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REPORT ON HISTORY OF HEALTH SERVICES IN KUWAIT
KUWAIT, JAN 6 (KUNA) -- KUWAIT'S MINISTRY OF HEALTH HAS PUBLISHED A REPORT
SPANNING HEALTH SERVICES IN KUWAIT SINCE BEFORE 1904 TO THE PRESENT TIME.
THE REPORT WAS PREPARED TO COMMEMORATE THE 50TH MEETING OF GCC COUNCIL OF
HEALTH MINISTERS.
IT CATEGORIZES HEALTH SERVICES INTO TWO DISTINCT STAGES : OLD AND MODERN.
THE OLD COVERS THE PERIOD BEFORE 1904 AND IS DESIGNATED AS FOLK MEDICINE
ERA AND THE NEW COVERS THE TIME PERIOD AFTER THAT AND IS DESCRIBED AS MODERN
MEDICINE ERA, ACCORDING TO DR KHALIFA AL-SAQOBI, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AT THE
MINISTRY OF HEALTH IN KUWAIT.
DR AL-SAQOBI SAID IN A PRESS RELEASE THAT THE MODERN PERIOD OF MEDICINE IN
KUWAIT COVERS SEVEN DIFFERENT STAGES. THE FIRST, FROM 1904-1949, INVOLVED
OPENING "DAR AL-ETAMAD" MEDICAL CLINIC, A QUARANTINE FACILITY, AND A HEALTH
DEPARTMENT.
THE SECOND, FROM 1949-1960, SAW THE BUILDING OF THE FIRST STATE-RUN GENERAL
HOSPITAL.
THE THIRD, FROM 1961-1980, (THE PERIOD AFTER NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE)
WITNESSED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH.
THE FOURTH, FROM 1980-1989, WAS MARKED BY SETTING UP LARGE SCALE HEALTH
FACILITIES.
THE FIFTH, FROM 1990-1991, SAW A CURTAILMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES DUE TO THE
IRAQI INVASION.
THE PERIOD FROM 1991-1993, WAS A RECONSTRUCTION AND RESTORATION STAGE, SAID
DR SAQOBI, FOLLOWING IRAQ'S TRASHING OF HEALTH FACILITIES IN THE COUNTRY.
THE PRESENT AND LAST STAGE DATES FROM 1994 AND INVOLVES CREATING NEW
AVENUES TOWARD HEALTH DELIVERY SYSTEMS.
THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH'S REPORT IS AVAILABLE TO ALL THOSE INTERESTED IN THE
SUBJECT OF HEALTH IN KUWAIT.
IT DEALS IN GREAT DETAIL WITH THE HISTORY OF HEALTH SERVICES IN THE
COUNTRY, PACKING EACH HISTORICAL PERIOD MENTIONED ABOVE WITH EXTENSIVE
INFORMATION REGARDING SUCH MATTERS AS BUILDING OF HOSPITALS, MEDICAL CENTERS,
REGIONAL CLINICS, STATISTICS ABOUT THE LABOR FORCE AND THE QUALITY OF SERVICE
PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC, AS WELL AS NEW STRATEGIES FOR HEALTH CARE FOR THE
FUTURE. (END)
AZ.AJS
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