Deputy Minister of Health: Nursing is a Key Component of the Ministry's Workforce... Its Development Reflects on Service Quality

- During the workshop “Innovative Strategies for a Sustainable Workforce”

Al-Awadi: Nursing staff constitute 32% of the Ministry’s total workforce

The Deputy Minister of Health, Sheikh Dr. Salman Khalifa Al-Sabah, emphasized the importance of supporting nursing staff and focusing on their professional development through continuous training, education, and workshops. He stressed that nursing is one of the most critical components of the Ministry’s workforce, and that any challenges facing this group directly impact the performance of the health system and the quality of services provided to patients.

Speaking at the workshop “Innovative Strategies for a Sustainable Workforce,” organized by the Nursing Services Department, Al-Khalifa noted that the Ministry supports efforts in the nursing sector and is ready to collaborate with nursing professionals to address challenges and study measures that would advance the profession. He highlighted the importance of continuous training and education, particularly because medical and nursing staff come from various countries, each with its own conditions, culture, and procedures. This necessitates organizing ongoing courses to enhance communication skills and patient interaction in Kuwait, enabling new staff to understand the nature of the local community and its needs.

Al-Khalifa commended the three winning projects in the Innovative Nursing Projects Competition, selected from among 14 participating projects. He affirmed that the talents demonstrated by nursing staff during the workshop deserve support and encouragement, and stressed the need to strengthen integration between nursing and other health professions, rather than treating nursing as a separate sector from the rest of the healthcare system.

He pointed out that Professional Practice Law No. 70 of 2020 granted healthcare professionals incentives that encourage enrollment in medical specialties, emphasizing the vital role of nursing in operating rooms and wards, and its impact on achieving desired treatment outcomes.

He stressed that developing the healthcare system requires teamwork, leveraging workshops and various areas of cooperation, while continuing to support nursing initiatives and innovations that contribute to professional advancement and the improvement of healthcare services.

For her part, Dr. Iman Al-Awadi, Director of the Nursing Services Department, confirmed that nursing staff represent approximately 32% of the Ministry of Health’s total workforce, playing a fundamental role in ensuring the continuity of comprehensive healthcare delivery. She noted that the workshop aims to identify the needs and challenges of the nursing workforce, and to adopt innovative global practices in planning and attracting talent.

Al-Awadi explained that the workshop also seeks to empower nursing leadership, enhance succession planning, and leverage digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and evidence-based practices to improve performance and support decision-making, ultimately leading to a sustainable nursing workforce.

She added that the Nursing Services Department is working on the periodic development and qualification of staff by organizing specialized courses in various fields in collaboration with international universities and educational institutions, ensuring that nursing practices align with the latest standards.

She highlighted that efforts to develop the profession have achieved several milestones, most notably the update of Civil Service Council Decision No. 5 of 2009 regarding allowances and bonuses for nursing staff, under Ministerial Decision No. 206 of 2026. This decision included the approval and launch of the midwifery profession title within the Ministry of Health in the State of Kuwait, and the establishment of its standardized, technically graded job titles.

She pointed out the issuance of the Nursing Services Administration’s first edition of the Midwifery Practice Procedures Manual, comprising 225 pages divided into two parts, which was disseminated to the country’s health sectors to serve as a unified professional reference that supports midwives’ performance efficiency and solidifies the foundations of safe care for mothers and newborns.

She noted that the nursing uniform was updated pursuant to Ministerial Decision No. 70 of 2026 concerning regulations for standardizing the general appearance and official attire of professions, marking a transition from the white color, which had been adopted for many years, to royal blue, a step reflecting the renewed professional identity of nursing.

She highlighted that the Administration launched the Nursing Innovation Award in 2023, with the aim of highlighting outstanding projects and motivating nursing staff to transform their ideas and expertise into practical solutions that contribute to enhancing the quality of healthcare.

Al-Awadi emphasized that nursing leaders play a crucial role in the cohesion and sustainability of nursing teams by translating plans into practices that support staff stability and provide opportunities for learning and participation, thereby contributing to the development of new leaders capable of continuing the path of progress.

She stressed that nursing is not merely a job, but a fundamental pillar of the healthcare system and a humanitarian mission grounded in generosity, compassion, and responsibility, with an active presence during critical moments and in decisions concerning patient safety and the improvement of patients’ and their families’ experiences.