Health Ministry: Nursing Staff Accounts for 32% of Workforce

The Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, Sheikh Dr. Salman Khalifa Al-Sabah, emphasized the importance of supporting nursing staff and focusing on their professional development through continuous training, education, and workshops. He stressed that nursing is one of the most vital components of the Ministry’s workforce, and that any challenges faced by this group directly impact the performance of the health system and the quality of services provided to patients.

Al-Khalifa, in his speech during the workshop titled “Innovative Strategies for a Sustainable Workforce,” organized by the Nursing Services Department, stated that the Ministry supports efforts by healthcare workers in the nursing sector and is ready to collaborate with them to address challenges and study measures that would enhance the profession. He underscored the importance of focusing on training and education, particularly since medical and nursing staff come from various countries, each with its own conditions, culture, and procedures. This necessitates organizing continuous courses to enhance communication skills and patient interaction in Kuwait, and to enable new staff to understand the nature of the community and its needs.

Al-Khalifa commended the three winning projects in the Innovative Nursing Projects Competition, out of 14 participating projects, affirming that the talents demonstrated by nursing staff during the workshop deserve support and encouragement. He highlighted the need to strengthen integration between nursing and other health professions, and not to treat nursing as a separate sector from the rest of the system components.

He noted that the Professional Practice Law No. 70 of 2020 granted healthcare practitioners benefits that encourage joining medical specialties, emphasizing the crucial role of nursing in operating rooms and wards, and its impact on achieving desired therapeutic outcomes.

He stressed that developing the health system requires teamwork, benefiting from workshops and various areas of cooperation, while continuing to support nursing initiatives and innovations that contribute to professional development and the advancement of health services.

For her part, Dr. Iman Al-Awadi, Director of the Nursing Services Department, affirmed that nursing staff represent approximately 32% of the total workforce in the Ministry of Health, playing a fundamental role in ensuring the continuity of comprehensive healthcare delivery. She noted that the workshop aims to identify the needs of nursing staff and discuss their challenges, while adopting innovative global practices in planning and attracting talent.

Al-Awadi explained that the workshop also seeks to empower nursing leadership and enhance succession planning, leveraging digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and evidence-based practices to improve performance and support decision-making, ultimately leading to a sustainable nursing workforce.

She added that the Nursing Services Department works on the periodic development and qualification of staff by organizing specialized courses in various fields in collaboration with international universities and educational institutions, ensuring that nursing practices align with the latest standards.

She pointed out the issuance of the first edition of the Nursing Midwifery Practice Procedures Manual, consisting of 225 pages divided into two parts, which has been disseminated to health sectors in the country to serve as a unified professional reference that supports the efficiency of midwives’ performance and establishes the foundations of safe care for mothers and newborns.

She mentioned that the nursing uniform was updated pursuant to Ministerial Decision No. 70 of 2026 regarding the regulations for unifying the general appearance and official uniform of professions, transitioning from the long-adopted white color to royal blue, a step reflecting the renewed professional identity of nursing.

She noted that the Administration launched the Nursing Innovation Award in 2023, with the aim of highlighting outstanding projects and motivating nursing staff to transform their ideas and expertise into practical solutions that contribute to enhancing the quality of healthcare.

Al-Awadi emphasized that nursing leaders play a crucial role in ensuring the cohesion and sustainability of nursing teams, by translating plans into practices that support staff stability and provide opportunities for learning and participation, thereby helping to develop new leaders capable of continuing the path of development.

She stressed that nursing is not merely a job, but a fundamental pillar of the healthcare system and a humanitarian mission grounded in generosity, compassion, and responsibility, with an active presence during critical moments and in decisions concerning patient safety and the improvement of their and their families’ experiences.