Gulf solidarity in the field of healthcare response praised
‘Kuwait successfully overcomes COVID-19 crisis’
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 12: Director of the Medical Emergency Department Dr. Ahmad Al-Shatti affirmed that Gulf solidarity in the field of health care helped in successfully overcoming the COVID-19 crisis without falling into the trap of pressure on health services and facilities that many countries of the world suffered from.
In a press statement issued after the opening of the GCC Quality and Safety of Medicines, Devices and Medical Care Conference yesterday, Dr. Al-Shatti expressed his pride in Kuwait passing the COVID-19 pandemic period successfully.
He indicated that Kuwait had a surplus of clinical capacity of about 25 percent compared to some developed countries around the world, which were subjected to severe pressure on health services during the pandemic period.
Dr. Al-Shatti stressed the importance of highlighting the regulatory and supervisory frameworks in ensuring the safety and security of medicine, devices and medical care, as well as the importance of strengthening oversight over them and supporting and localizing the pharmaceutical industry.
In a speech he delivered during the conference, he explained that such GCC medical conferences work to create a participatory platform to present successful experiences and exchange experiences among the GCC countries, and seek to achieve medicine security, and strengthen joint cooperation between the Gulf countries in a way that serves the health system.
The conference serves as a platform for scientific and practical discussion, during which the latest technical and scientific developments in the areas of safety and quality of medicines, devices and medical care are presented, in addition to transferring and localizing expertise, enriching knowledge with pharmaceutical education, and digitizing the medical devices sector.
Furthermore, the Assistant Director General of the Primary Health Care Corporation in Qatar Musallam Al-Nabit said, “Our participation in the conference comes from our belief in the importance of enhancing the digital transformation of the medical and pharmaceutical sector in the GCC countries. We are participating in finding solutions and modern technologies in the pharmaceutical sector, medical devices and equipment, and health care that GCC countries need.
Al-Nabit highlighted the scientific and technical developments and digital transformation witnessed in the past period, which necessitate attracting important solutions and expertise from countries around the world to meet the region’s technical and technological needs in the field of medical progress, treatments, and smart systems.
Meanwhile, Assistant Undersecretary for Contracts and Supply in the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia Dr. Marai Al-Qahtani said in his speech that the conference witnessed a review of Saudi Arabia’s experiences, and discussions on several important axes in raising the level of supply and organization of medical supplies, in line with national strategies to achieve the security and availability of medical supplies.
He praised the level of health that Saudi Arabia has reached, stressing that prevention, public health, innovation and sustainability are four priorities that the health sector transformation program places at the forefront of its goals, and it works to expand the provision of e-health services and digital solutions and improve the quality of health services while adhering to the highest international standards in providing health services.
Dr. Al-Qahtani explained that Saudi Arabia is one of the first countries to establish independent bodies such as the Food and Drug Authority, which is concerned with monitoring, registration and safety of medicines.
It also established an electronic tracking system called “Rasd” for pharmaceutical preparations as part of its plan to contribute to achieving the New Kuwait 2030 vision by adopting the latest technical means and using them to track and trace all human medicines manufactured within Saudi Arabia or imported from abroad.
This system contributes to strengthening the authority’s role in protecting society, enhancing oversight, and ensuring the safety of medicines by knowing their source and the stages they went through from manufacturing until they reach the consumers.
Dr. Al-Qahtani highlighted the establishment of the Health Holding Company, which handles about 23 health clusters and more than 300 hospitals.
He also highlighted the existence of the National Unified Purchasing Company, stressing the importance of cooperation among the GCC countries in this aspect, and unifying procurement processes for government programs for the health sector through the Gulf Health Council.