Reducing the number of clinics by 50% in each specialized area

KUWAIT, April 22: The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health announced the resumption of work in the private medical sector institutions from tomorrow, Wednesday, provided that it adheres to the preventive measures in this regard.

The assistant undersecretary for medical services at the Ministry, Dr. Fatima Al-Najjar, explained that the update comes to adjust the mechanism of work in the private medical sector due to the current conditions in the face of the spread of the emerging corona virus (Covid 19).

Al-Najjar said that the update provides for strict preventive measures and must be strictly adhered to by the private medical sector, noting that the Ministry of Health decided to resume the work of the private medical sector institutions.

Regarding the strict and preventive measures mentioned in the update, she stated that hospitals continue to provide medical services in accordance with the standards and procedures that have been circulated within the mechanism of work in hospitals in the private sector issued on March 22 last.

She noted that the last deadline for reservation in outpatient clinics is 2:00 p.m. pursuant to the decision of the Council of Ministers on the curfew in compliance with all preventive health measures and guidelines for the Department of Infection Prevention and Sterilization attached to this circular.

She added that the rest of the therapeutic institutions (human centers, dentistry centers, dispensaries, and private clinics) resume work in a full-time system, provided that work continues in the departments of plastic surgery, surgeries and diseases of obesity and dermatology, natural medicine, physical therapy and intervention procedures such as non-emergency perspectives, infertility surgeries and IVF treatments for new cases Laboratories and radiology centers.

She explained that all medical specialties in all private medical institutions except for the above mentioned specializations are allowed to conduct paid medical consultations via (online) - visual communication - so that their price is half the price of the consultation in the price list of the institution approved by the Health Licensing Department to provide health guidelines.

He pointed out that the cases requiring an urgent review which the Ministry of Health seeks to expand its application are sorted as far as possible in order to ensure the safety of workers and auditors in these exceptional circumstances.

She added that general centers, dentistry centers and dispensaries are committed to reducing the number of clinics by 50 percent in each specialty, and pre-appointment reservations are made on the phone and indicate the type of complaint to determine whether or not it needs personal attendance.

She added that appointments are limited to emergency cases that require personal attendance for inspection, in addition to that the working hours are scheduled by 3 days per week, provided that the working hours do not exceed 3 hours from 11 am to 2 pm.

She explained that among those preventive measures, as well, the work of sorting points for patients to measure the temperature and take the date of travel, contact and respiratory symptoms before entering the medical treatment institution and that the workers commit to wear personal protective equipment.

She said that no references are allowed in the waiting halls, and the waiting is outside the medical treatment institution (in the parking lots) and the call is made by phone after the exit of the previous auditor.

She added that one of the procedures is that none of the optional surgeries is allowed and emergency surgeries are sufficient and the doctors who work outside the official working hours are excluded from this circular as their work in the ministry ends at 2 pm which does not allow them to work in the morning in the private sector according to the rules and regulations in force in decisions Ministry of Health.

With regard to the dental sector in all treatment institutions, Al-Najjar explained that all of the above are adhered to, and the doctor's work is limited to treating emergency cases and postponing procedures of non-emergency nature.

With regard to private laboratories, it is stated that it is permissible to open some private medical laboratories that receive samples to conduct specialized analyzes locally or by sending them abroad, provided that their work is limited to receiving and processing samples from the sending authority and does not receive any auditors to take samples. These laboratories are determined by the Licensing Department Health, provided that these laboratories are allowed to work during the morning hours from 9 to 2 in the afternoon.

Al-Najjar pointed out that the procedures mentioned in this circular will be re-evaluated periodically according to what is required by the public interest, knowing that strict legal measures will be taken against everyone who negligently violates the terms of this circular. (KUNA)