Kuwait, WHO launch research partnership to combat drug resistance
KUWAIT: Kuwait is taking steps to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a growing global health threat, through a strategic research partnership between the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), the Ministry of Health, and the World Health Organization (WHO). A preparatory meeting was held on Tuesday to set the stage for a series of collaborative scientific and technical initiatives aimed at enhancing public health research and policy coordination under the 'One Health' approach, which considers human, animal, and environmental health as interlinked.
The meeting brought together key stakeholders from across Kuwait's scientific and health institutions, marking the first step in implementing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed earlier this year between KISR and WHO. The MoU, finalized in January 2025, focuses on strengthening national research capacity to tackle complex public health issues, particularly communicable diseases (such as diabetes and obesity), environmental pollution, pandemic preparedness, and AMR.
Dr Faisal Al-Humaidan, Acting Director General of KISR, highlighted the urgency of addressing AMR and praised the collaborative framework being established through this partnership. 'The spread of antimicrobial resistance poses a serious risk to the quality of life, the effectiveness of healthcare services, and the financial sustainability of national resources,' he told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). 'This cooperation will contribute to translating research findings into scientifically based policies that can improve the health situation in the country.'
Dr Al-Humaidan also acknowledged the Ministry of Health's strong engagement in the initiative, particularly the contributions of Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Affairs, Dr Al-Munther Al-Hasawi, and the Antimicrobial Resistance Unit at the Kuwait Center for Disease Prevention and Control. Their involvement, he said, underscores the national commitment to proactively address AMR as a priority health issue.
Also speaking at the meeting, Dr Abdullah Al-Enezi, Acting Executive Director of the Environment and Life Sciences Research Center at KISR, described AMR as one of the most pressing health challenges facing Kuwait and the region. 'The ability to confront AMR depends on building a strong scientific knowledge base and using it to develop and implement sound public health strategies,' he said. Dr. Al-Enezi also noted the important role played by national institutions such as the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, which has provided continued support for research in this field.
Representing the WHO, Dr Assad Hafeez emphasized the significance of integrating local and international efforts to tackle AMR through the One Health approach. 'This successful cooperation between national and international institutions is a practical step toward building a comprehensive national system to confront antimicrobial resistance,' he said in a press release. 'WHO is fully committed to supporting Kuwait in turning this vision into reality by translating scientific findings into concrete, effective policies and practices.'
The meeting included representatives from several prominent Kuwaiti entities involved in health, research, and environmental management, including Kuwait University's Faculty of Medicine, the Environment Public Authority, the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition, and the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources. Participants discussed initial frameworks for cooperation, identified priority research areas, and explored pathways for translating scientific outputs into actionable health policies. The initiative aligns with global efforts to curb the spread of resistant pathogens, which are increasingly undermining the effectiveness of antibiotics and other antimicrobial treatments. According to health experts, failure to act now could result in a future where common infections become harder — and in some cases impossible — to treat, leading to longer illnesses, more hospitalizations, and higher mortality rates. — Agencies
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