GENEVA, May 24:  Kuwait’s Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi, affirmed on Friday the country’s dedication to promoting transparency and accountability in the health sector, emphasizing that these principles enhance patient safety and improve the overall efficiency of healthcare systems.

The announcement was made during a high-level event organized by Kuwait in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, held on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly. The event, titled “Enhancing the Quality of Health Care through Medical Accountability,” was attended by health ministers, ambassadors, senior WHO officials, and representatives from medical councils as well as regional and international organizations.

In his speech, Dr. Al-Awadhi expressed Kuwait’s pride in hosting the event and reiterated the nation’s commitment to fostering a transparent and accountable healthcare environment that prioritizes patient well-being.

Sheikh Dr. Salman Al-Sabah, Chairman of Kuwait’s Medical Accountability Authority, highlighted the country’s pioneering role in establishing an independent regulatory body responsible for reviewing professional conduct, investigating patient complaints, and offering expert opinions on related matters. He described the Medical Liability Authority as an integrated, impartial system designed to strengthen public trust in the health sector.

WHO’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr. Hanan Balkhi, praised Kuwait’s medical liability framework as a leading example in the region. She emphasized the importance of advancing and enforcing national legislation related to medical liability as a critical factor in elevating healthcare quality and patient safety.

Echoing this, WHO expert Jill Campbell called for expanding Kuwait’s successful model to neighboring countries, suggesting it could serve as a foundation for regional cooperation in promoting quality and accountability in healthcare delivery.

The event featured in-depth discussions on the key challenges and international best practices in health governance. Participants stressed the necessity of collaboration among member states to share expertise and develop common frameworks for medical liability.

Concluding the event, several recommendations were made, including the activation of national legislation, enhancing the independence of regulatory bodies, encouraging scientific research on medical liability, and supporting WHO’s capacity-building initiatives at regional and international levels.

Kuwait’s leadership in this domain underscores its commitment to advancing health sector reforms that safeguard patients and reinforce the integrity of healthcare systems worldwide.