Kuwait recently hosted a pivotal training workshop for members of the technical committees from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, focusing on the "Wafed" program designed for expatriate workers' medical examinations. The event was a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Health's Public Health Department and the GCC Health Council, aimed at strengthening regional health cooperation and harmonizing medical examination standards across the Gulf states.

Dr. Fahad Al-Ghamlas, Director of the Public Health Department at the Ministry of Health, announced that the intensive three-day workshop brought together leading doctors and public health experts from all GCC countries. These specialists oversee medical examinations for expatriates arriving from labor-exporting countries, ensuring the health and safety of the workforce across the region.

The workshop's primary objective was to introduce recent amendments and additions to the regulations governing medical checks for expatriates entering GCC countries for work or residence. These updates reflect both regional health priorities and the latest international medical standards, helping to align GCC procedures with global best practices.

A key component of the workshop involved training committee members on applying the accreditation standards guide for medical examination centers. Participants also learned how to use a modern electronic evaluation form to assess the performance and compliance of these centers. Dr. Al-Ghamlas emphasized that these efforts are crucial to enhancing the external medical examination system for expatriates, boosting its efficiency and reliability.

According to Dr. Al-Ghamlas, the training is expected to improve the accuracy and consistency of medical procedures across GCC countries. This will aid in the early detection of communicable and non-communicable diseases among expatriates, ultimately easing the health and economic burdens on regional healthcare systems.

Workshop Highlights

• Hands-on training on technical evaluation methods for medical centers
• Review and update of Gulf health requirements for expatriate medical screening
• Modernization of clinical, laboratory, and radiological examination protocols
• Alignment of procedures with international medical standards

Kuwait's hosting of this workshop for the second time underscores its commitment to unifying health policies and enhancing cooperation among GCC states. This initiative is part of a broader strategic plan to elevate preventive and therapeutic healthcare services within the Gulf region.