KUWAIT CITY, Nov 10: The Ministry of Health has raised concerns with alarming statistics, revealing that over the past eight years, around 81,072 individuals sought assistance at the addiction center in Kuwait. In response to a query from Representative Dr. Muhammad Al-Mahan, Minister of Health Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadi presented startling figures, disclosing that from 2015 until last September, 81,072 cases sought treatment at the addiction treatment center.

In the first nine months of the current year, 894 new cases were registered, with 2,081 cases receiving in-ward treatment, and 9,537 cases being reviewed at outpatient clinics. The grim reality of addiction is further underscored by the unfortunate toll of 268 deaths over the past eight years, reports Al-Jarida daily.

Dr. Al-Awadi emphasized the Ministry's comprehensive approach in combating drug proliferation among the youth. Coordination between various state agencies is a cornerstone of this effort. The Supreme National Committee for Combating Drugs has been reconstituted, and Ministerial Resolution No. 1315 from the Council of Ministers has allocated sites for addict treatment and rehabilitation.

For the year 2022, the committee is led by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior. Its membership includes the Minister of Health, the Minister of Education, the Minister of Social Affairs and Community Development, the Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, and the Minister of Information and Culture. A subcommittee, the Committee for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Addicts, has been formed, headed by the Minister of Health and comprising the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, the Chairman of Bashaer Al-Khair Association, the General Director of the Addiction Hospital, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance, and the Assistant Undersecretary for Criminal Security Affairs and Correctional Institutions at the Ministry of Interior.

The Ministry of Health, underlining its commitment, actively addresses the issue of drug addiction among students and adolescents. This involves raising awareness through educational lectures, conducting information campaigns for school and university students, and collaborating with traditional and modern media to disseminate information about the dangers of drug abuse.

In terms of import inspection, Dr. Al-Awadhi explained that the Ministry of Health meticulously monitors and examines all imports. This is carried out through the Department of Registration and Control of Medicinal and Plant Medicines, in coordination between the Ministries of Health and Interior and the General Administration of Customs. Cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and the General Administration of Customs has been intensified to provide timely updates on developments related to psychotropic substances.

The Ministry of Health is intensifying measures for the dispensing of medicines on local sales platforms, ensuring minimal impact on patients. This effort involves collaborative initiatives with the private sector, military hospitals and clinics, the National Guard, and the oil company. Additionally, the workforce in healthcare and pharmacists are being trained on the responsible handling of controlled medicines.

The exchange of medical experiences with leading global medical centers and hospitals is actively pursued. Joint visits, consultations, conferences, and research initiatives are organized to enhance knowledge. Moreover, there is a focus on training and engaging recovering individuals, as well as involving religious and cultural societies in the rehabilitation of young addiction patients in Kuwait. This collaboration extends to partnerships with the Ministry of Endowments, charitable societies, and public benefit societies.

To tighten drug control, the Ministry of Health is enhancing its monitoring efforts at Kuwait airport and ports. Dr. Al-Awadhi emphasizes the importance of training doctors in primary and secondary healthcare for early diagnosis and referral to the Kuwait Center for Addiction Treatment. Efforts also extend to strengthening the capabilities of medical laboratories to detect new psychotropic substances for early warning.

The Kuwait Poison Control Center, established on May 10, 2023, deals with cases of poisoning due to nutritional supplements and drugs. It provides advice, and treatment plans, and monitors toxic substances in coordination with relevant state institutions.

Within correctional institutions, a rehabilitation center has been established to provide therapeutic and rehabilitative services to inmates. The Committee for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Addicts, led by Minister of Health Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadhi, has been actively developing visions and work plans. Additionally, collaboration with the Juvenile Welfare Department aims to offer rehabilitative therapeutic services for children in care.

A research and scientific studies department has been set up to conduct necessary studies for the development of the hospital's work. This includes studying the application and advancement of treatment plans and programs, and evaluating and compiling necessary statistics to track the progress of the hospital's treatment programs. Dr. Al-Awadhi emphasizes the development of a qualification program with therapeutic competencies provided by the Aftercare Department. However, he acknowledges that current work rules are insufficient to fully accommodate patients affiliated with the Aftercare Department, especially due to legal provisions imposed on those patients.

The Research Department actively engages in and monitors scientific studies and international experiments related to the treatment and rehabilitation of individuals grappling with drug and psychotropic substance addiction. The department assesses the potential successful application of these studies in Kuwait.

Responding to inquiries about the Ministry's plan to establish treatment clinics for drug addicts, Dr. Al-Awadhi emphasizes that the Addiction Treatment Center affiliated with the Ministry of Health is a comprehensive facility. It provides advanced therapeutic and rehabilitative services, boasting a clinical capacity estimated at 300 beds.

Dr. Al-Awadhi further highlights the ongoing expansion of the current addiction treatment center to accommodate rehabilitative therapeutic services for women and children with addiction. The expanded facility is projected to have a total capacity of 208 beds for women and adolescents of both genders. The expansion encompasses integrated rehabilitative therapeutic services, featuring facilities such as a gym, swimming pools, outdoor playgrounds, entry suites, and a middle house. Construction is anticipated to conclude by the end of 2023, with operations scheduled to commence in early 2024.

In a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Health and public benefit associations, the Ministry has received financial support totaling 5 million dinars from the Insan Charitable Society. This funding aims to establish and develop a hospital and specialized rehabilitation center for the treatment and rehabilitation of individuals struggling with drug addiction and psychotropic substances. The facility is designed to meet the highest international standards, covering an area of 300 thousand square meters. The project includes the appointment of a seasoned general director with expertise in establishing and managing health facilities dedicated to patients dealing with drug and psychotropic substance addiction. The initiative also involves the establishment and equipping of facilities necessary for the success of this project.

These generous donations reflect the embodiment of high-level recommendations advocating for the strengthening of solidarity, cooperation, and the amplification of efforts among public benefit associations and state ministries.

In the realm of healthcare, the Ministry of Health disclosed that the composition of medical professionals in hospitals, health centers, and work centers totals 17,924 doctors. Among them, 40 percent are Kuwaiti doctors (7,336), while 60 percent are non-Kuwaiti doctors (10,588). In response to a parliamentary question posed by Representative Badr Nashmi, the Ministry provided insights into the deployment of newly graduated Kuwaiti doctors over the past five years. Ninety-two doctors completed their internship year and were subsequently sent abroad for further training. This cohort includes 69 doctors sent to Canada, 10 to the United Kingdom, one to the United States of America, nine to Saudi Arabia, and three to Jordan.

The Ministry emphasized that scholarships for all specialties (including dermatology, orthopedics, ophthalmology, and surgery) are available to Kuwaiti doctors, provided they meet the specified conditions in the country of delegation, pass the required examinations, and adhere to the scholarship conditions set by the Civil Service Bureau.

Responding to queries about the acceptance of Kuwaiti doctors after a year of internship in rare specialties under the Saudi and Jordanian boards, the Ministry clarified that Kuwaiti doctors are indeed accepted under the Saudi Board if they obtain initial approval and meet scholarship conditions. Furthermore, as part of the Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialties' expansion initiative in delegation countries, Kuwaiti doctors were sent to the Kingdom of Jordan to pursue the Jordanian Board in surgical specialties from 2019 to 2022.