(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) KUWAIT, Nov 16 (KUNA) -- Kuwaiti Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi affirmed on Sunday that the establishment of the Authority for Medical Responsibility (AMR) is a key pillar in promoting good governance within the health system and in consolidating justice and transparency in handling medical complaints and cases.
In his opening speech at the AMR's second conference, Dr. Al-Awadhi said that AMR represents an important institutional step toward safeguarding patientsآ' rights, supporting healthcare professionals, and strengthening mutual trust among all parties within the health sector.
He explained that the conference comes as part of a broader vision to raise legal and health awareness in society and to benefit from international experiences in managing medical risks and regulating professional relationships.
The minister pointed out that the presence of AMR as an independent body entrusted with reviewing complaints and providing expert technical opinion reflects a serious commitment to an integrated health system that protects all parties. This, he noted, has been realized through Law No. 70 of 2020 on the Practice of Medicine and Allied Professions.
Al-Awadhi stated that the role of AMR is not limited to examining complaints and investigating medical incidents, but also extends to contributing to the development and improvement of service quality in both public and private sectors through its recommendations and corrective measures that help enhance performance and promote a culture of safe professional practice.
He stressed that the Ministry of Health believes that protecting patients and protecting practitioners do not conflict but rather complement each other, noting that fair treatment and sound professional accountability encourage more committed and confident practice. This, he added, is being pursued by strengthening the culture of medical responsibility, developing training systems, and updating health legislation.
The minister affirmed that the Ministry will remain a strong supporter and strategic partner of the Authority for Medical Responsibility to ensure that it carries out its mandate with the highest levels of neutrality and transparency, within a complementary framework with other state institutions.
He concluded by emphasizing the importance of the conference as a platform for exchanging expertise and further developing the health system in Kuwait.
For his part, Chairman of the Authority for Medical Responsibility Dr. Salman Khalifa Al-Sabah said in a similar address that the conference is aligned with the "New Kuwait 2035" Vision and aims to discuss leading experiences and share best health, legal, and regulatory practices in the field of medical responsibility.
Dr. Al-Sabah reviewed AMRآ's most prominent achievements since Law No. 70 of 2020 came into force, noting that the Authority has moved from being a legislative text to a fully operational institutional system.
He explained that AMR has contributed to developing work mechanisms and improving the performance of technical investigation committees, which has positively impacted the judicial system by "reducing litigation periods and enhancing the judiciaryآ's handling of medical cases," thanks to accurate and objective technical reports.
He added that the Authority has succeeded in "training and qualifying national medical and legal cadres" and has worked on "promoting the culture of medical responsibility" through a wide series of lectures and workshops targeting legal professionals, practitioners, and medical students.
Dr. Al-Sabah also announced the launch of the "Kuwait Medical Responsibility Classification" project, the first unified national framework for classifying types of medical responsibility, aimed at facilitating the work of committees and generating accurate statistical data to improve healthcare quality.
On the digital transformation front, he stated that AMR has completed the first phase of its comprehensive governance plan, which includes "an integrated electronic platform enabling the public to submit complaints and follow up on them easily and transparently."
He added that the Authority has strengthened its international presence by joining leading global organizations and participating in international conferences and training programs, noting that AMR has received international recognition that "made the Authority a pioneering model in the field of medical responsibility."
Dr. Al-Sabah affirmed that the coming phase will see "greater opportunities to create a wider impact on awareness, policy, and professional practice" and further consolidate Kuwaitآ's regional and international standing in this field.
He concluded by expressing thanks to "Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences" for its support of the conference.
For his part, World Health Organization (WHO) representative Dr. Asad Hafeez praised what he described as a "significant step" taken by the State of Kuwait in establishing the AMR, which laid the legal foundations for medical responsibility in the country.
Dr. Hafeez said that AMR has, in a relatively short period of time, succeeded in developing structured expert review processes, clarifying professional standards, and handling an increasing number of cases "in a consistent and transparent manner", stressing that these important achievements place Kuwait "as a reference point" for organized medical responsibility processes in the region.
He commended the leadership of the Minister of Health and the Chairman of the Authority in positioning Kuwait "not only on the regional map, but also on the global map" in this vital and sensitive field.
He pointed out that Kuwait this year led a dedicated side event at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, which highlighted the global importance of this topic and Kuwaitآ's emerging role in international discussions on medical responsibility and regulation.
Dr. Hafeez revealed that WHO is currently in discussions with the relevant authorities at the AMR "to explore the possibility of recognizing Kuwait as a global Center of Excellence" in this field, expressing hope that this would be achieved soon with the support of the leadership in Kuwait.
He affirmed that WHO remains a committed partner in providing technical assistance and global expertise to strengthen regulatory systems, wishing the conference fruitful and successful deliberations. (end)
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