Ohoud Al-Enezi
Dr Anwar Mohammed
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Kuwait explores potential of AI to transform health care
Experts highlight AI’s potential to improve early detection, precision treatments
KUWAIT: Kuwait’s healthcare system is exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) could reshape medical care, with the Ministry of Health taking steps to integrate the technology into diagnostics, treatment, and research. While AI is still largely in pilot or research stages, officials and experts say it has the potential to improve the speed and accuracy of disease detection, support clinical care, advance medical research, and enhance administrative efficiency.
At Jaber Hospital, AI is being trialed in surgeries, endoscopy, blood-flow imaging using ICG technology, and robotic procedures in specialties such as general surgery, urology, and obstetrics and gynecology. The ministry also recently hosted a Gulf workshop titled “Innovation and Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare”, focusing on exploring future applications of AI and strengthening regional collaboration.
AI is also being considered for patient-facing applications, including answering medical queries, explaining test results, guiding treatment decisions, and helping patients choose the right specialty. Experts say these tools could eventually support predictive, personalized, precise, and participatory care, improving patient outcomes and efficiency.
AI to predict disease
Dr Anwar Mohammed, a researcher at the Dasman Diabetes Institute, told KUNA that AI has become “a pivotal tool in developing medical and research sciences” and has enabled advances in predicting protein structures and their interactions with DNA and RNA using technologies such as AlphaFold.
“AI helps accelerate drug discovery by identifying precise therapeutic targets and understanding disease mechanisms at the molecular level,” he said. He also highlighted that AI reduces time and effort in genomics research by analyzing large biological datasets more accurately than traditional methods and aids in mapping gene interactions to understand chronic diseases such as diabetes.
He noted AI’s role in early detection by identifying precise biomarkers at the genetic or protein level, which can be measured in blood to predict diseases such as type 2 diabetes before symptoms appear. Mohammed explained that adapting protein structure prediction to patient samples could link molecular changes to clinical outcomes, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and enabling personalized care.
But the use of AI doesn’t come without challenges, said Mohammed. “The challenges include the need for high-quality, diverse data, the difficulty of interpreting complex models and linking them to clinical practice, as well as ethical considerations and protecting patient privacy.” He expects AI to have the greatest potential in specific medical fields, including endocrinology, metabolic diseases, especially diabetes, genetic medicine, and personalized medicine based on gene-centered treatments, as well as cancer.
Training is necessary
Dentistry is another field exploring AI’s potential. Dr Abdullah Marafi of the Ministry of Health described AI as a “clinical co-pilot” that could support doctors across treatment stages. He explained that AI can detect cavities, measure jawbone levels, and assist in planning procedures such as implants and orthodontics with high accuracy.
He also noted that challenges in applying AI in dentistry include cost and the need for specialized training programs. “The future depends on enhancing the role of doctors by freeing them from routine tasks so they can focus on critical thinking and human interaction with patients,” he said. “It also requires updating academic curricula to prepare dentists skilled in AI technologies.”
Nuclear medicine is another area seeing AI potential. Ohoud Al-Enezi, president of the Kuwait Society of Nuclear Medicine Technologists, told KUNA that AI could revolutionize nuclear medicine by improving PET and SPECT imaging, supporting theranostics—which combines diagnosis and treatment—and accelerating accurate diagnoses of diseases such as cancer. She highlighted that FDA-approved AI devices in nuclear medicine increased from six in 2015 to 221 in 2023, and that AI can reduce radiation exposure by up to 50 percent while improving image quality and efficiency. — KUNA
KUWAIT: The Economic Platform, a Kuwaiti media initiative focused on financial markets and corporate performance, held a dialogue session on Monday titled “Climate Change and Economic Challenges” to bolster the country’s sustainable development efforts. The discussion centered on two key themes: the economic impacts of climate change and strategies for adaptation and loss mitigation. The session was moderated by astronomy researcher Khaled Al-Jumaan and featured meteorologist Issa Ramadan, Kuwait Economic Society Secretary General Mohammad Al-Jouan, energy and construction researcher Dr Majed Al-Rashidi, and Building Information Modeling consultant Asmaa Al-Saleh.
