Kuwait expands advanced digestive and liver care

Detailed summary

KUWAIT: Health Minister Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi on Friday reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to keeping pace with advances in diagnosing and treating digestive ...

KUWAIT: Health Minister Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi on Friday reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to keeping pace with advances in diagnosing and treating digestive and liver diseases, while investing in national talent, training and scientific research to improve patient care. Speaking at the opening of the fourth Kuwait Gastroenterology and Hepatology Society Conference and the first Gulf Gastroenterology Forum, Al-Awadhi said the ministry was continuing to develop gastroenterology, hepatology and interventional endoscopy services across public hospitals.

The expansion aims to strengthen the diagnosis of complex conditions and provide advanced treatment options with minimal surgical intervention, he said. The three-day gathering, running from Nov 12 to 14, brings together doctors and specialists from Kuwait and abroad. Highlighting achievements over the past year, Al-Awadhi said teams at Amiri, Mubarak Al-Kabeer, Jaber Al-Ahmad, Farwaniya, Sabah and Adan hospitals, alongside specialist centers, had performed more than 2,000 advanced interventional endoscopy procedures and 1,200 endoscopic ultrasound procedures.

He also cited milestones including the first endoscopic drainage of the bile ducts through the stomach without surgery at Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital, liver transplants, and the treatment of tumors and polyps using advanced interventional techniques. Behind these achievements are dedicated medical, nursing and technical teams working together to serve patients, he said.

Dr Heba Al-Farhan, president of the Kuwait Gastroenterology and Hepatology Society and chair of the conference, said hosting the event alongside the first Gulf gathering marked an important step in regional medical cooperation and strengthened Kuwait’s role as a hub for scientific collaboration and the exchange of expertise. The conference brings together experts from 10 countries: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Egypt, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.

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