Kuwait City: Kuwait’s Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi, emphasized that primary healthcare is the cornerstone of the country’s medical system amid ongoing health challenges. The minister made this statement while addressing the sixth Annual Medical Conference on Primary Healthcare, noting that the primary healthcare system is set to undergo significant expansion with 11 new health centers expected to open by 2027.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the minister highlighted the exceptional importance the Ministry of Health places on primary care, with ongoing efforts to launch a new five-year national health strategy. This strategy aims to enhance the healthcare system’s capacity to meet community needs amid population growth and rapid advancements in the medical field. Dr. Al-Awadhi explained that the strategy is based on a comprehensive vision to improve healthcare quality and expand services, focusing on sustainability and innovation to provide integrated care for all age groups.
Primary healthcare r
emains a fundamental pillar of this vision, offering comprehensive services that address the needs of all society segments while playing a critical role in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. The minister reiterated the Ministry of Health’s commitment to expanding primary healthcare centers in line with population growth and urban development in new residential areas.
The number of primary healthcare centers in Kuwait has reached 116, with four new centers-Mutlaa N1, Mutlaa N2, Abdali, and Fahaheel Health Center-opened this year. Additionally, some centers have been rehabilitated to enhance their efficiency and better meet community needs. Dr. Dina Al-Dhabib, Director of the Central Department for Primary Healthcare at the Ministry of Health, stated that the number of chronic disease clinics rose from 86 in 2022 to 127, spread across 102 health centers, addressing the growing number of patients.
Mental health clinics also saw growth, increasing from 16 to 72 clinics, with 19,237 visits rec
orded since mental health services were introduced in 2022. Dr. Al-Dhabib further explained that by 2029, the number of doctors graduating from the Kuwait Family Medicine Residency Program is expected to double, adding 400 physicians to bring the total to 800, representing 46 percent of all doctors working in the primary healthcare sector. She praised the accreditation of 51 primary healthcare centers as training facilities by the Royal College of Physicians in November, with this number expected to rise to 61 centers by next year.