Kuwait health: CPR training now mandatory for healthcare professionals

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KUWAIT CITY, Nov 16, (Agencies): In a pivotal move aimed at safeguarding the quality of healthcare services and prioritizing patient health and safety, Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadhi, the Minister of Health, has issued a groundbreaking ministerial decision. The directive mandates that all medical practitioners, spanning medical doctors, dentists, pharmaceutical services, and ancillary medical staff at various technical levels within hospitals, specialized centers, and primary care facilities, must align themselves with the Ministry.

The ministerial decree further necessitates healthcare professionals in the private medical sector to undergo rigorous training courses in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). These courses must be obtained from accredited training centers affiliated with the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI) at the time of appointment and promotion.

The decision intricately outlines specific courses mandated for each category of medical personnel. For instance, family doctors, general practitioners, internal medicine and cardiac care doctors, along with nurses in accident departments, operations, cardiac units, and intensive care, are required to complete the Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) course.

In a comprehensive approach, the decision binds general and specialized surgery doctors, emergency, anesthesia, and intensive care doctors to complete both ACLS and Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) courses. Obstetricians, gynecologists, and nurses in obstetrics and gynecology departments are also obliged to obtain the Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) courses.

Additionally, the decision extends to encompass other healthcare professionals, including human doctors, dentists, nursing staff, pharmaceutical services, and allied medical services, who are obligated to undergo the BLS course.

To ensure the seamless implementation of this critical decision, the relevant technical departments have been assigned specific responsibilities, including the preparation of a comprehensive database for medical practitioners affiliated with the Ministry. This database will track individuals working in hospitals, specialized centers, and primary care centers, ensuring their completion of training courses from AHA and ASHI-accredited centers.

Moreover, coordination efforts with heads of medical department councils and department heads in hospitals will be pivotal in monitoring the participation of healthcare professionals at all technical levels in the prescribed training courses. This collaborative approach aims to guarantee both accessibility to training and the validity of certifications.

Highlighting the significance of compliance, the decision specifically designates the Health Licensing Department to ensure that practitioners in the medical profession and allied professions working in the private sector adhere to the specified courses based on their respective categories. This multifaceted approach underscores the commitment to enhancing the overall standard of healthcare services across the country.

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