KUWAIT CITY, May 29: Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi announced plans to establish Kuwait’s first skin bank and a laboratory for microscopic surgeries. This initiative aims to enhance efficiency and provide comprehensive health services.

The announcement was made during the opening of the Second Multidisciplinary Conference on Plastic Surgery, organized by the Al-Babtain Center for Burns and Plastic Surgery in cooperation with the Kuwaiti Surgeons Association. The speech was delivered by Dr. Abdullah Al-Fars, Assistant Undersecretary for Supportive Medical Services.

Dr. Al-Awadhi highlighted the Al-Babtain Center’s status as the country’s only specialized facility for plastic and burn surgery and one of the region’s leading centers. Last year, the center treated over 20,000 patients and performed nearly 1,200 advanced surgeries.

The center has signed a memorandum of understanding with Harvard University for joint research and personnel exchanges to advance scientific research and evidence-based medical practices. It also supervises training for Kuwaiti Board doctors in plastic surgery, with the first graduates expected soon. The center pioneered advanced treatments such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy and laser treatment.

Dr. Mohammed Khalaf, Head of the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department and Chairman of the Conference, said the event unites experts to share knowledge and improve patient care. The conference serves as a platform to present the latest innovations in plastic and reconstructive surgery with participation from local and international specialists.

Dr. Ahmed Al-Ali, burn and plastic surgeon at the center, emphasized the urgency of establishing the skin bank to treat severe burns by storing donated skin from recent deaths. He noted the project will position Kuwait as a regional leader in burn treatment.

Al-Ali also highlighted a joint research program between the Al-Babtain Center and Harvard University, including the visit of Professor Kavita Raghunathan from Harvard to Kuwait for complex surgeries. A broader memorandum of understanding with Harvard is in progress, led by Dr. Khalaf and Dr. Qutaiba Al-Kandari alongside the Kuwaiti Board of Plastic Surgeons.