Panelists outlined the main drivers of sustainable development in Kuwait, highlighting the interdependence of renewable energy, environmental considerations and infrastructure. They also evaluated the current national landscape in these areas, underscoring their direct connection to the country’s economic performance. Addressing the first theme, participants exchanged perspectives on the effects of climate change on key sectors, including renewable energy production, infrastructure, urban expansion and future development trends in the region. Each expert offered an individual assessment of current conditions and recent scientific findings related to climate, energy and infrastructure and their economic implications.
The moderator in charge of the dialogue session is astronomy researcher Khaled Al-Jumaan.
Director of the Economic Platform, Muhannad Youssef, during his opening speech.- KUNA photos
A number of specialists in the fields of economics, energy and the environment attended the dialogue session entitled ‘Climate Change and Economic Challenges’.
In the second theme, focused on adaptation and minimizing losses, the speakers stressed the need for modern strategies to confront climate-related economic challenges and maintain balance between growth and environmental responsibility. They called for a forward-looking vision that includes green urban planning, emission reduction, investment in renewable energy projects and enhanced infrastructure development.
Following the session, the participating experts are expected to convene to issue comprehensive recommendations on advancing sustainable development across various sectors of the national economy. Established in 2023, Economic is a Kuwaiti platform that blends in-depth analysis with visual storytelling on major economic and financial issues in Kuwait, the Gulf, the wider Middle East and beyond. — KUNA
KUWAIT: The Embassy of Spain in Kuwait celebrated the Spanish National Day on Sunday, in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defense, Sheikh Dr Abdullah Mishal Al-Sabah. In his opening remarks, the Ambassador of Spain to Kuwait Manuel Hernandez Gamallo emphasized the importance of the occasion, marking Spain as one of the oldest nation-states in the world, a country united by diverse languages and cultural traditions.
The ambassador emphasized the strength of the relations between Spain and Kuwait, saying “Our relations with Kuwait are deep and solid, based on cultural affinities and people-to-people relations. Those relations are flourishing more than ever.” He revealed that nearly 50,000 Kuwaiti travelers visited Spain this year, noting that recent visa facilitation measures within the Schengen area have made travel easier.
Ambassador of Spain to Kuwait Manuel Hernandez Gamallo
The audience at the ceremony.
The Ambassador highlighted significant progress in bilateral cooperation, including the Spanish Kuwaiti Joint Economic Committee held in Kuwait last May, which brought together business leaders and officials from sectors aligned with Kuwait’s Vision 2035. Notably, several agreements are currently in progress to further strengthen trade and investment ties. On the academic level, the Ambassador highlighted Kuwait’s recognition of degrees from 45 Spanish universities, with several institutions including Madrid, Navarra and Barcelona granted “excellence” status in select disciplines, expressing hope to see more Kuwaiti students studying in Spain in the coming years.
He also announced the upcoming direct air connection between Kuwait and Madrid, adding to the existing routes to Barcelona and seasonal flights to Malaga, which will further boost tourism and connectivity. The Spanish Ambassador reaffirmed Spain’s commitment to dialogue among civilizations, the rule of international law, and the defense of human rights, underlining Spain’s recognition of the State of Palestine and its ongoing efforts to promote a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, commending Kuwait’s steadfast humanitarian role and its contribution to regional stability.
He added “Spain salutes the State of Kuwait as a staunch defender of international law, a factor of stability, and a first-rate contributor to humanitarian causes in the world,” extending congratulations to Kuwait for successfully hosting the GCC–EU Ministerial Meeting held recently in Kuwait. The Ambassador also recognized the 450 Spaniards currently residing in Kuwait, many of whom are professionals working in fields such as education, business, health, sports, energy, and infrastructure. The Ambassador concluded by extending greetings on behalf of King Felipe VI and the Government of Spain, wishing continued progress and prosperity to the State of Kuwait and its people.
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