KUWAIT: Dr Khaled Al-Saeed, Minister of Health, has said the Kuwait leads the list of countries, where patients undergo kidney transplants, adding that further initiatives are planned to develop liver and heart transplants in the country. Speaking on the sidelines of an event organized by the Kuwait Heart Society and Sabah Al-Ahmad Heart Center, to mark the 'World day for heart', Al-Saeed said that currently two kinds of transplants - organs and bone marrow- were being carried out in Kuwait, especially for children and said that the Health Ministry has also noticed an increase in cases of heart diseases in the country.

"Previously, some heart surgeries were available only in one hospital, but it is now conducted in four hospitals and it is also planned to have facilities to conduct such surgeries across all hospitals in Kuwait, as the number of doctors increase in the sector."

He also said that the increase in the number of diabetic patients in Kuwait was primarily due to the unhealthy lifestyle choices practiced by people in the country which also led to an increase in heart and cholesterol-related diseases.

Dr Khaled Al-Saeed

Al-Saeed also appraised the role of the Kuwait Heart Society which has been serving patients for 40 years now and has been supporting efforts to treat heart disease in the country. Meanwhile, Dr Talal Al-Bahar, Head of Kuwait Heart Society expressed his appreciation in collaborating with the Ministry to execute training projects aimed at saving lives.

"The society is proud of its national and social duty in supporting medical research aimed at preventing heart diseases and in supporting researchers in making scientific studies and attending global medical conferences," he said.

He added that the society conducted awareness events - for medical testing and to estimate body mass-to identify obesity and related issues and said that the society would continue to reach people through these awareness programs.