KUWAIT CITY, Nov 7: Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi chaired a meeting on Friday to review and approve the roadmap for the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) project, one of the key initiatives under the State of Kuwait’s development plan. The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Health.

In a statement issued by the Ministry, Dr. Al-Awadhi praised the joint national efforts of working teams from various sectors and departments within the Ministry, in cooperation with international partners and experts, that have brought the project to this advanced stage. He described the HTA project as a pioneering and transformative initiative that enhances evidence-based healthcare decision-making and supports the sustainability of the country’s healthcare system.

Assistant Undersecretary for External Health Services and Director of the HTA Project, Dr. Hisham Kalender, stated that the meeting marks a pivotal milestone in the project’s progress, representing the transition from the theoretical planning phase to the preparatory stage for practical implementation.

Dr. Kalender affirmed that the project will play a vital role in rationalizing healthcare expenditure and ensuring sustainability by establishing a scientific system to evaluate technologies, medicines, and medical devices according to rigorous methodological and economic criteria. He highlighted that the HTA project serves as a comprehensive, multidisciplinary national framework integrating clinical, economic, and regulatory dimensions to ensure efficiency and transparency in health spending decisions.

He further emphasized the importance of coordination among the Ministry’s various sectors to achieve optimal implementation, stressing the executive team’s commitment to diligently pursuing the goals of this vital national project. The initiative aims to pave the way for the actual implementation phase in alignment with Kuwait Vision 2035, which seeks to achieve sustainable, efficient, and value-based healthcare.

The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) project forms part of the State’s development plan and represents the validation phase within the framework of the national protocol for preparing Kuwait’s Health Technology Assessment Map.