Ministry blames private health sector of failure to report detection of cases
‘Acute flaccid paralysis’
KUWAIT CITY, June 28: Ministry of Health has blamed private health sector for failure to report detection of cases of acute flaccid paralysis to the Department of Public Health on time, reports Al-Jarida daily quoting a health source.
According to the report released by the Department of Public Health at the Ministry of Health, the situation coincides with a warning from the World Health Organization against resurface of polio in Syria and newly detected cases of polio in Der Al-Zour, Syria through the same stock of oral vaccine.
It blames private health sector for defying the ministerial decision that ordered prompt report of acute flaccid paralysis detected. It indicated failure to report the cases has negative implication on integrity and position of Kuwait by continuing to declare to the World Health Organization that the country is free from polio.
It recommended the ministry should contact the private health sector to urge them give precise information about cases detected to enable the ministry record it appropriately. This is one of the standard conditions and procedures required to declare the country polio free, it stated.
Meanwhile, Civil Service Commission (CSC) has confirmed that Kuwaiti doctors are not entitled to receive allowances related to danger, infection, pollution and noise as per the Civil Service Council Resolution No. 13/2012, reports Al-Anba daily.
In a letter to Ministry of Health, CSC stated that the reason for the lack of eligibility for Kuwaiti doctors to receive the allowances is that they were appointed on a special employment.
The refusal of CSC came at a meeting held to discuss Ministry of Health’s request to approve the danger, infection, pollution and noise allowances for Kuwaiti doctors similar to their expatriate counterparts and employees of other professions.
In the meantime, Ministry of Health, after securing necessary approvals from monitoring authorities, is on the verge of ordering medicines worth KD 890,000 for respiratory diseases which will then be distributed to various health centers and public hospitals, reports Al-Qabas daily.
According to an informed source, the ministry attaches much importance to medical equipment, machines, materials and medicines. Approvals were secured for import of highly effective pills for treatment of respiratory diseases, especially with the high number of visitors at clinics and hospitals. The ministry intends to accommodate all patients without necessarily going to specialist centers.
The source also explained that approvals have been received for import of some laboratory materials worth KD 95,000 which will be used for detection of corona virus. The materials will soon be available at the virology laboratories affiliated to the Department of Public Health.
He said the doctors assigned to concerned medical facilities have been instructed to notify the authority promptly whenever they suspect cases of corona virus.