Committed to advancing cancer treatment with latest technologies: Health minister

Arab Times

08-02-2025

KUWAIT CITY, Feb 8: Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi emphasized the ministry's commitment to staying at the forefront of scientific and technological advancements, particularly in diagnostic and therapeutic techniques for cancer patients. His remarks came during the opening of the Regional Conference on Medical Physics in the Middle East, held under the theme "Enhancing Acceleration in Radiology." The event was organized by the Middle East Union for Medical Physics in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Kuwait Association for Women's Health, with the Kuwait Cancer Control Center hosting the proceedings.
In his speech, Dr. Al-Awadhi explained that the Ministry of Health has dedicated significant resources to align with the latest advancements, focusing heavily on enhancing the capabilities of national personnel and training them in cutting-edge technologies. These efforts are integral to improving the quality of healthcare services provided to the public.
Dr. Al-Awadhi highlighted the Kuwait Cancer Control Center as one of the region's leading institutions. He noted that the center offers comprehensive care for cancer patients, with a dedicated team of over 600 qualified medical and technical professionals. The new Kuwait Cancer Control Center, set to open soon, will be equipped with the latest diagnostic and radiotherapy technologies, including image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET).
The Minister emphasized that radiotherapy is a key method of cancer treatment, benefiting millions of patients annually, especially those with brain, breast, head and neck, prostate, skin, and cervical cancers. He stressed that effective radiotherapy requires a coordinated effort from oncologists, medical physicists, and radiotherapy technicians, all of whom play vital roles in ensuring treatment precision and safety.
The role of medical physicists, Dr. Al-Awadhi continued, is crucial in ensuring the effectiveness of radiotherapy and medical imaging devices. They are essential in accurately planning treatment, determining tumor location, size, and dimensions, and minimizing damage to healthy tissues. This precision greatly enhances treatment outcomes for cancer patients.
Dr. Meshari Al-Naimi, President of the Middle East Organization for Medical Physics, Head of the Radiation Physics Department at the Kuwait Cancer Control Center, and Chairman of the Conference Organizing Committee, noted that the conference's theme reflects the ongoing advancements in integrating fast and intelligent systems to improve patient care and outcomes. He emphasized that the conference serves not only as a gathering of experts but as a collective commitment to advancing radiation medicine for safer, more accurate, and effective treatments.
Dr. Al-Naimi outlined the conference's program, which includes sessions on future trends, innovations in medical imaging, x-ray therapy, physical therapy dose management, tomography dosimetry, machine learning, and advancements in women's health through radiation medicine. The conference also features in-depth discussions on the latest developments in these fields.
Dr. Iman Al-Tawhid, Consultant Gynecologist at the Kuwait Cancer Control Center and President of the Kuwait Women's Health Association, expressed pride in the conference's organization and acknowledged the indispensable contributions of medical physicists. She stated, "Without their expertise, we would not be able to ensure that the patient's treatment is safe and accurate."
The conference, attended by over 50 international experts and lecturers from leading cancer treatment centers worldwide, will feature 65 lectures over three days, along with specialized workshops. These workshops will focus on key topics such as artificial intelligence applications, automation of quality control tests in medical imaging, and auditing dose measurement processes in radiotherapy.
The event highlights the ongoing progress in radiology and radiation medicine, bringing together professionals to explore innovative solutions aimed at improving the accuracy and effectiveness of cancer treatments.