This week, Health Minister Dr Ali Al-Obaidi took a few courageous steps to bring fresh blood into the health ministry. He issued a series of decisions that included the forced retirement of several long-serving officials and reshuffled several other positions. The decisions are within the rules set down by the Civil Service Commission, which allows the government to retire anyone who has served more than 30 years. Dr Obaidi even went an extra mile, retiring those with more than 35 years of service and ensuring retirees' health benefits were secured in an earlier decision.

Though unpopular with some, the moves are intended to shake up the Health Ministry and help it modernize. The healthcare professionals who will be taking up the newly-vacated leadership roles are all mid-career experts in their field who will help introduce new and necessary changes to Kuwait's healthcare system.

Dr Obaidi's brave decision is an important and much needed step to revitalize and modernize Kuwait's healthcare sector. Thousands of dedicated and hardworking professionals contribute to making Kuwait's healthcare sector function every day, but outdated systems, antiquated ways of doing things and, in some instances, resistance to change are holding back what needs to happen to bring Kuwait's healthcare roaring successfully into the 21st century.

As our country grows and develops, we need to make way for younger generations who have dedicated years to study and to becoming experts in their chosen fields. These younger mid-career professionals are now ready to begin taking over the reins of leadership and to contributing their expertise, insight, experience and modern ways of doing things to shaping the future of Kuwait.

We applaud Dr Obaidi's extensive efforts at reforming the country's healthcare sector and opening up roles to younger medical professionals who can help steer us toward a healthier, brighter tomorrow.