Salman Al-Sabah: Rapid advancement in 'precision pediatrics'

Kuwait Health Ministry Undersecretary 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 two-day conference “Precision Pediatrics: From Genomics to Care,” held at the Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center, the Undersecretary noted that progress in this area enhances the health system’s capacity 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, highlighting 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 also pointed to 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 reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to developing human resources and laboratories to strengthen integration among various specialties.

For his part, Kuwait Pediatric Society President Dr. Abdullah Shamsah, in a similar address, stressed the society’s commitment to supporting continuing medical education pathways and developing medical practices to ensure the delivery of advanced, high-quality healthcare to children and their families in Kuwait and abroad. Dr. Shamsah explained that the conference aims to exchange medical information and expertise and to strengthen collaborative frameworks to keep pace with the latest scientific developments in the field of precision pediatric care.

On her part, Conference Chair Dr. Hind Al-Sharhan, in a similar statement, emphasized 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. She stated 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, enlightened decisions regarding premarital screening and family planning, as well as enhancing opportunities for early detection and proactive prevention.