KUWAIT: Health Minister Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi inaugurated the new app “Salem” on Wednesday, as part of the ministry’s digital transformation strategy aimed at simplifying access to medical services. Speaking at a government communications center event, Al-Awadhi said the app will replace the existing “Q8seha” application and represents “a qualitative leap in services provided to citizens and residents.”
He explained that Salem allows users to book appointments at health centers and hospitals, review medical records, track prescriptions and treatments, check lab and radiology results, and receive reminders for routine check-ups and preventive tests.
The app also connects with other government health systems to facilitate the exchange of medical information and improve response times for emergencies, Al-Awadhi said. Plans are underway to expand services to cover public health programs, chronic disease monitoring, pharmacy services, and home care, in line with Kuwait’s long-term health vision. “By launching Salem, medical services are now available on a single platform, making it easier for citizens to access their data and complete transactions without repeatedly visiting facilities,” he added.
The app also supports electronic payment via Apple Pay. All hospitals across Kuwait’s six governorates are included, allowing users to view available departments and services. Al-Awadhi noted that “appointments for visiting doctors from outside Kuwait and their specialties will be available on the app in the coming months.”
Communications Minister Omar Al-Omar congratulated the Health Ministry on the initiative. “We are committed to providing all technical and integration support through the national data exchange platform to ensure a seamless experience for citizens and residents,” he said.
Health Ministry spokesperson Dr. Abdullah Al-Sanad said digitizing health services is not an end in itself, but a means to improve health and well-being and facilitate service access. Al-Sanad noted that the ministry maintains a database with over 85,000 radiology reports, 400,000 medical reports, 19 million prescriptions, and more than 18 million lab results.
The ministry’s Assistant Undersecretary for Digital Health, Adel Al-Rashidi, described Salem as “a qualitative shift in Kuwait’s digital health services.” He said the platform integrates more than 30 separate health systems and over 100 million health records in one place to streamline access and speed up procedures. — KUNA
