Ministry of Health updates primary care fees policy

• The Ministry of Health stated that fees are exempted for illegal residents with a valid card, sons and daughters of Kuwaiti women married to non-Kuwaitis, and non-Kuwaiti husbands of Kuwaiti women.

• While non-Kuwaitis in the health insurance system will be charged two dinars as service fees and five dinars as treatment fees, non-Kuwaiti visitors not in the health insurance system will be charged ten dinars.

Confirming exclusive information from Al-Anbaa newspaper, the Ministry of Health has updated its ‘fees and exemptions’ policy for visitors to primary care centers. This update follows a comprehensive review of all policies pertaining to health service fees and exemptions.

The exemption updates state that the following groups are exempted from fees: illegal residents with a valid card, sons and daughters of a Kuwaiti woman married to a non-Kuwaiti, non-Kuwaiti husbands of Kuwaiti women, Cooperation Council citizens with a civil card or passport, scholarship students, residents of social care homes, children under 18, and individuals diagnosed with cancer in Kuwait.

Additionally, non-Kuwaiti children under 12 with severe disabilities, prison inmates, domestic worker shelters, official delegation members, and transit passengers are exempt.

The update indicates that fees will be applied to illegal residents without a valid card registered in the health insurance system, with a fee of ten dinars.
Non-Kuwaitis in the health insurance system, including diplomats, will be charged two dinars as service fees and five dinars as treatment fees. Non-Kuwaiti visitors not in the health insurance system will be charged ten dinars.

Domestic workers will also be charged one dinar, covering all services and treatments. Ministry workers, their spouses, and children will be charged two dinars for service fees and five dinars for treatment fees, with exemptions only for radiology and nuclear medicine fees.

On the other hand, as part of ongoing efforts to develop the administrative structure within the health institution and modernize it in accordance with international best practices, Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadhi, the Minister of Health, has issued a decision to transfer the technical affiliation of the departments, units, and divisions of public relations and media in all health regions and central departments directly to the director of the department.

This decision follows a study of business needs and a comprehensive review of the organizational structure, aiming to improve operational efficiency and enhance the quality of services provided in the health institution.