Deputy Minister of Health: 'Precision Pediatrics' Represents a Major Shift in Developing Care and Diagnosing Rare Diseases

Deputy Minister of Health Sheikh Dr. Salman Khalifa Al-Sabah affirmed that the rapid advancement in the field of “precision pediatrics” and its applications represents a significant transformation in the pediatric care system, shifting from reading and understanding the genetic code to delivering more precise and tailored healthcare for each child.

Speaking at the opening of the “Precision Pediatrics: From Genomics to Care” conference, held at the Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center and lasting two days, the Deputy Minister stated that progress in this field enhances the healthcare system’s ability to achieve accurate diagnoses, particularly in rare and complex cases, as well as to select the most appropriate care and gain a deeper understanding of the needs of children and their families.

He emphasized that technology remains a means to serve humanity, improve care, safeguard children’s health, and enhance their quality of life, noting Kuwait’s ongoing efforts to combat genetic diseases through the Kuwait Center for Genetic Diseases, established in 1979, which provides genetic counseling, specialized testing, and a newborn screening program in both public and private hospitals.

He highlighted the importance of responsible dialogue to ensure the optimal use of genetic information, thereby protecting individual privacy and respecting the rights of children and families, while affirming the Ministry’s continued commitment to developing personnel and laboratories to strengthen integration across various specialties.

For his part, Dr. Abdullah Shamsah, President of the Kuwait Pediatric Society, stressed in a similar address the Society’s dedication to supporting continuing medical education pathways and developing medical practices to ensure the provision of advanced, high-quality healthcare for children and their families within Kuwait and abroad.

Dr. Shamsah clarified that the conference aims to exchange medical information and expertise and strengthen collaborative frameworks to keep pace with the latest scientific developments in the field of precision pediatric care.

For her part, Conference Chair Dr. Hind Al-Sharhan emphasized in a similar statement that the true value of genetic and genomic knowledge lies in translating it into early diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and comprehensive healthcare that addresses the needs of each child and their family.

Dr. Al-Sharhan noted that the rapid advancement in genetic and targeted therapies opens broad horizons for treating many genetic and rare diseases that previously posed significant medical challenges.

She added that the importance of genetic testing and counseling extends to supporting families in understanding the likelihood of transmitting genetic diseases and helping them make informed, conscious decisions regarding pre-marital screening and family planning, as well as enhancing opportunities for early detection and proactive prevention.