MoH successful during corona despite challenges

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KUWAIT CITY, Dec 3: Kuwait’s Health Minister Sheikh Dr. Basel Al-Sabah said his ministry has been successful in providing adequate healthcare to the public in spite of the many challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Laws on medical practices and related professions and the rights of patients and healthcare facilities are other important achievements, the minister said at a public government briefing.

He referred to a separate law on mental health, which aims to protect the medical and human rights of the psychiatric patient, and gives healthcare professionals the right to intervene to prevent the patient from inflicting potential danger to themselves or society.

This law addresses the matters of confidentiality and examination and evaluation procedures for entering the healthcare facility along with the conditions for their stay, he explained. This is important, the minister said, because it targets the matter of families, who seek to get rid of their relative for inheritance rights or other reasons. Separately, the ministry has increased the capacity of health facilities and hospitals in the calendar year to a number higher than the target stated in the country’s development plan despite the challenges presented by the pandemic.

These include changes made at the new Amiri Hospital, Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital and the New Jahra Hospital. Regarding health indicators, the minister said that there is a noticeable decline in death rates from chronic and non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, stress and heart disease. This is a direct result of increased health awareness, the provision of health services and easy access to healthcare, which allowed Kuwait to rank first in the region in regards to comprehensive healthcare coverage.

In regards to healthcare services provided during the pandemic, he said the capacity for hospitalisation increased by 50 percent, with increases to outpatient and virtual clinics. Digitization has also improved services, as several applications and e-platforms have been launched, including the COVID-19 platform, which provides the public and medical staff with figures and test results, efficiently and transparently. Another is the Shlonak app, which serves those under state-imposed self isolation, developed locally in record speed. , (KUNA)

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