Kuwait: Medical body calls for review of health insurance law
Source: Middle East Insurance Review | Mar 2015
The Kuwait Medical Association has called for a review of a new law providing for health insurance for retirees to ensure that the standards of medical services in the country are maintained and that public funds will not be wasted.
The Secretary General of Kuwait Medical Association, Dr Mohamed Qinai, in a press statement, also called for reference to be made of the systems in neighbouring countries which have implemented mandatory health insurance.
The group has submitted proposals to the Ministry of Health to outline the scope of work of family physicians, and to consider medical liability insurance.
Last June, the National Assembly approved a health insurance scheme for retirees, considered as the first step towards universal health insurance for all segments of the Kuwaiti society. Health Minister Ali Al-Obeid had promised to implement the proposal on an experimental basis for retirees first.
The law gives Kuwaiti retirees registered with the Public Institution for Social Security the opportunity to get health services at all public and, for the first time, private health care providers. The new law covers areas such as surgery, x-rays, dentistry, lab tests, hospital stays, emergency room care, and prescribed medications, among others. All expenses will be borne by the Ministry of Health.