The Health Assurance Hospitals Company (Dhaman) opened its first primary healthcare center in Hawally in Cairo Complex on Ibn Khaldoun Street. The center, spread over an area of 3,079 sq m, has 20 clinics covering family medicine, pediatrics, preventive services, health education, consultation, acute and chronic diseases, dental services, digital x-ray, ultrasound, laboratory and pharmaceutical services.

Dhaman was set up by a public private partnership (PPP) established through a ministerial decree as part of Kuwait’s development plan.

The hospital is part of a government push to segregate healthcare, limiting access for expatriates to the public system. Already, some clinics offer Kuwaiti-only timings, and priority for certain clinics and medicines are unavailable to residents, who are also paying higher fees for visits.

"At government health centers, you have to pay KD 2 or KD 5 - we are only seeing an increase of 500 fils or maybe a dinar, but the good thing is that laboratory, radiology, pharmacy and other basic tests will be free", Tina Baramakian, Dhaman Corporate Director said.