KUWAIT CITY:

Minister of Health Dr Ali Al-Obaid revealed that the Cabinet is yet to issue a decision concerning the process of enforcing medical tests on foreigners, who are planning to come to Kuwait on visit visas, prior to allowing them entry.

In response to a question raised by MP Khalil AlAbul, the minister explained that the Cabinet, based on the decision No. 989/2015, has mandated the ministry to review the issue through legal, technical and procedural perspectives, in collaboration with Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the Public Authority for Manpower. The ministry held joint meetings with officials from those authorities and agreed on the need for holding medical tests prior to issuance of visit visas through the automated system that links the concerned authorities.

Dr Al-Obaid affirmed that expatriate workers will be tested in their countries of origin before granting them entry visas.

He said the process will be done through authorized medical centers in 11 countries, which are India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Philippines, Egypt, Nepal, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Sudan and Syria, adding that these centers have been authorized through the GCC Technical Committee in line with the relevant regulation of the Executive Office of the GCC Council of Health Ministers.