KUWAIT : The Transparency Society in Kuwait recently organized a seminar on 'The public health, the problems and solutions' during which the participants discussed the health services in the country, reports Al-Anba daily. The seminar was attended by several former ministers of health, members of the health committee in the National Assembly and chairmen of the Medical Professions Society upon an invitation by Minister of Health Abdullah Al-Taweel. However, Al-Taweel was not present during the seminar. Chairman of the Medical Professions Society Salah Al-Ghazali opened the seminar and welcomed all the attendants and assured them that the society is working hard to end corruption.
Dr Haya Al-Mutairi, member of the society's board of directors said the Ministry of Health is living in confused atmosphere and this is evident by the number of ministers who have taken over the charge in such a short time. There are several problems which the ministry has failed to solve at a time when the society is insisting to discuss the issues in total transparency.
Speaking on the occasion, former minister of Health Dr Abdullrahman Al-Awadhi said the problem lies in faulty planning and lack of vision. He added he can confidently talk about the issue in his capacity as the former minister of health and the minister of planning for several years. He pointed out nobody can succeed in whatever job he/she may do without planning and clear vision.
He also said he had earlier given the government a plan to be adopted in future for the health system but the government failed to pay enough attention to this vital sector. Al-Awadi added a doctor is the main factor in the health process and the best priority for the government must be looking after the problems of doctors.
Another former minister of health Abdullwahab Al-Fouzan said the people must be fair when they give comparison. For example, he said, some people compare the public health services in Kuwait with the private health services in England. This, he said, is not a fair comparison.
He added one of the problems the Kuwait health sector is facing is the movement of good doctors from the government hospitals to the private health sector because in the private sector they find better benefits and good support.
Speaking about mistakes committed by doctors, Dr Al-Fouzan said they commit mistakes because they work. He went on to say those who do not work do not commit mistakes.
He added the doctors everywhere in the world commit medical errors but they differ from country to country. He said for example in England a yearly booklet on errors committed by doctors is published and sometimes this booklet contains as much as 700 pages.
The errors are discussed by doctors and try to avoid them in future. In Kuwait, he said, "we cannot do such a thing because the media will take undue advantage of this situation."
Former minister of health Abdulrahman Al-Muhailan said that bringing a technical man to work in politics is a mistake because this man will dedicate 20 percent of his time to his responsibilities as a minister and use the 80 percent to gain experience.
He pointed out this sort of a minister will take a long time to solve the problems facing him which he will not find. As usual Members of Parliament will begin to criticize him and this was evident because within 10 years 10 ministers have changed hands at the Ministry of Health.
MP Dr Waleed Al-Tabtabaei said the Ministry of Health needs a SWAT team to rescue it. He pointed out the standard of health services in the country weakening every day. He added people can withstand any problems but not the problems of water, electricity and health.
He added the issue of medical treatment abroad is another hot issue. People have been using political pressures to seek treatment abroad. He cited the example of one MP, whom he did not mention by name, who reportedly submitted 900 applications to send people abroad for medical treatment after winning the elections.
Chairman of the National Assembly's Health Committee MP Jamal Al-Kandari said having a clear strategy is very important for the development of the nation. He added "today we have to evaluate the situation in a good manner and according to this evaluation we have to plan our future."
© Arab Times 2008
