KUWAIT CITY, April 6:  The Ministry of Health (MoH) has ended controversies surrounding the treatment of neurosclerosis by suspending surgeries on patients suffering from the disease until the doctors, who conducted a study in this regard, complete the research requirements, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting sources. Sources pointed out the most important research requirements is the inclusion of a neurosurgeon in the research team.  Sources said the researchers should also inform the patients that the operation is part of a study, not a form of treatment.  Patients must also confirm awareness of the possible side effects of their participation in the research, which will be presented to the Permanent Medical Research Committee at the ministry for approval, sources added. Meanwhile, in a press statement Monday, Minister Dr Hilal Al-Sayer affirmed the ministry will not compromise the health of patients.  He stressed the need to leave the issue to the specialized personnel according to the rules and regulations of the ministry.  He said the ministry is keen on providing the best treatment, while ensuring the safety of patients.

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Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health said, Tuesday, that more than 3,000 patients visit the nuclear medicine department at the Chest Diseases Hospital every year. Head of the nuclear medicine department at the hospital Dr Masood Jawad told KUNA that nuclear medicine plays an important role in developing health care services. Jawad said that nuclear medicine depends mainly on the use of radioactive material to diagnose various diseases, pointing out that such nuclear applications enable the detection of any malfunction of human organs to help in early diagnosis.

He added that there is more to this branch of medicine than diagnosis, as it also plays a role in radio-therapy and medication that affect specific organs without harming the rest of the body. The importance of nuclear medicine lies mainly in the early diagnosis of diseases which helps determine the percentage of organ infection and the best method of treatment, he said. Nuclear medicine began in Kuwait in 1965 in Sabah Hospital, with a device used only to test the thyroid glands. Remarkable development was witnessed later and the best and latest equipment in the world is brought for use at the state medical facilities. Hilal Al-Sayer said here Tuesday the new Manahi Al-Osaimi health center in Khaitan Area would be a “quantum leap” in primary medical care in Kuwait.

Speaking to reporters while inaugurating the new clinic, the minister said: “the center is a quantum leap in primary health care in the country.” He said the center was like a mini-hospital that would provide many specialized health services, including eye, skin, bone, NET diseases, in addition to pre-marriage checkup. The fresh center will also provide such services as public awareness, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart diseases, he added. The center, which has been afforded by some Kuwaiti philanthropists, has been built on an area of 6,000 square meters in line with modern specifications.