The Foundation for the State of Kuwait Prize for the Control of Cancer, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Diabetes in the Eastern Mediterranean Region was established in 2003. The Regional Committee, during its 69th session in October 2022, decided to award Dr. Afshin Ostovar, Professor of Epidemiology at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, for his work in the field of diabetes. This decision was made based on the recommendation of the Foundation Committee.
The prize was presented to a senior health ministry official on behalf of Dr. Ostovar during the 70th session of the Regional Committee in 2023. Dr. Afshin Ostovar is being honored for his significant contribution to the field of diabetes. He obtained his medical degree from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and earned an MPH and PhD from Tehran University of Medical Sciences. He is a Professor of Epidemiology at Tehran University of Medical Sciences and the Director of the Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute, which is a WHO collaborating center (EM/RC70/INF.DOC.15). As the Director-General of the Noncommunicable Diseases Department at the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education from 2017 to 2022, he made significant contributions to the improvement of diabetes prioritization, integration of diabetes services into primary health care, implementation of cost-effective interventions for diabetes prevention and control, and enhancement of diabetes surveillance. He has also contributed to the development of the STEPS and DiaCare nationwide surveys, which aim to collect data and create action plans that are customized to meet the specific needs of each country. He has successfully collaborated in drafting national and international policies, designing a national service framework for diabetes, developing national guidelines for the management of diabetes, and raising public awareness about diabetes and its risk factors. He is also the author of several publications in high-impact, peer-reviewed medical journals. Additionally, he is a key member of the Iranian National Committee of NCDs and the National Diabetes Research Network.
