Health Minister highlights primary healthcare as cornerstone to nation’s medical strategy
Kuwait’s Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi said on Thursday that primary healthcare is considered the cornerstone of the country’s medical system amid health challenges.
The minister made the statement while addressing the sixth Annual Medical Conference on Primary Healthcare, saying that the primary healthcare system would witness significant expansion with 11 new health centers expected to open by 2027.
The minister underscored the exceptional importance the Ministry of Health places on primary care, highlighting the ongoing efforts to launch a new five-year national health strategy.
This strategy builds on the previous annual and five-year plans, aiming to enhance the healthcare system’s capacity to meet the community’s needs amid population growth and rapid advancements in the medical field.
Dr. Al-Awadhi noted that the strategy was based on a comprehensive vision to improve the quality of healthcare services and expand the range of services provided, focusing on sustainability and innovation to provide integrated care for all age groups.
He added that primary healthcare remains a fundamental pillar of this vision, offering comprehensive and integrated services that address the needs of all segments of society, while playing a critical role in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation.
The minister reiterated the Ministry of Health’s commitment to continuously expanding primary healthcare centers in line with population growth and urban development in new residential areas.
He highlighted that the number of primary healthcare centers in Kuwait has reached 116, with four new centers-Mutlaa N1, Mutlaa N2, Abdali, and Fahaheel Health Center- opened this year alone, and some centers have been rehabilitated to enhance their efficiency and better meet community needs.
Director of the Central Department for Primary Healthcare at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Dina Al-Dhabib stated that the number of chronic disease clinics rose from 86 in 2022 to 127, spread across 102 health centers, to address the growing number of patients.
Mental health clinics also saw unprecedented growth, increasing from just 16 to 72 clinics, and since the introduction of mental health services in 2022, these clinics have recorded 19,237 visits to date.
She further explained that by 2029, the number of doctors graduating from Kuwait Family Medicine Residency Program is expected to double, adding 400 physicians to bring the total to 800, representing 46 percent of all doctors working in the primary healthcare sector.
Dr. Al-Dhabib praised the accreditation of 51 primary healthcare centers as training facilities by the Royal College of Physicians in November, and this number is expected to increase to 61 centers by next year.
Source: KUNA
