KUWAIT CITY, April 17: The Ministry of Health, through the Nuclear Medicine Department at the Kuwait Cancer Control Center (KCCC), held a national training course on radiotherapy on Thursday, in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Dr. Abdulredha Abbas, Chairman of the Nuclear Medicine Department Council and Head of the Nuclear Medicine Department at KCCC, stated that the course falls within efforts to enhance international cooperation and develop national medical specialties. It also reflects the center’s ongoing and successful collaboration with the IAEA.

He emphasized that the course highlights the scientific excellence of Kuwaiti professionals, which led to the Nuclear Medicine Department being recognized in 2018 as an accredited regional training center for Arab countries in Asia (ARASIA). This designation underscores international confidence in Kuwait’s expertise and confirms KCCC’s role as a regional scientific hub.

Dr. Abbas noted that this course is part of a broader, ongoing partnership between Kuwait’s nuclear medicine sector and the IAEA. Such training initiatives contribute to advancing nuclear medicine in Kuwait and reinforce the country's regional and international leadership in the field, aligning with Kuwait’s vision to enhance its healthcare sector and deliver top-tier medical services to the public.

Dr. Sarah Murad, the head of the training course, added that the program focused on Lutetium-177 (Lu-177)-based radiotherapy and optimal radiation dosimetry applications. Around 40 specialists in nuclear medicine and related fields from Kuwait participated, along with five international experts and several local lecturers.

She explained that the course aimed to foster the exchange of knowledge and expertise between Kuwaiti professionals and international experts, strengthen collaboration with the IAEA, and build local capacity by enhancing the scientific and practical skills of medical personnel. This, in turn, is expected to improve healthcare performance across institutions.

Dr. Murad further noted that the course reviewed cutting-edge technical and therapeutic advancements in radiopharmaceuticals, especially for treating prostate and neurological tumors. It also addressed radiation safety standards for patients, medical staff, and the broader community. A core component of the course was increasing knowledge of radiation dosimetry principles to ensure best practices in Lu-177-based therapy, ultimately broadening patient access to effective treatments.

The course has been accredited by the Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialties under the Continuing Medical Education (CME) system, awarding 22 first-class classification points.