Johns Hopkins Medicine signs collaboration agreement with Kuwait

(Dubai Health & News) -- Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHI), the international arm of Johns Hopkins Medicine of Baltimore, Maryland, USA, and the Ministry of Health of Kuwait (MOH) have signed a five-year agreement that calls for JHI to assist Kuwait in improving health care delivery at four of Kuwait’s five secondary care public hospitals and developing in‐country talent in hospital administration and clinical care. The agreement was signed on December 25, 2011, by His Excellency Mustafa Gasim Al Shamali, Kuwait’s Minister of Finance and Minister of Health, and Steve Thompson CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine International.

“We are honored to enter this agreement,” says Steve Thompson, chief executive officer of Johns Hopkins Medicine International. “Kuwait has many well‐trained and committed health care professionals working within well-funded hospitals with advanced facilities and equipment. We are privileged to be charged with the important task of helping to further strengthen Kuwait’s health care system. It is truly a transformational project because, through these four facilities, JHI has the ability to impact the vast majority of the country’s population, working with our Kuwaiti colleagues to improve the delivery of clinical care throughout Kuwait.”

Johns Hopkins experts in clinical care, hospital management and hospital administration will collaborate with health care professionals at the Ministry of Health of Kuwait and four local hospitals–Amiri , Farwaniya, Jahra and Adan. These hospitals account for more than 40 percent of the public-sector beds in the country. The goal of the collaboration is to assist the government of Kuwait in raising the standard of health care delivery, and to increase the number and expertise of local doctors, hospital managers and administrators and nurses.

“This agreement with the government of Kuwait, with significant component of knowledge transfer, greatly expands the global presence of Johns Hopkins and augments our network of international health care operations,” says Mohan Chellappa, M.D., president of global ventures for Johns Hopkins Medicine International. “We look forward to joining forces with our Kuwaiti colleagues to enhance health care in this vitally important region of the world.”

According to the terms of the agreement, JHI will transfer knowledge in clinical and ancillary departmental protocols, continuing medical education, patient safety, preventive medicine, nursing, and health care policy. Johns Hopkins will also assist Kuwait to inaugurate management certificate and clinical certificate programs for health care providers.

Beginning in early 2012, JHI experts will work closely with Kuwaiti clinicians, nurses, hospital managers and administrators to better address medical issues and share innovations in the fields of trauma, orthopedics, rehabilitation, diabetes and obstetrics, pediatrics, and telemedicine.

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