Minister of Health Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadhi has issued a new ministerial decision stipulating that expatriates applying for residency or arriving in Kuwait for the first time will be declared “medically unfit” and banned from entry if two unspecified (indeterminate) HIV antibody test results are recorded.
The Ministry of Health announced that under this decision, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing will not be accepted as an alternative for determining HIV status in such cases. Instead, the ministry emphasized strict adherence to standardized diagnostic protocols to safeguard public health and ensure accurate, reliable medical outcomes, reports Al-Rai daily.
The Ministry clarified that in cases where indeterminate antibody test results are observed, expatriate residents will be required to undergo two additional antibody tests and two PCR tests (covering both types of HIV) to reach a conclusive medical evaluation. All procedures will be conducted in accordance with the officially approved fee structure.
This decision is part of a broader series of regulatory measures introduced to enhance the screening of expatriate workers. It complements a recent policy addressing ambiguous cases of hepatitis C among incoming residents.
The Ministry affirmed that these regulations reflect Kuwait’s unwavering commitment to protecting public health, stressing that a safe and healthy society requires the highest standards of medical precision, consistency, and vigilance in all health screenings.
