KUWAIT: The Kuwait Heart Association (KHA) concluded its week-long World Heart Day activities at Kuwait Souq, attracting large crowds and active participation from both citizens and expatriates. The events featured free medical screenings and awareness programs aimed at promoting heart health and disease prevention.

Dr Rashid Al-Awayesh, Secretary General of KHA, said this year’s World Heart Day, observed on September 29, marked the association’s 25th consecutive participation alongside member countries of the World Heart Federation. He noted that the initiative is part of KHA’s ongoing efforts to raise health awareness and encourage early screening, with more than 1,100 participants of varying ages and backgrounds undergoing tests throughout the week.

Preliminary results showed that 75 to 80 percent of participants had normal readings, while 20 percent had high cholesterol levels and 30 to 35 percent had elevated blood pressure. Additionally, 30 to 40 percent displayed varying degrees of high blood sugar. Dr Al-Awayesh stressed that these findings underscore the importance of regular screenings and awareness campaigns, as many heart-related conditions often present without clear symptoms.

He praised the support of the Patient Assistance Fund for its active partnership in the initiative, highlighting how such cooperation reflects the spirit of solidarity and voluntary health work in Kuwait. Activities at the Kuwait Souq also included free medical consultations by cardiologists, measurements of blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar levels, as well as the distribution of educational leaflets on cardiac risk factors and healthy lifestyle practices.

Dr Al-Awayesh concluded by affirming that KHA will continue its awareness programs in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and supporting agencies, reinforcing Kuwait’s vision to enhance public health awareness and prevent cardiovascular disease. He noted that the high turnout at the events demonstrates the community’s growing commitment to health and quality of life.

KUWAIT: Zain announced the successful conclusion of the second edition of the Academy X program in strategic partnership with CODED Academy, which delivered an intensive training experience for female school and university students in technology and innovation. The program extends Zain’s efforts to empower girls and women digitally and connect national talent with opportunities in the knowledge economy.

This year’s edition trained more than 500 students, bringing the total number of participants since the program’s launch to over 800 across two years. The curriculum covered foundational and advanced tracks in programming, web and app development, cybersecurity, introductions to artificial intelligence and data analysis, in addition to design, user experience, presentation skills and teamwork. The program adopted a project-based learning approach under the supervision of specialized trainers.

Zain’s team and partners with CODED officials.

Participants delivered more than 100 projects this year and 79 projects took part in the closing ceremony, which featured jury evaluations and strong community engagement, with more than 9,000 votes cast to select the standout projects. This contributed to deepening participants’ hands-on experience and showcasing tech solutions with community impact in education, health, sustainability and services.

The program strengthened the partnership ecosystem between Zain and CODED through integrated pathways to build and refine digital skills, starting with workshops and bootcamps and extending to business incubators and final competitions. This helped prepare students for the job market and boost their confidence in turning ideas into viable prototypes, while providing valuable mentoring and networking opportunities with industry experts and emerging tech companies.

Zain affirms its continued investment in high-quality programs that hone digital capabilities among youth, especially girls and women, and its expansion of collaboration with public and private partners to launch new editions and programs that reinforce Kuwait’s position as a hub for tech talent. Zain also recently concluded the fourth season of the Kuwait Codes program in strategic partnership with CODED. The program graduated more than 1,000 students this year, bringing the total number of graduates to 4,500 since its launch, an achievement that reflects the strength of the partnership and the joint effort to empower Kuwaiti youth and build their skills for an economy based on digital innovation.

KUWAIT: Minister of Health Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi issued a ministerial decision Tuesday approving and pricing 392 new drugs, pharmaceutical products and nutritional supplements, selected from 1,580 reviewed over the past year, ensuring they are the cheapest in the Gulf region. In a press statement, the Ministry of Health said the move is part of an integrated strategic approach to balance patient’s interests with the sustainability of the pharmaceutical market.

The strategy involves periodic price list reviews and the adoption of high-quality, effective pharmaceutical alternatives to safeguard public health and maintain the efficiency of healthcare services. The new list includes modern drugs representing a qualitative leap across multiple therapeutic areas, addressing both daily and chronic patient needs. Approved treatments cover obesity, blood pressure, allergies, eye pressure, tumors and cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, migraines, influenza, as well as Mounjaro injections with updated packaging.

The decision also canceled several older drugs that have been replaced with more effective and cost-efficient alternatives. The new pricing system is based on Gulf and international reference prices and is subject to regular review by specialized technical committees monitoring global market developments to maintain price stability. The Ministry stressed that this approach ensures the availability of medicines at affordable prices without compromising quality while preserving the stability of the national pharmaceutical market in both public and private sectors.

The Ministry highlighted that this decision coincides with seven new ministerial directives issued this month to regulate the pharmaceutical sector in line with international standards. These directives aim to streamline medicine registration, ensure adherence to specified prices by companies and distributors, and enhance monitoring mechanisms — both field-based and electronic — to achieve transparency, sustainability and market control. According to the Ministry, the new measures have already contributed to lowering medicine prices and expanding treatment options for patients, within a balanced pharmaceutical policy that considers both efficiency and financial accessibility.

This decision follows a series of recent approvals and price reductions: last August, two decisions were issued reducing prices of 400 medicines and approving 144 new drugs; in May, prices for 69 medicines were approved alongside a reduction in Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) injections; in March, prices for 146 new medicines were approved, preceded by a July 2024 decision reducing prices of more than 200 medicines; and in May 2024, prices for 228 medicines and nutritional supplements were approved. — KUNA