Healthcare in Kuwait

The healthcare in Kuwait is of high quality. Kuwaiti citizens are eligible to receive free medical treatment at government hospitals. However, if you’re an expat, you must pay an annual fee to access public healthcare. Certain services, like X-rays or specialised tests, aren’t included for free, so you’ll have to cover those costs yourself.

Recently, healthcare for expats in Kuwait has been a sensitive topic. The government has been considering policies to separate healthcare services for locals and expats and divide medical staff between Kuwaiti and foreign workers. This comes after locals experienced longer wait times at public hospitals due to the high number of expats seeking treatment.

Public healthcare in Kuwait

Kuwait is divided into five health regions. Each region has a public hospital providing full outpatient and 24-hour emergency services. In addition, Kuwait has a wide range of specialist public hospitals.

Mental health facilities have also greatly improved, advocating for both community- and home-based support systems, as well as incorporating school programmes focusing on mental well-being in students.

As an expat, you’ll have access to public facilities but should expect long queues and waiting times. To ease congestion at public facilities, the Kuwaiti government has discouraged expats from using the public health system by increasing the annual fees.

In some outpatient facilities, Kuwaiti nationals will be given priority access to medical care at public hospitals in the morning, while expats can only access these facilities in the afternoon, except in emergencies. Whether this policy will be extended to all public health facilities remains to be seen.

Register at your nearest clinic or hospital using your civil ID to access public healthcare in Kuwait to obtain a medical card.

Useful links

• Kuwait Ministry of Health

Private healthcare in Kuwait

Private hospitals in Kuwait offer better services and a shorter waiting time than public ones, and expats are not subject to restrictions at these facilities. Although the government regulates private healthcare fees, they can still be expensive, as patients are charged registration fees in addition to general medical fees.

The restrictions being discussed for public hospitals are unlikely to affect foreigners with comprehensive health coverage and attend private hospitals.

Health insurance in Kuwait

Health insurance is mandatory for expats in Kuwait. While access to the state system is granted through the state insurance scheme – which you must pay into annually as an expat in Kuwait – this scheme does not cover treatment at private facilities. We encourage you to purchase comprehensive health insurance for your stay in the country. Kuwaiti employers may, in some cases, offer a benefits package that includes medical insurance.

Medicines and pharmacies in Kuwait

Pharmacies are widely available in Kuwait, with at least one 24/7 pharmacy available in each major administrative region. Private hospitals and clinics usually also offer pharmacy services. The Ministry of Health strictly regulates the prices of medicines, so you’ll find that the prices of basic medications are fairly standard.

Some basic non-prescription medications, such as cough syrup, are available in supermarkets. That said, many medicines that are freely available in the US or Western Europe may require a prescription in Kuwait.

Health hazards in Kuwait

The extreme weather, in particular the heat and humidity, accompanied by dust from the desert and continuous construction, are health hazards in Kuwait. Expats with respiratory conditions may struggle in this environment, and heatstroke and exhaustion are common among foreign workers.

Vaccinations for Kuwait

With a worldwide rise in measles cases, it’s essential to ensure that you are up-to-date with your measles vaccine. Although the Covid-19 vaccine is no longer necessary to enter Kuwait, it’s advisable to ensure you are protected against the virus.

The recommended vaccinations for Kuwait are for:

• Hepatitis A
• Tetanus
• Hepatitis B
• Rabies

Routine vaccinations for influenza, especially if you’ll be travelling during the flu season, are recommended. Others include those for MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) and DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis).

Emergency services in Kuwait

Ambulances are usually only used in Kuwait in extreme emergencies. Many people use their vehicles or a taxi to get to a hospital, granted they are physically able to.

In the case of an emergency, you can dial 112. Luckily, most emergency dispatch operators can speak English.