KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health is planning an increase in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, despite having an adequate number, to strengthen vital healthcare services, health officials announced Saturday. Plans are also underway to link ICU units across hospitals via a unified database, ensuring more efficient access to information from ICU devices. This focus on enhancing critical care was emphasized during the opening of the 20th International Pan Arab Critical Care Medicine Society (IPACCMS) Conference on February 1.

The meeting returns to Kuwait after nearly 18 years where the third IPACCMS conference was held in November 2008. The conference, the largest in the history of critical care meetings in Kuwait, is attended by over 1,800 participants, with more than 500 attending workshops that focus on the latest technological developments in critical care.

This conference is held in parallel to 9th International Pan Arab Critical Care Medicine Society Congress, the 16th Asia Africa Conference of the World Federation of Intensive and Critical Care Societies, the 12th Kuwait Critical Care Conference and the 2nd Kuwait Extracorporeal Life Support Congress and in conjunction with the 6th Regional Neurocritical Care Meeting of the Neurocritical Care Society – Middle East and North Africa Chapter.

In his speech, Health Minister Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi stressed Kuwait’s commitment to enhancing critical care services, describing innovation in this field as a duty rather than an option. He pointed out that the return of this prestigious conference to Kuwait after a long hiatus is a testament to the country’s dedication to supporting scientific progress. He also called for turning ideas into tangible outcomes and transforming recommendations into actionable steps for the future of healthcare.

Dr Al-Awadhi highlighted the importance of investing in human resources as a cornerstone of any modern healthcare system, aiming for sustainable development. He noted that recent years have seen a growing focus on intensive care, which has significantly contributed to global improvements in healthcare systems. Additionally, he praised the achievements of Kuwaiti professionals in the critical care field, noting progress across various areas such as infrastructure, technology, diagnosis, treatment, human resources, research, management and digital transformation.

Dr Abdulrahman Al-Fares, a consultant in internal medicine, intensive care, and anesthesia at Al-Amiri Hospital, and the head of the conference, also discussed the critical role of ICU units. He expressed his hope to unify the ICU units across hospitals in Kuwait through a shared database, supported by digital transformation, which will enable easy access to information from various ICU devices.

In addition, an agreement was signed during the conference between the International Pan Arab Critical Care Medicine Society and the World Federation of Intensive and Critical Care Societies to prepare for a joint conference, the first of which will be held in Kuwait and later move between Arab countries. This collaborative effort further underscores Kuwait’s role as a leader in advancing healthcare services. — KUNA