Kuwait city: Kuwait’s Ministry of Health has announced significant steps in combating the rapid spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, calling the situation alarming. These measures were disclosed by Kuwait’s Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi, during his opening speech at the Sixth Medical Lab Conference, focused on advancements in clinical microbiology and quality assurance.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Dr. Al-Awadhi highlighted that the ministry has been proactive by appointing a specialized liaison officer since 2021 to collaborate with the World Health Organization (WHO). This role involves collecting germ data from the ministry’s microbiology laboratories and submitting it directly to WHO, facilitating better global tracking and management of antimicrobial resistance.
Dr. Al-Awadhi emphasized that Kuwait has adopted strict and innovative policies to regulate antibiotic use across all health facilities, aligning with the global action plan on antimicrobial resistance and the AWARE program. T
hese efforts include advanced approaches for classifying antibiotics and enhancing the overall health system’s capacity to face emerging challenges.
Furthermore, Kuwait’s strategic partnership with WHO through joining the WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) was pointed out as a testament to its leadership in addressing global health issues.
The role of microbiology laboratories was also underscored by Dr. Al-Awadhi as crucial in diagnosing infectious diseases using advanced laboratory techniques. These facilities are pivotal not only in diagnosing but also in monitoring healthcare-associated infections and determining their causes.
Dr. Rama Al-Safi, Director of the Medical Laboratory Services Department at the Ministry of Health and Head of the Conference, mentioned that training medical staff and developing their skills to keep pace with rapid scientific advancements is a key goal of the ministry. The conference aims to elevate the scientific and clinical standards and
foster experience sharing among healthcare professionals.
Additionally, the conference, which spans two days, features 25 lecturers specializing in clinical laboratories, three training courses, and numerous discussions aiming to advance healthcare standards through improved diagnostics and disease identification.