MoH alert about global developments on virus; ‘Medicine supplies sufficient’

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KUWAIT CITY, Nov 25: The Ministry of Health (MoH) is working on keeping pace with the repercussions of the COVID- 19 crisis, despite the noticeable decrease in the infection and death rates caused by the disease in the country, reports Al-Qabas daily. According to several health sources, the ministry is monitoring the latest developments of the virus and its variants locally and globally, especially with the new COVID-19 waves that some countries are witnessing in the European Union and the resulting re-imposition of restrictions on activities there.

Work has been underway to secure the strategic stock of medicines for some time, with the aim of not impeding patients’ access to the best health care services, and avoiding any shortage in them. The ministry had obtained initial approvals for the supply of medicines to treat various diseases at a value of KD 16 million.

In detail, the ministry obtained initial approval for the treatment of cancer patients at the Hussein Makki Al-Juma Center for Specialized Surgery at an estimated cost of KD 2.3 million. It also received approval for obtaining the supplies for dialysis machines in the dialysis centers at a value of KD 4.6 million, and for other treatments needed for diabetic and neurological patients at KD 3.2 million. Discussions are under way to address the State Audit Bureau for the final approvals.

The sources indicated that the ministry is in the process of supplying medicines for the treatment of heart diseases, angina pectoris, joint stiffness, and antifungal injections, in addition to injections to treat anemia, at a total amount estimated at KD 2.3 million, as well as injection medicines for the treatment of Crohn’s patients at KD 1.5 million, and KD 2.1 million for other medicines for patients with high blood pressure and organ transplantation. They explained that the process of supplying medicines and medical equipment has not been interrupted throughout the past period, especially during the COVID- 19 crisis. The requests are subject to strict and direct control by the officials of the ministry, with the aim of providing the best supplies and not asking for more than the need. The drug stock is safe and stable, and is sufficient to deal with the worst conditions and emergencies that the world may witness at any time, especially with the continuing repercussions of the pandemic in some countries.

The sources added that the readiness of various departments of the pharmaceutical sector and medical equipment sector in the ministry was good, as advance steps were taken before the COVID-19 outbreak in China in December 2020. Meanwhile, officials from the Ministry of Interior revealed that the ministry obtained initial approvals for the supply, development and modernization of the electronic filing system and devices to manage the central registry of births and deaths, at a cost of KD 755,000.

They highlighted the importance of modernizing the administration’s devices and their centers within the Hawally, Farwaniya, Jahra and Fahaheel governorates where there is a huge network of information on births and deaths, as updating makes it easier for the ministry to retrieve data and develop services, especially since it deals with very large numbers of transactions related to births and deaths annually.

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