HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al- Sabah (center) cuts the ceremonial ribbon as Health Minister Dr Ali Al-Obaidi (right) looks on during the inauguration of the new Al-Razi Hospital

KUWAIT: HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al- Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah yesterday inaugurated the new Al-Razi Hospital in the specialized health Al- Sabah area. The ceremony was attended by a number of sheikhs, ministers and high ranking state officials from the PM’s diwan and the health ministry.

Marking the event, Minister of Health Ali Saad Al-Obaidi delivered a speech on the occasion, affirming Kuwait’s achievements in the health and developmental sectors, which were recognized by regional and international organizations.

The minister added that the new hospital is part of a comprehensive strategic plan by the ministry to improve the health system and provide better medical care.

Obaidi said that the hospital will have an increase of 80 percent in bed capacity to reach 540 after the project’s completion, noting its cost amounts to KD 31.4 million.

The total area of buildings has reached 28,000 sq m, he added, indicating the hospital has 10 wings of 24 beds each.

The project aims to refurbish and expand totally the main operating rooms and operating rooms for accidents to reach 12 as well as xray and physiotherapy departments and offices, he made clear.

Obaidi pointed to the decline in the mortality rates of infants and children under five years and rates of maternal mortality, affirming that Kuwait has provided protective vaccinations against childhood diseases, AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

The minister said Kuwait’s achievements in the area of healthcare provided to people put it among leading countries in this field based on the reports of the World Health Organization and the 62nd session of WHO Regional Committee for Eastern Mediterranean.

The committee’s praise of the advanced health level in Kuwait is an “honor” for Kuwaitis, he stated. A cooperation protocol with Canada’s Ottawa University will be hammered out at the beginning of 2016 to provide training courses for Kuwaiti doctors so as to upgrade their skills, Obaidi said, adding the ministry seeks through deals signed with international universities and hospitals and conferences to stay abreast with the latest scientific developments in this area.

The minister noted that what has been provided by the hospital to patients supports and enhances the health system to respond to key challenges in the sustainable development plan. Obaidi said that the United Nations, by virtue of a General Assembly resolution adopted in April 2014, called for addressing these challenges through setting out a working plan with multiple axes for road safety implemented during 2011-2020.

After the speech, participants watched a documentary on future health projects in various governorates. Later, a lecture was delivered by Hospital Director Muna Abdulsamad and other doctors on the new facility, which includes 10 wards, operation rooms, an x-ray room and physiotherapy center. —KUNA