Kuwait forms committee to settle disputes over foreigners’ health insurance fees
The Government Gazette has published a ministerial decision establishing a specialized committee to adjudicate disputes arising from the application of Law No. 1 of 1999 on health insurance for foreigners, as well as disputes related to the fees imposed for health services.
The committee will also handle matters linked to Ministerial Decision No. 306 of 2025, which issued the executive regulations for the law and its amendments.
Under the decision, the Al-Qabas daily, quoting reliable sources said, the committee will be chaired by a member of the Fatwa and Legislation Department, with the Assistant Undersecretary for Technical Affairs serving as vice-chairman.
Its members will include the Director of the Insurance and Health Guarantee Department, the Director of the Legal Affairs Department, the Director of the Financial Accounting Department, a representative of the Insurance Regulation Unit, and a physician representing the Kuwait Medical Association.
The committee is mandated to resolve disputes related to the implementation of the law and its executive regulations. Its meetings will be held at the headquarters of the Health Insurance and Guarantee Administration, upon invitation by the chairman or his deputy.
A quorum will be achieved with the presence of three members, provided that the chairman or vice-chairman is among them.
The decision further stipulates that the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health will assign a sufficient number of employees from the Health Insurance and Guarantee Department to receive and process complaints, based on nominations by the department’s director. These employees will register each complaint under a serial number, refer it to the committee, and issue proof of registration to the complainant.
The designated staff will also coordinate with the committee to schedule the first hearing session and notify all concerned parties within two weeks of the complaint’s registration date. Complaints may be submitted electronically.
If a complaint is filed against the Ministry of Health, the Health Insurance and Guarantee Department will formally notify the Ministry’s Legal Affairs Department, whose director will appoint a legal representative to appear before the committee on behalf of the ministry.
The decision aims to institutionalize dispute resolution procedures, enhance transparency, and ensure the consistent application of health insurance regulations affecting foreign residents.
