Obaidi oversees key health initiatives
KUWAIT: Health Minister Dr Ali Al-Obaidi attended a joint steering committee meeting yesterday, which is part of a government-to government agreement between Britain and Kuwait to increase collaboration in trade between the two countries in multiple sectors including healthcare. In an exclusive interview with Kuwait Times, Dr Obaidi stated that his attendance was to personally follow up on the progress of certain projects.
One of the most exciting of these is the electronic linking and management of patient data between the health office in Kuwait and more than 200 clinics and hospitals around the world including those in the UK, US, Germany and France. This system will allow for rapid referrals to be made between Kuwait and any centre in the world. The system will also allow for patients’ reports and data to be shared by the relevant sides securely and quickly.
This will greatly reduce loss of files and bank guarantee letters along with vital diagnostic reports, which lead to significant delays in admission and treatment. The project will significantly improve the experience of patients and relatives and will significantly reduce costs. Dr Obaidi insisted that such projects are vital for providing a better journey for the patients. The minister also discussed several other collaborations with reputable British health organizations.
The minister’s bold approach in improving the health sector in Kuwait is laudable. The UK is an old friend of Kuwait and is known to have some of the best medical facilities in the world. This along with the easy access Kuwaitis have to Britain and the shared language makes UK the perfect partner. Most people in Kuwait hope to see many of these endeavors come to life in the near future.