Health Minister: 5 Robotic Uterine Tumor Surgeries at Farwaniya Hospital, 3 Remote Surgeries at Jaber and Jahra
Health Minister Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadi confirmed the success of 5 robotic surgeries at Farwaniya Hospital and 3 remote surgeries at Jaber and Jahra, praising the achievements of the Maternity Hospital with King's College.
Translated by Qiyas from الجريدة — Original source
Minister of Health Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadi affirmed the Ministry’s continued efforts to develop women’s health and obstetrics services and enhance the quality of care provided to women, mothers, and children. This is being achieved through the provision of the latest diagnostic and treatment tools, the utilization of advanced medical technologies, and investment in qualified national cadres. He noted that the health of women, mothers, and children constitutes a fundamental pillar for the health and stability of society.
Speaking during the opening of the 28th Annual Conference on Gynecology and Obstetrics, Al-Awadi stated that Al-Farwaniya Hospital recently achieved a landmark medical milestone by successfully performing five robotic surgeries to treat early-stage uterine tumors. This achievement reflects the advancement of health services and the competence of medical staff in leveraging advanced technologies.
He added that collaboration between the Gynecologic Oncology Unit at Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Al-Jahra Hospital resulted in three remote robotic surgeries for patients suffering from uterine cancer. This underscores the integration of specialized expertise among healthcare institutions and the potential to utilize modern technologies to expand the scope of advanced services.
He emphasized that the adoption of robotic technologies and artificial intelligence applications is part of a continuous path toward developing healthcare, while ensuring that patient safety, medical expertise, and responsible clinical decision-making remain at the core of practice.
Al-Awadi highlighted the advanced services provided by hospitals in fertility and reproductive medicine, infertility treatment, and in vitro fertilization (IVF), based on solid scientific and ethical foundations. He stressed the importance of specialized training programs in gynecology and obstetrics under the auspices of the Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialties, describing them as an investment in preparing a new generation of qualified doctors.
He stressed that the achieved progress does not diminish the magnitude of responsibility, citing World Health Organization estimates indicating that more than 700 women could be saved from death daily in 2023 due to pregnancy and childbirth-related causes. Furthermore, approximately one in six people will experience infertility during their lifetime, underscoring the importance of continuing to develop care, prevention, early diagnosis, and expanding access to maternal and reproductive health services.
For her part, Conference Chairperson and Head of the Board of Gynecology and Obstetrics Departments, Dr. Amal Khader, affirmed that the conference serves as a scientific platform for exchanging experiences and discussing the latest developments in women’s health. She noted that the health sector recorded a historic achievement with the performance of the first precise fetal laparoscopic surgery in utero to treat spina bifida at the New Maternity Hospital, in collaboration with King’s College Hospital in the UK.
She explained that the surgery was performed at the 24th week of pregnancy, involving a multidisciplinary team comprising maternal-fetal medicine specialists, neurosurgeons, anesthesiologists, and nursing staff. The goal was to correct the congenital defect and reduce potential complications for the child after birth. She noted that the mother delivered her baby at the 34th week at the Maternity Hospital, and the child is in good condition, receiving the necessary medical care and follow-up.
Dr. Khader added that Al-Farwaniya Hospital has also witnessed developments in specialized services, including robotic surgeries for early-stage uterine cancer, the expansion of advanced laparoscopic surgeries, and the establishment of training programs on BNOTES techniques, with approximately 56 cases performed at the hospital. Additionally, the hospital fully activated its fertility unit, expanded fertility preservation services, and developed the specialty of female urology and family planning clinics.
Regarding the future vision, Khader revealed plans to establish a specialized fetal surgery unit, activate the gynecological diseases unit at the new maternity hospital, and create a dedicated robotic surgery unit, alongside launching an accredited fellowship program in fetal medicine and fellowship programs in other specialties, thereby contributing to the enhancement of sub-specialties and the development of national medical personnel capabilities.
She noted that the events accompanying the conference included specialized workshops, among which was a surgical workshop hosted by surgeons from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who performed 24 advanced gynecological surgeries using the latest technologies over four days. The conference also featured workshops on early detection of cervical cancer, prenatal screening, gynecological laparoscopy, care during childbirth, and applications of artificial intelligence in fertility laboratories.
