News Report: Kuwait Achieves 22 Medical and Health Milestones in 10 Months

Faisal Matar: The Kuwaiti health sector recorded approximately 22 medical and health achievements during the first ten months of 2026. These accomplishments included rare surgeries and advanced therapeutic interventions, international accreditations and awards, advancements in digital services, and the presence of Kuwaiti doctors at global scientific forums, reflecting the growing capabilities of hospitals and the competence of their staff.

The achievements announced by the Ministry of Health ranged from treating complex cases using minimally invasive techniques and expanding specialized programs to implementing quality and patient safety standards. The results included patient recoveries, restoration of mobility, and short hospital stays.

Advanced Interventions

Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital stood out in cardiac treatments, announcing the first procedure of its kind in the Middle East: transcatheter aortic valve replacement via the carotid artery. The surgery was performed on a patient with blockages in the lower extremities without using the traditional approach. The patient was discharged in stable condition after two days. The hospital also successfully implanted a new aortic valve under local anesthesia for a patient suffering from severe stenosis and frequent hospital admissions. The procedure was broadcast live to the Gulf Heart Valve Conference in Dubai and received praise from international experts for the competence of Kuwaiti doctors.

In gastrointestinal diseases, the first procedure of its kind in Kuwait was performed to drain bile via the stomach using endoscopy without surgery, after a cancerous obstruction could not be bypassed through conventional methods. The patient was discharged without complications, paving the way for the start of chemotherapy.

Therapeutic Alternatives

The achievements also included the success of the first procedure of its kind in Kuwait to treat cholecystitis by connecting the gallbladder to the small intestine using interventional ultrasound endoscopy. This was performed on an elderly female patient who was not a candidate for surgery due to the high risk to her life. Her condition improved, and she was discharged without complications.

At Al-Adan Hospital, a bile duct obstruction was treated in a citizen suffering from a rare congenital anatomical anomaly, using therapeutic endoscopy and interventional radiology without surgery. The hospital also announced that 120 endoscopies of the liver and biliary ducts had been performed since the beginning of the year.

Jaber Hospital utilized 3D printing to plan a complex surgery to repair and replace a worn-out artificial hip joint. The patient was able to stand, move, and begin walking on the second day. A multidisciplinary team at the hospital successfully removed a cancerous tumor from a child’s leg and performed advanced reconstruction to preserve limb function. Meanwhile, Al-Adan Hospital expanded its joint replacement services, announcing the completion of approximately 200 specialized knee surgery cases, including joint replacements, correction of deformities, and treatment of sports injuries.

International Accreditations

Regarding care quality, the Urology Unit at Al-Amiri Hospital received the "Center of Excellence" accreditation from the American College of Surgeons, recognizing its compliance with care quality, patient safety, and surgical practice standards.

The Jaber Center for Diabetic Foot Surgery and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy received Level 4 international accreditation from the relevant American association. More than 520 patients have benefited from its services, which have provided over 10,500 treatment sessions since its opening in 2023.

Additionally, the Cardiac Ultrasound Department at the Al-Dawas Heart Center received European recognition in cardiac and vascular imaging, following an evaluation and verification process according to European standards.

In the field of medical responsibility, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the Medical Liability Center as a collaborating center for four years. This designation enables cooperation in training, research, capacity building, and the development of evidence-based policies and practices.

The Kuwait Medical Responsibility Authority secured first place in the Arab region in the Leadership, Governance, and Continuous Improvement category with a score of 95%, and earned the Platinum Classification within the Arab Health Excellence Initiative. This initiative attracted 323 participation applications from 10 Arab countries, with 45 institutions receiving recognition and honors.

International recognition of Kuwaiti expertise extended to the World Health Organization awarding Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Qushaan the World Health Award. This honor acknowledged his leadership in coordinating the positions of Eastern Mediterranean region countries from 2024 to 2026, and his role in enhancing consensus among member states on international health issues. The awards were presented during the current month as part of the 73rd session of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Committee in Cairo, adding to Kuwait’s recognition in international health cooperation and demonstrating the capacity of its personnel to coordinate positions and strengthen collaboration among nations.

On the scientific front, four Kuwaiti doctors presented a specialized workshop at the 56th Annual Congress of the International Society for Pediatric Urology in the Netherlands. The congress attracted approximately 2,000 participants and focused on avoiding overtreatment, rationalizing medical interventions, and selecting the most appropriate treatment for each patient.

In digital services, Al-Amiri Hospital achieved Level 6 in the HIMSS EMRAM digital maturity accreditation, following an eight-year development journey. Its digital environment now includes 12 major clinical systems and 13 technology platforms. The transformation portfolio encompasses more than one million digital transactions, 450,000 patient files, and over a thousand quality and performance indicators. Additionally, the number of users of the “Al-Amiri Digital Gateway” exceeded 251,000. The Digital Transformation Committee held 42 meetings and completed 854 development and improvement requests out of a total of 1,189.

In developing care delivery methods, Jahra Hospital launched the Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) service, enabling patients to complete treatment according to plans that ensure follow-up and safety, reduce hospital stays, and minimize risks associated with hospitalization. Meanwhile, surgeons from Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital presented their experience with remote robotic surgery at the Harvard Alumni Conference, documenting a procedure performed at the hospital that set a Guinness World Record for the greatest distance between a surgeon and a patient in history.

These achievements reflect a path that combines treatment development, service quality improvement, and the enhancement of Kuwaiti expertise’s international presence. Their value lies in providing options for complex cases, preserving organ function, reducing hospital stays, and translating medical and technical capabilities into tangible patient benefits.

In a new medical achievement, Al-Audan Hospital performed a rare global surgery to repair the ureter using the appendix via laparoscopy. The Ministry of Health announced today (Saturday) that the Urological Surgery Unit at Al-Audan Hospital successfully performed a precise reconstructive surgery on the lower part of the right ureter, using the appendix through laparoscopic surgery, employing an advanced technique with limited global use.

In a statement today, the Ministry of Health said the procedure was performed on a Kuwaiti woman in her twenties who suffered from a complex stricture in the lower part of her right ureter. She was discharged from the hospital on the third day post-surgery in good health.

This achievement was supported by Dr. Ibtisam Al-Badr, Head of the Surgery Department, and Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Kandari, Head of the Urological Surgery Unit. The surgery was led by Urological Surgery Consultant Dr. Ahmad Harraz and Dr. Faisal Al-Hajri, with the assistance of Dr. Ali Al-Mu’min. The technique used aims to repair the site of the stricture, restore urinary flow, and preserve kidney function.