No health fee rise to KD 130 prior to 2020
Affordable family plans eyed
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 21: Chief Executive Officer of the Health Assurance Hospitals Company — Dhaman, Dr Ahmed Al-Saleh denied rumors circulated on social media alleging health insurance fee will be increased to KD 130 from early next year.
Dr Al-Saleh noted it is impossible to increase insurance fee before inaugurating the Dhaman hospitals in 2020. He stressed the company will organize a press conference in a couple of days to correct the wrong information passed to the public, while shedding light on the entire project.
He reiterated the fees remain KD 50 for private sector employees, KD 40 for family residence, and KD 30 for children.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health is looking into the possibility of offering family insurance package to expatriates at competitive prices, reports Al-Anba daily quoting official spokesperson of the ministry Dr Ahmad Al-Shatti.
Al-Shatti disclosed that with a budget of about KD 3 billion, the ministry has many plans such as providing first aid kits and emergency evacuation plan for each clinic.
He affirmed the ministry allowed competitors without local agents to participate in the bidding for renewal of ‘Afiya’ contract; hinting that the winning company might come from Europe, Singapore or Britain and it has the ability to provide services at affordable prices rather than profiteering which is common among local agents.
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KUWAIT CITY: An ongoing conference over pharmaceutical legislation in Kuwait and the Middle East will be instrumental in bringing order to the drug market in the region, Kuwait’s Minister of Health said on Tuesday.
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health’s Deputy Undersecretary Dr Mohammad Al-Khashti made the remarks on behalf of health minister Dr Jamal AlHarbi to open the conference, where representatives of 21 nations are in attendance.
He pointed out that the biannual conference will promulgate the most significant global pharmaceutical legislations, in addition to breakthrough research conducted in that field.
Al-Khashti added that the side effects of certain drugs will be among key issues discussed, as well as measures taken to ensure that patients get access to safe medications through effective drug regulation.
Meanwhile, Dr Hajid bin Mohammed, the deputy director general of the Gulf Health Council, told KUNA that the conference allows pharmacists the chance to share their knowledge with each other.
He also spoke of how pharmaceuticals in the Gulf undergo stringent regulation in a “region where the drug market is worth an annual $5.2 billion.”