Kuwaiti passengers under three categories can avail of free PCR tests conducted through Ministry of health laboratories, which will permit them to travel.
The three categories of Kuwaitis are:
– Students studying abroad
– Patients traveling abroad for treatment
– Special cases that submit an application to the Ministry of the Interior supported with documents stating the reason for travel including cases having medical appointments.
The sources stated that some countries, such as Lebanon, require PCR test certificates that show the patient is free from coronavirus. The commercial flights are scheduled to start from Kuwait International Airport from 1st of August.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Health approved the first private clinic to conduct PCR tests at a cost of KD 40. These tests are a prerequisite for travelers who wish to go abroad.
Dr. Fatima Al-Najjar, Undersecretary National Medical Services stated that the accreditation came after examining the specialized technical committees to ensure that all the technical specifications and requirements could provide reliable service in compliance with the outlined standards. She stated that the evaluation for accreditation was on a basis of qualifications, experience, number of workers in the laboratory and their technical competence, the availability of equipment, devices and factors related to the examination stages, working methods and methods of collecting, transferring, storing, processing, examining, issuing test results, and checking the quality and safety of services for maintaining the high standards essential for accreditation.