multilingual International Patient Services team supports patients and their families throughout their healthcare journey.