Nod to compulsory health insurance, fees for expats

Panel OKs KD 50 fuel allowance for Kuwaitis • Assembly to debate early retirement bill

KUWAIT: The National Assembly’s legal and legislative committee yesterday approved a draft law stipulating a mandatory health insurance scheme for expatriates living and working in the country. The committee also approved a proposal to impose charges on medical services for expatriates opting to seek treatment at public hospitals. At present, expatriates are required to pay KD 50 annually on renewal of their residence permits and also pay partial fees for most health services at public hospitals. The opinion of the government, which is crucial for the passage of the bill, was not explained.

The new bill comes even as the government and the Assembly had approved a law to establish hospitals for the treatment of expatriates only. The Assembly is expected to debate today a draft law calling to impose obligatory health insurance on foreigners who visit the country. The bill stipulates that before issuing a visit visa to a foreigner, the sponsor must attach a health insurance policy to the application. The committee also approved a draft law granting Kuwaiti employees and pensioners a KD 50 monthly allowance for fuel. The move comes a couple of years after the government raised the prices of fuel for both expatriates and Kuwaitis.

The Assembly is also expected to debate today the controversial early retirement law amid strong rejection by several lawmakers. The bill was approved by the Assembly’s financial and economic affairs committee after consultations with the government and accepting some of the government’s terms. MPs opposed to the new format say that the bill has been totally manipulated to be in line with government demands. The law, which allows Kuwaiti male and female civil servants to retire early, was passed by the Assembly in the last term but was rejected by the government. MPs want Kuwaiti employees to retire five years ahead of the legal retirement age but still enjoy full benefits.

Meanwhile, prominent opposition lawmaker Shuaib Al-Muwaizri yesterday ignored for the second time an invitation by the legal committee to discuss the constitutionality of a grilling he had submitted against the prime minister. The government claimed that the grilling violated the constitution and argued that it must be reviewed by the legal committee to see if it complies with the constitution to be debated. Opposition MPs strongly rejected the move, which was approved by pro-government lawmakers and all present Cabinet ministers.

The legal committee last week invited Muwaizri to hear his opinion on the issue but he abstained. The committee then invited Muwaizri again for yesterday’s meeting, but he again ignored the invitation. The lawmaker did not make any comment on the issue, but it is clear that he is annoyed by the Assembly’s decision to refer the grilling to the legal committee. Rapporteur of the panel MP Khalil Abul said the committee will not invite Muwaizri again but its report to the Assembly will not be ready for debate today, but for the Dec 25 session.