MoH defends barring expats from morning treatment

Health Ministry said that barring foreigners from attending public hospitals in the mornings was aimed at resolving the problem of “overcrowding” at such health facilities, reported Kuwait Times. Since Sunday, the health ministry began implementing the measure at the public hospital in Jahra on an experimental basis for six months. If successful, it will be expanded to other public hospitals as per a decision issued last month by Health Minister Mohammad Al-Haifi.

As per the new measure, foreign residents will be able to receive treatment at the outpatient clinics of public hospitals in the evenings only. The measure “is intended to ease overcrowding at clinics” where the number of patients has been increasing rapidly, the health ministry said in a statement. It cited the health minister as stressing that the ministry will continue to provide “the best health care for citizens and expatriates,” adding that hospitals will provide all other medical services and emergencies to all citizens and residents at all times.