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| Health | |
Introduction An introduction to healthcare in Kuwait Members of the ruling families and wealthy Arabs invariably have all major operations outside their own territory, particularly in London and American cities. Although some of Kuwait’s doctors and medical staff are local, the vast majority are foreign and were trained in their home countries. The attraction of Kuwait for them is the same as for most other expatriates: financial reward. American Mission Hospitals, which used to operate on a part-private (for those who could afford treatment), part-free (for those who couldn’t) basis, played an important part in the development of medical services and can still be found today, although they no longer offer free treatment. Kuwait now has a public health service providing free or very low cost health care for its nationals and it’s important to note that these services are also available to expatriates. For some time, however Kuwait has been encouraging businesses to provide medical insurance for their employees, to lighten the burden on the national purse. Tourists visiting Kuwait should have travel insurance that includes cover for private medical treatment, but they also have access to state medical facilities in the case of emergencies. Among expatriates, common health problems include alcoholism (particularly among bachelors, owing to loneliness and depression) and respiratory problems caused by sand and dust in the air – a situation exacerbated by continuous building work in most states. Hard work and long hours in often extreme heat can also affect the immune system and compromise the body’s ability to counter illness. Expatriates – particularly manual workers – can suffer sunstroke and sunburn. You should be excused work outdoors if the temperature reaches 50oC (122oF), which isn’t uncommon at the height of summer, although it’s unusual for work to be stopped under these conditions. In the summer, humidity causes added discomfort, with eye infections common. Dehydration is also a threat and is a potentially fatal condition that shouldn’t be underestimated – not only by those working outdoors but also by anyone playing outdoor sports, including ‘leisurely’ pursuits such as golf. The ‘winter’ months of October to March, however, bring some of the best weather anywhere in the world, with continuous warm sunshine generating a feeling of well-being and providing the opportunity for a wholesome, outdoor lifestyle. Good weather is also beneficial to mental health, and people in Kuwait tend to be happier and livelier than those who have to cope with cold, wet, depressing climates. Hospitals & Clinics Where to get treatment in Kuwait
All cities and major towns have at least one modern hospital and usually several others with highly trained staff and state-of-the-art equipment. There are several different types of hospital, including public and private hospitals and military establishments. Some hospitals in the private sector are luxuriously appointed and could easily pass as five-star hotel accommodation. Their prices are at a similar level. Most of Kuwait’s private hospitals have an out-patients’ department and an accident and emergency unit, although casualties are likely to be directed towards public hospitals by the emergency services, e.g. in the case of road accidents. The term ‘clinic’ is used to denote a general practitioner’s surgery. There’s little overcrowding in hospitals and clinics in Kuwait, where hospitals and major clinics are open 24 hours a day and usually operate on a first come, first served basis. Arabic and English are widely spoken, English being frequently used in private hospitals, where many staff and most patients are foreign. Accommodation in private hospitals is generally in single rooms rather than wards, and parents can stay with their children. Facilities usually include such ‘luxuries’ as a television and radio in every room, a cafeteria, a mosque or prayer room and a library. Costs for accommodation vary considerably, according to whether a hospital is super-luxurious (i.e. with a large mosque and library) or more modest (i.e. with small ones). Treatment costs usually vary according to the standard of accommodation. Public hospitals include the Al-Adan Hospital (Tel. 965-394 0600), Amiri Hospital (Tel. 965-245 0005), Farwaniya Hospital (Tel. 965-488 8000), Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital (Tel. 965-531 1437) and the Sabah Hospital (Tel. 965-481 200). Private hospitals include the Al-Salem Hospital (Tel. 965-253 3177), Hadi Private Clinic (Tel. 965-531 2555), International Clinic (Tel. 965-574 5111), Kuwait Clinic (Tel. 965-573 5111) and the Mowasat Private Clinic (Tel. 965-571 1533 Doctors & Dentists Appointments, visits & fees
Alternative medicine practitioners aren’t as common as they are in Europe and the USA, and you should check that they’ve been given state registration before using them. On the other hand, there are excellent antenatal and obstetrics services throughout the region, in both the public and private sectors; if you don’t have private cover, the public services have a first class reputation. Doctors are allowed to advertise and commonly do in the yellow pages. but it’s best to choose a doctor according to word-of-mouth recommendation. If you have private health cover, you can change your doctor as you feel necessary, make appointments easily and in some instances simply walk in and see a doctor. Doctor’s appointments in the public sector are normally given within 24 to 72 hours of the request. If making use of public health facilities, however, you’re recommended to attend in person to ensure that you obtain help quickly, rather than relying on the telephone appointment system. Surgery hours vary but there are always two periods, usually between 9am and 1pm, and from 5 to 8.30pm. A same-day appointment can usually be arranged, and in an emergency you will be seen very quickly. A routine first diagnostic visit to a private doctor costs from $60 (£40), with additional costs for any tests required. Many private doctors are able to process simple blood and