KUWAIT: With diabetes rates in Kuwait rising to around 25.6 percent of adults—one of the highest rates regionally and globally —Dr Walid Al-Dahhi, President of the Kuwait Diabetes Society and Head of the Diabetes and Endocrinology Department at Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, reviewed the health situation in the country, noting that the latest statistics from the International Diabetes Federation confirm the urgent need to strengthen national efforts in the areas of prevention and early detection.
This came in a press statement during an event to launch a new smart continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device, which represents an important shift in early diagnosis and patient management, and is in line with Kuwait’s 2035 vision for digital transformation in the health sector. The event, organized in collaboration with the Kuwait Diabetes Society, and was attended by the Swiss Ambassador to the country Dr Tiziano Balmelli, as well as officials from the Ministry of Health and the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) and international experts.
Dr Al-Dahhi emphasized that modern technologies for monitoring sugar levels, including continuous glucose monitoring devices and smart digital systems, have become an integral part of the national strategy for healthcare development, emphasizing their role in improving the quality of care, enabling patients to accurately monitor their condition, reducing complications and supporting medical decision-making based on accurate data. He added that the integration of modern health data and the national vision for digital transformation reflects Kuwait’s commitment to developing a more effective and sustainable health system and ensuring high-quality medical care for all citizens.
Swiss cooperation
Swiss Ambassador Balmelli praised the joint efforts between Kuwait and Switzerland to promote health innovation, noting the active role of both the Ministry of Health and KDIPA in creating an environment that supports innovation and investment. He added that cooperation between Kuwait and Switzerland, and between the public and private sectors, reflects a shared commitment to building a better health future for all citizens.
Ambassador Balmelli explained that Switzerland’s leading position in the Global Innovation Index for more than ten years reflects a successful strategy based on effective partnerships and mutual trust between the state and the private sector. He praised Kuwait’s efforts in combating the spread of diabetes, noting that the adoption of continuous glucose monitoring technology represents a real turning point in patient care, as it allows the healthcare system to move from a reactive approach to a proactive one that reduces complications and improves the quality and efficiency of healthcare, in line with Kuwait’s Vision 2035, which places innovation and human health at the heart of its priorities.
