Healthcare Service Fees Hike In Kuwait

Recently, almost two decades after the issuance of Law No. 1 of 1999 on foreign health insurance and the imposition of fees against medical services, the Ministry of Health decided to increase the health care service fees at public hospitals and clinics throughout Kuwait for expatriate residents and visitors.

The underlying principle behind the price hike for medical care has been allegedly the heavy financial burden borne by the Ministry of Health, as the daily services costs became a general burden on the budget of the State, primarily due to the rise in the prices of medication and medical equipment globally.

The price increase is expected to assist in the increase of non-oil revenues which, will in turn positively affect the public budget and to curb the issue of the rising number or expatriates and visitors who under the previous health regime were taking advantage of the largesse of free or nominal healthcare charges in the country by visiting Kuwait only to receive medical treatments, from routine check-ups to more complex surgeries.

In the spirit of tackling the aforementioned issues, the Ministry of Health issued two ministerial decrees regarding the new health care service fees at public hospitals and clinics; Ministerial Decree 293 of 2017 applying to expatriate residents of Kuwait registered in the State's health insurance system and Ministerial Decree 294 of 2017 applying to expatriate visitors not registered in a State's health insurance system. The implementation of both decrees has already started, effective from 1st October 2017.

The increase in the medical fees was imposed to the following health services, including but not limited to: natural child delivery, open heart surgery, nuclear medicines, radiology tests, laboratory tests and prostheses.

According to the ministerial decrees, the new health fees have been significantly raised from 50% up to 500% in some cases, with the increase being rolled out to expatriates entering the country on tourist visas first, then to expatriate residents.

It is apparent that the new higher charges for medical services will force expatriates to give up their right of receiving medical treatment services at public hospitals and clinics and will instead opt for private ones. The costs for receiving treatment in private hospitals and clinics will be similar to the costs of receiving treatment in public hospital and clinics and as long as the private clinics and hospitals do not raise their...