Passenger movement at Kuwait airport increases by 26 percent
Sod cut for building hospital for expats
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 16, (Agencies): Passenger movement via Kuwait International Airport increased 26 percent in October, with the total number amounting to 1.840 million compared to 840,000 same month in 2015, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said.
It said in a statement on Thursday that incoming passengers reached some 559,9 thousand, in October, in contrast to 475,8 thousand same month in the past year.
It quoted monitor of air aviation, Abdullah Al-Rajhi, as saying departing passengers amounted t 499,4 thousand, in October, against 382,3 thousand the same month in 2016.
Total number of aircraft operated at the air facility reached 9,355 compared to 8,550.
Meanwhile, the annual health insurance fees for expats will be KD 130 from the current KD 50 when the new hospitals and clinics that are being built will exclusively serve foreigners, reports Annahar daily
Ceremony
In this regard an elaborate ceremony was held yesterday in Ahmadi for the construction of a new hospital. The ceremony was attended by the Health Minister Dr Jamal Al-Harbi and officials of the Insurance Hospitals Company (Dhaman).
Al-Harbi said the health insurance hospital ‘Dhaman’ is one of the main components of the healthcare system for expatriates, and a leading development model for public-private partnership within the government’s work program and development plan.
Dhaman CEO Dr Ahmed AlSaleh said according to ministry decisions, health insurance for expats will cost KD 130 ($425) annually, which will cover primary and secondary healthcare.
He noted the increase in the insurance fees from KD 50 to KD 130 came after thorough comparative studies of the medical systems in other GCC states.
Al-Harbi added over two million expats working for the private sector and their families will benefit from the Dhaman health services in various governorates. He added, two additional hospitals will be built in Farwaniya and Jahra, in addition to 12 medical centers, which in turn will reduce crowding at public hospitals and polyclinics.
Al-Harbi added the four-storey 300-bed capacity Ahmadi hospital will open in 2020 — built on a total area of 36,793 sq meters. It will consist of various departments including surgery and intensive care. It will also have more than 70 outpatient clinics of different medical specialties.