In 2010, an advanced safety blood collection set featuring a push button safety mechanism with in vein activation which instantly protects against needle stick injury was introduced in the United States. This innovative medical device significantly reduced the risk of needle-stick injuries and cross-contamination. It had taken 10 years to implement in the United States after mandating the use of safety engineering blood collection sets across the nation with Clinton Act. Due to the products high cost and time to market implementation, BD exclusively kept it in the US market thinking it would take too long to implement internationally.

By 2014, it became evident that needle-stick injuries and infection rates in the Middle East were alarmingly high, reaching nearly 10% in some hospitals / countries due to the use of conventional blood collection methods. Recognizing this public health risk, Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab saw an opportunity to bring this groundbreaking safety solution to Kuwait and the Middle East despite the challenges associated with cost and on ground implementation.

The risk of needle-stick injuries were well-documented, with high infection rates in Kuwaiti hospitals due to the use of conventional blood collection methods. Observing the effectiveness of BD’s safety-engineered device in the U.S., Dr. Ahmad and his visionary team saw the potential for transformation in Kuwait’s healthcare sector. The challenge, however, was formidable:

The product was not approved for export outside the U.S.

• The cost was 10 times higher than conventional blood collection sets.

• With a price of $1.20 per unit compared to $0.20 per unit for traditional sets.

• No other countries's existing regulations mandated its adoption .

• It was unbelievable for BD's C-Level to see a future where it could be implemented in Dr.Ahmad's proposed short time

Despite these hurdles, the team recognized that the long-term benefits outweighed the initial costs. Reducing infections would improve patient outcomes, decrease reliance on antibiotics, and enhance overall healthcare quality.

Strategic Implementation: A Bold Transition

(2014 - 2016)

Unlike the U.S., where a legal mandate enforced the use of safety blood collection sets, Kuwait took a voluntary approach. The team devised a comprehensive strategy centered on:

Education and Training

• A structured awareness campaign was launched to train healthcare professionals.

• We trained 22,000 nurses on "Back to Basic" Program for proper blood collection and sample quality.

• We also trained 800 senior nurses and phlebotomists through a "Train-the-Trainer" program to ensure sustainable knowledge transfer.

• The program collaborated with the Ministry of Health and academic societies to reinforce best practices.

Stakeholder Convincing and Regulatory Breakthrough

• The Minister of Health was convinced of the necessity of transitioning to the safety-engineered device.

• BD, which had initially manufactured this product exclusively for the U.S., was convinced to build a dedicated manufacturing line for Kuwait—a major breakthrough.

Rapid Execution and Market Transformation

• While the U.S. took 10 years to implement this change, Kuwait completed the transition in just 1.5 years.

• Hospitals reported a drastic drop in infection rates from 10% to 1%, with two hospitals achieving almost zero percent infections within one year.

• The success of this project opened the door for other players in the industry to introduce additional safety products.

The decision to implement premium safety devices, despite significant cost implications, demonstrated Kuwait's commitment to healthcare worker safety above financial considerations.

Expansion Beyond Kuwait: Leading the Middle East

(2016 - Present)

The astonishing success of and his Kuwait’s implementation had a ripple effect across the Middle East and Europe. Through administrative support, knowledge sharing, and training, the formula was successfully implemented in:

As part of this expansion:

• The Dr.Ahmad Abdulwahab was invited to present the success story at BD’s International Distributor Conferences and 4 other conferences.

• Dr. Abdulwahab and his team at BD trained distributors from other countries in the Middle East and Europe, demonstrating how Kuwait’s model could be adapted and executed across different healthcare systems.

• Award: Best and largest distributor performance award was given to Dr. Ahmad and his Kuwait team due to the BD Vacutainer®️ Pushbutton success.

Industry Impact and Legacy

By 2018, Kuwait’s pioneering efforts had influenced the entire region, setting a new standard for blood collection safety. Even Europe took an additional two to three years to catch up with Kuwait’s proactive approach. Today, the safety blood collection system remains fully implemented across Kuwait and continues to protect healthcare professionals and patients alike.

Conclusion

This case study is a testament to vision, leadership, and execution speed in transforming healthcare safety. From overcoming regulatory and financial obstacles to establishing a new benchmark in blood collection safety, the impact of this initiative continues to be felt today. The team's ability to secure industry collaboration, and rapidly scale implementation showcases the power of strategic foresight and persistence in driving meaningful change.

What began as an ambitious project in Kuwait has now influenced healthcare standards across the region, proving that when a dedicated team believes in an innovation, commits to its execution, and educates stakeholders on its value, extraordinary transformations can occur. The pushbutton blood collection set is now a permanent fixture in Middle Eastern healthcare, reducing infections, protecting healthcare workers, and setting a global precedent.

The success of this initiative demonstrates that with proper planning, commitment, and execution, significant healthcare innovations can be implemented effectively, even without regulatory mandates.