- Kuwait strengthens surgical oversight, patient consent under new rules
- New Kuwait rules require specialist approval for elective surgeries
- MOH introduces tougher safeguards for surgeries and medical interventions
The Ministry of Health has introduced new rules governing surgical operations and medical interventions in government and private healthcare facilities, including a ban on trainee and assistant doctors performing procedures independently.
Health Minister Dr Ahmed Al-Awadhi issued Ministerial Resolution No. 220 of 2026, establishing requirements and professional standards for surgical procedures, patient safety, medical supervision and informed consent.
Under the new rules, a doctor holding the rank of registered assistant or trainee in a specific medical specialty may not perform a surgical operation or medical intervention alone.
The regulations also prohibit any operation or medical intervention from being carried out without the informed consent of the patient or the patient’s legal representative.
Specialist approval required
The decision requires surgical procedures to be directly related to the doctor’s specialty, professional license and approved clinical privileges.
Scheduled elective operations must be approved by a doctor at the specialist level or above, while supervision requirements will vary according to the doctor’s professional rank and the type of procedure.
Minor procedures may be performed by junior doctors only where specifically permitted under the approved classification and with the required level of direct supervision.
Departmental councils have been tasked with classifying approved procedures for each medical specialty based on the doctor’s job title, specialty, experience and nature of the procedure.
These classifications and standards are to be reviewed and updated periodically in line with developments in medical practice.
Stronger oversight
The regulations strengthen the supervisory role of the Ministry of Health Undersecretary.
Each medical department must submit its classification of surgical procedures and related requirements to the Undersecretary for approval within three months of publication of the decision.
The Undersecretary, or an authorised official within the administrative hierarchy, may also approve the temporary suspension of a surgical procedure or medical intervention when medically necessary.
Requests involving overlapping responsibilities between different medical specialties must also be reviewed within three months.
Healthcare facilities must hold the appropriate licence for their classification and comply with Ministry of Health standards covering healthcare quality, infection control and anaesthesia safety.
Patient consent and rights
The new rules place greater emphasis on patients’ rights and informed decision-making.
Doctors or designated members of the medical team must obtain the patient’s consent, or that of the legal representative, before performing a surgical operation or medical intervention and record the consent in the patient’s medical file.
Patients must also be informed of the identity of the medical team that will perform the procedure.
Another doctor may not replace the designated surgeon without the consent of the patient or legal representative, unless the alternative doctor has the required professional authority and the situation falls within the provisions of the regulations.
Surgeons barred from simultaneous operations
The decision also introduces tighter controls inside operating rooms.
A surgeon may not perform more than one surgical operation at the same time and may not leave the operating room during a procedure except in cases of extreme necessity and only after ensuring that the patient is fully protected.
Any such circumstance must be documented in the patient’s medical file.
If unexpected difficulties arise during a procedure, the surgeon is required to seek assistance from experienced colleagues before changing the type of operation or stopping the procedure, whenever the patient’s condition allows.
The new framework is intended to standardise surgical practice across Kuwait’s public and private sectors while strengthening professional accountability, supervision and patient safety.
