Kuwait has an underdeveloped medical tourism sector which was reflected in its position on the Global Medical Tourism Index issued by the International Center for Health Care Research for 2020/2021, where the country placed last in the Arab world and second-last globally, Al-Anba daily reported.
The index ranked 46 countries and cities around the world, including 12 Arab countries and cities.
The medical tourism destinations were graded based on three criteria: 1. Standard of quality and services of healthcare facilities – Kuwait ranked 43 in this criterion. 2. Environmental destination standard – Kuwait ranked 43 in this criterion. 3. Medical tourism industry standards – Kuwait ranked 45. After tallying the numbers, in total, Kuwait was given 54.84 points.
The report stated, “Kuwait is a tourist destination in the Arabian Gulf region and has a cultural heritage dating back to ancient times. It has the sixth largest oil reserves in the world. The Kuwaiti dinar is considered as the most valuable currency in the world. Kuwait thus has the fourth highest per capita income at the global level. The Kuwaiti government funds about 80 percent of the healthcare system. Its infrastructure is one of the most modern in the region, as it provides medical services through 92 primary care centers that cover all parts of the country. It has a strong care program that provides free healthcare facilities for citizens. This destination enjoys a strong social welfare program that provides free healthcare and education services as well as job security to its citizens. This costs the government about $18 billion annually”.
Among the Gulf countries, Dubai maintained its top-tier position as the leading Arab destination for medical tourism for the second year in a row, and ranked sixth in the world with a total of 71.85 points. Abu Dhabi is in second place in the Arab world and ninth in the world with a total of 70.26 points. Between various Arab countries, Egypt was in the top spots coming in fourth place and 26th in the world with a total of 64.81 points. Morocco and Jordan also scored well, earning them 31st and 36th respectively.
Expectations indicate that the volume of medical tourism spending from the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council to various countries of the world amounted to 20 billion dollars. The Gulf countries began working to build hospitals locally and develop the medical sector, not only to limit the treatment of their citizens abroad, but to encourage foreigners to come to their countries to receive treatment which would be reinvested into countries’ economy.
The growth of the healthcare services sector in the region has witnessed a compound annual rate of 18.8 percent since 2004, and the boom in the medical tourism sector in the Arab countries guarantees a sustainable future for the medical-cosmetic market, thanks to the increasing numbers of visitors looking for cosmetic treatments.