Deputy Minister of Health: Nursing Sector in the Country Sees Growing Interest from National Cadres

Kuwait City -- Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health Sheikh Dr. Salman Khalifa Al-Sabah affirmed that the nursing sector in Kuwait has witnessed growing interest from national cadres, noting that nursing staff are a fundamental partner in the health system, and that supporting and qualifying them directly and positively impacts the quality and efficiency of Kuwait’s health system. This was stated in a speech delivered by Undersecretary Al-Sabah on Tuesday at the opening of a specialized workshop titled “Innovative Strategies for a Sustainable Workforce,” organized by the Nursing Services Department to explore ways to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of the nursing system in Kuwait.

He said that the nursing profession receives significant and continuous attention from the Ministry, particularly in areas of continuous training, education, and skills development, emphasizing that nurses are the first line of defense and have the most direct and closest relationship with patients. He added that recruiting nursing cadres from multiple countries with diverse cultures requires continuous training to hone their expertise in optimal patient and community interaction, and to avoid any communication and understanding challenges.

Undersecretary Al-Sabah clarified that the Law Regulating the Practice of Medical and Auxiliary Professions, Patients’ Rights, and Health Facilities (Law No. 70 of 2020) granted important benefits to practitioners, aiming to encourage competencies and attract youth to join this vital specialty upon which the medical sector relies.

For her part, Director of the Nursing Services Department at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Iman Al-Awadi, affirmed in her opening remarks that nursing professionals constitute approximately 32 percent of the Ministry’s total workforce and are a fundamental pillar ensuring the continuity of comprehensive healthcare delivery in the country. She said the workshop aims to identify the needs of the nursing workforce, discuss its challenges, adopt innovative global practices in planning and talent attraction, and empower leaders. She added that the Department strives to leverage digital transformation applications, artificial intelligence, and evidence-based practices to improve performance and support decision-making, ultimately building a sustainable nursing workforce qualified to the latest international standards.

Dr. Al-Awadi noted that the Department launched the Nursing Innovation Award in 2023, reaffirming its ongoing commitment to supporting creativity in nursing practice. The award aims to highlight outstanding projects and motivate nursing cadres to transform their ideas and expertise into practical solutions that contribute to enhancing the quality of care provided by the Ministry of Health.

The workshop witnessed the honoring of a select group of distinguished nursing cadres, attended by Assistant Undersecretary for Technical Affairs Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, in appreciation of their efforts and in celebration of their distinctive projects and innovations that contribute to developing the health system and elevating the level of care provided to patients. (End) M.N.M. / M.Kh.