Panel to handle doctors affairs planned: minister

Pledge to pursue allowances issue

By Marwa Al-Bahrawi

Al-Seyassah Staff

KUWAIT CITY, June 7: Minister of Health Dr Jamal Al-Harbi disclosed the directive to issue a decision next week for the formation of a committee to handle doctors’ affairs.

The committee will be led by the minister or the undersecretary. It will include members of the Kuwait Medical Association and will aim to solve the technical, administrative and financial problems faced by doctors.

The committee is expected to convene every four to six weeks with the aim of finding quick solutions to doctors’ problems.

In an open discussion with the board of directors of Kuwait Medical Association on the sidelines of a “Ramadan Ghabqa” dinner organized by the association, Dr Al-Harbi affirmed that he will follow up with the director of Civil Service Commission (CSC) on the issue of the allowances requested by the doctors which CSC had been informed about.

Aspects

When asked why the project of Jaber Hospital had taken so long and whether the same will apply to other hospitals, Dr Al-Harbi affirmed that the contracts of the new hospitals include furnishing and maintenance aspects contrary to the Jaber Hospital contract.

He insisted that the pressure on government hospitals will ease when the three health-insurance hospitals start operations, adding that these hospitals will provide health services to about 1,850,000 expatriate workers of the private sector.

Dr Al-Harbi revealed that a South Korean delegation will come to Kuwait on June 10 for a two-day visit to shed light on the application of the electronic file.

He said, “This is a chance to listen to the doctors and their observations and also to acquaint them with some changes made to certain laws such as the law for medical practice, Takaful Insurance for doctors and the protection of doctors”.

On his part, Chairman of Kuwait Medical Association Dr Mohammad Al-Mutairi affirmed that the association will not take rest until the demands of the doctors are met.

He indicated that a panel will be formed by the minister based on the request of the association for ensuring these demands are met, highlighting the association’s coordination with the Parliament’s Health Committee for ensuring all the laws that serve the interests of doctors are passed.