KUWAIT CITY, Nov 7:  The Ministry of Health (MoH) will soon implement the basic health insurance system for expatriates through the allocation of three proposed hospital sites for expatriates, reports Al-Seyassah quoting Minister Ali Al-Barrak. Al-Barrak explained the Amghara site will serve expatriates residing near Jahra while the one in Dajeej will serve residents in Farwaniya and middle areas and the third site in Sabahiya will cater to Ahmadi and Mubarak Al-Kabeer residents.  He said this step is necessary to reduce pressure on other hospitals, revealing the ministry has has also coordinated with the Public Authority for Social Security (PASS) to implement the social insurance system for Kuwaitis.

 “We will implement this decision gradually starting with retirees,” he promised. In a different development it was said that, “”Disabled persons should undergo the necessary medical tests and satisfy all health conditions to avoid passing on disabilities to their offspring,” reports Al-Seyassah quoting Assistant Undersecretary for Social Welfare at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor Dr Jassem Ashkanani. Ashkanani made the statement recently in a press briefing in reaction to the call of a society to ease marriage procedures for the handicapped.  He explained that marriage between people with special needs is a sensitive issue, pointing out the handicapped should not rush into marriage until they are sure that they have the social, mental and health abilities to produce and rear children.  He also underscored the need to put sentiment apart since the issue is beyond humanitarian considerations while the government is not ready to create more disabilities in the society and the handicapped are not praying for that too.

“As much as we are working towards full integration of the handicapped into the mainstream society, stabilize them emotionally and prepare them for a married life, we should do this scientifically.  Ministries and other public agencies like the ministries of social affairs and health as well as non-government organizations (NGOs) should play active roles in avoiding the creation of more complicated problems while trying to solve lesser ones,” Ashkanani opined.

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KUWAIT CITY:  Hundreds of patients suffering from asthma flocked to the hospitals and clinics due to heavy rains witnessed in Kuwait in the last two days, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily quoting an informed source from the Ministry of Health. The source revealed hospitals in all the six governorates received about 200 patients daily after the downpour, confirming these hospitals are well-equipped and capable of handling a large number of patients.