BALTIMORE – Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHI), the international arm of Johns Hopkins Medicine of Baltimore, Maryland, and the Ministry of Health of Kuwait (MOH) have signed a five-year agreement that calls for JHI to assist Kuwait in improving healthcare delivery in Kuwait.

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.

John Hopkins will work with  four of Kuwait’s five secondary care public hospitals to develop 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, CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine International. “Kuwait has many well‐trained and committed healthcare 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 healthcare 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 healthcare 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 healthcare 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 healthcare policy. Johns Hopkins will also assist Kuwait to inaugurate management certificate and clinical certificate programs for healthcare providers.