Health Minister: Continuing to develop obstetrics and gynecology services according to global standards

Kuwait’s Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadi, affirmed on Thursday that women’s, maternal, and child health constitute a fundamental pillar of societal health and stability. He noted that the Ministry is continuing to develop obstetrics and gynecology services, enhance the quality of healthcare, and provide the latest diagnostic and treatment modalities in accordance with international standards.

This statement was made during a speech delivered by Minister Al-Awadi at the opening of the 28th Conference on Obstetrics and Gynecology, organized by the Council of Obstetrics and Gynecology Departments at Farwaniya Hospital under the theme “Drawing the Future of Women’s Health.” The three-day event features participation by a select group of medical experts and consultants from Kuwait and abroad.

Minister Al-Awadi expressed pride in the distinctive medical achievements attained by the country’s hospitals, highlighting that Farwaniya Hospital successfully performed five robotic surgeries to treat early-stage uterine tumors. He also noted the success of remote robotic surgery, achieved through joint collaboration between the Gynecologic Oncology Unit at Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital and the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at Jahra Hospital, which enabled three surgeries for patients with uterine cancer.

He clarified that these achievements reflect the competence of national cadres and the utilization of advanced technologies and artificial intelligence to serve patients. He emphasized the integration of specialized expertise among healthcare institutions and the potential to leverage modern technologies to expand the benefits of advanced human capital.

The minister pointed out the excellence of Kuwaiti hospitals in the fields of fertility and reproductive medicine, infertility treatment, and in vitro fertilization (IVF). He underscored the vital role of the Kuwait Institute of Medical Specialties and specialized training programs in obstetrics and gynecology in preparing qualified generations of doctors.

Minister Al-Awadi noted that the progress achieved does not diminish the magnitude of the responsibility; according to World Health Organization estimates, it would have been possible to save the lives of more than 700 women who died daily in 2023 from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.

He added that infertility affects approximately one in six people during their lifetime, and these indicators highlight the importance of continuing and developing care, enhancing prevention, early diagnosis, and expanding access to maternal health and survival services.

For her part, Dr. Amal Al-Khader, Head of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Departments and Chair of the Conference, stated in a similar address that women’s health represents the backbone of society and the foundation of its advancement.

Dr. Al-Khader noted the expansion of advanced laparoscopic surgeries and the training of doctors in (VNOTES) techniques, with approximately 56 cases performed at Farwaniya Hospital. The aim is to adopt these modern technologies and surgical methods to reduce medical complications and enable women to quickly return to their normal lives with activity and confidence.

She highlighted the medical achievements of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at Farwaniya Hospital in saving fetuses, performing fetal blood transfusions, leading in precise surgeries, and conducting the first robotic surgeries for early-stage uterine cancer within the department’s Obstetrics and Gynecology unit, all of which were successful without significant complications.

She also outlined the most prominent distinctive medical achievements of the health sector, including the success of the new Maternity Hospital in performing the first precise laparoscopic surgery on a fetus in utero to treat spina bifida, thanks to national cooperation and global partnerships with King’s College Hospital in the UK.