Deputy Minister of Health: Committed to continuing Kuwait’s active role in enhancing the sustainability and readiness of the Gulf healthcare system.

Deputy Minister of Health Sheikh Dr. Salman Khalifa Al-Sabah chaired the delegation of the State of Kuwait participating in the annual preparatory meeting of the Deputy Ministers of Health of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The meeting was held via video conferencing technology in preparation for the 12th meeting of the Committee of Their Excellencies and Highnesses Ministers of Health of the GCC countries, scheduled to take place in the Kingdom of Bahrain on Sunday, the 6th of the current month.

The Kuwaiti delegation included Assistant Undersecretary for External Health Services Dr. Hisham Kalander, and Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Dr. Al-Mundhir Al-Hasawi, alongside the deputy ministers of health from member states and representatives of the GCC Secretariat General.

The meeting discussed several priority health files and joint work tracks, foremost among them supporting the strategic stockpile of medicines and medical supplies, the GCC Health Excellence Award, procedures for screening expatriate workers, the health insurance system, as well as following up on the implementation of previous decisions and recommendations and discussing proposals to be submitted to the upcoming ministerial meeting.

The meeting also reviewed draft decisions related to the development of the joint GCC health system; the State of Kuwait actively contributed to drafting several of them, including those concerning the identification of health cooperation areas with the European Union in alignment with GCC priorities and tracks.

Participants addressed the follow-up on the implementation of the Action Plan of the Ministers of Health of the GCC countries for the period 2026–2030, which was launched during the 11th Ministerial Meeting hosted by Kuwait in 2025, thereby supporting the sustainability of coordination in health programs and initiatives.

Discussed topics also included leveraging modern technologies and artificial intelligence in the health sector to keep pace with technological developments and enhance the efficiency and quality of services, while ensuring patient safety and professional and regulatory frameworks.

Deputy Minister of Health Sheikh Dr. Salman Khalifa Al-Sabah emphasized that joint GCC health work is based on a comprehensive vision founded on coordinating efforts, exchanging expertise, and building on achieved accomplishments, thereby enhancing the readiness and sustainability of health systems in GCC countries. He noted that preparatory meetings represent an important milestone for aligning perspectives and crystallizing common priorities before presenting them to the Ministers of Health, reaffirming Kuwait’s commitment to continuing its active role in supporting the trajectory of GCC health cooperation and integration in service of the aspirations of GCC countries and their peoples.