urine tests on their premises and usually have electro-cardiogram equipment. A call-out fee for a home visit increases costs and in some cases a night-time visit incurs a surcharge. If you’re referred to a specialist, costs can run to hundreds of dollars. When you pay, you receive a receipt to claim from your insurers. Dentists As is the case with doctors, there are excellent dentists in Kuwait, the vast majority of them foreign, particularly from Scandinavia, Britain and Russia. Most embassies keep details of their nationals who practise dentistry in the region. Dentists and orthodontists advertise in telephone directories, expatriate magazines and tourist guides. Most dentists in the region are private, although local nationals are sometimes treated at public hospitals. As with doctors and hospitals, ask for recommendations from friends and colleagues before choosing a dentist. Surgery hours are generally 9am to 1pm and 4 to 8pm, Saturdays to Thursdays, with some emergency provision. Treatment costs vary but not by much because of the competition that exists. Many dentists have their own work rooms and technicians producing crowns, |
bridges and prosthetics, and this speeds up treatment. If you need extensive treatment, discuss a payment plan with your dentist to spread the cost over a period. If you’re insured, the insurers will require the dentist to fill out the appropriate paperwork; check that he does so properly. Medicines How to get medication in Kuwait
Medicines are dispensed from pharmacies, which are denoted by a green cross. Note, however, that Health Ministry in Kuwait has banned the use of tranquillisers, anti-depressants and in some instances sleeping pills, except for extreme cases associated with certain types of mental illness. (Ministers have seen the problems caused by their overuse in the west.) If you’re dependent on any of these medicines and carry them with you, you must ensure that you’re also carrying the doctor’s prescription and preferably a letter from your doctor confirming that you need them. You’re most unlikely to be able to obtain new supplies when in Kuwait, so have enough for your requirements, but not so many that you could be suspected of carrying drugs for sale. If you take a medicine on a regular basis, make sure that you know the content name and formula, not just the brand name, as many brand names vary from country to country and between manufacturers. You might have to renew your prescription from a local doctor, as many pharmacists aren’t authorised to accept foreign prescriptions. Most pharmacies are open from 9.30am to 1pm and from 4.30 to 8.30pm or later, Saturdays to Thursdays. A notice in the local press indicates the duty pharmacy open outside these times. Many hospitals have a 24-hour pharmacy, where you can obtain prescription and non-prescription medicines. It’s important to obtain a receipt if you want to claim from your insurance. Medicines are quite expensive and there have been cases of over-prescribing in the private health sector, perhaps because of a link between the prescriber and the pharmacy.
What to do in case of an emergency
If you’re a western expatriate, don’t expect Kuwait’s emergency services and ambulances to be as efficient or widespread as in your home country. On arrival in Kuwait, you should immediately take note of the emergency telephone numbers, the location of the major hospitals and their facilities, and the quickest route to the nearest hospital with an accident and emergency department. Your work colleagues can advise you about the best places to go. Keep the telephone number of a taxi service by the telephone in case your own transport is unavailable. Your private doctor will usually make house calls if requested in non-emergency cases. In the case of a medical emergency, observe the following procedure:
Health Insurance Private health and dental insurance in Kuwait There’s a large number of international companies specialising in private health insurance in Kuwait and elsewhere. As with all insurance, when taking out a health insurance policy do some homework and check the small print, particularly regarding what is and isn’t covered. All policies include limitations and restrictions; for example, There might be an upper age limit on acceptance for a scheme and, if you’re offered a private health policy that terminates at retirement, it would be wise to avoid it; if you’re forced to obtain a new policy at the age limit, it will be very difficult to find one at a reasonable premium – perhaps at all. Note that some companies terminate your policy at the end of the stipulated period if they believe that the costs they’ve incurred have become too high. If you’re purchasing an international policy, note also that some policies exclude cover in the USA, owing to high medical charges there. You can often pay to have different areas or types of cover added, but it might be expensive to do so.
Bear in mind that insurance companies can be very particular about their claim forms and are strict about them being filled out fully by the relevant doctor or dentist. Many medical professionals understandably find this tedious, but you must insist that it’s done to order. Dental Insurance Full dental insurance can be very expensive and if, you want extensive cover, you must purchase a ‘gold standard’ health plan. Emergency fillings and extractions are normally included in standard health plans, but when it comes to more specialised treatment involving crowns, bridges and other prosthetics, the costs escalate substantially. Even ‘gold standard’ policies have exclusions, sometimes with regard to the content of fillings, the number of visits to a dentist and the volume of work carried out in any year. Policyholders also need to check that cover includes x-rays and simple cleaning. Cosmetic procedures and children’s orthodontics aren’t included in most plans (if they are, the premiums are usually high). |
The quality of health care in Kuwait is generally high and equal to that in western Europe and the USA, except for highly specialised treatment. 
Kuwait is served by excellent doctors, and there’s a high ratio of doctors to patients. 
