Health Ministry approves licensing exams for new doctors from 2027

27/04/2026

KUWAIT CITY, April 27: The Ministry of Health has approved the implementation of Ministerial Resolution No. 75/2026, effective January 1, 2027, which sets additional requirements and standards for appointing medical staff. As per the appointment requirements, newly graduated physicians must pass the national licensing examinations as a prerequisite for appointment to the position of Resident Physician/Registered Assistant.

These examinations are:

■ Human Medicine: Passing the Kuwait Medical Licensing Examination (KMLE).

■ Dentistry: Passing the Kuwait Dental Licensing Examination (KDLE). The resolution also establishes a Kuwait Examination Board, affiliated with the Kuwait Institute for Medical Specializations (KIMS), to oversee these examinations. The Board is chaired by the Secretary-General of KIMS and includes a select group of academic and healthcare leaders.

The decision is part of the ministry’s vision to modernize the professional licensing system. It aims to ensure the competence and readiness of physicians in line with the most stringent international standards, enhance the quality of healthcare provided to the community, and guarantee the qualification of both national and expatriate medical personnel based on advanced scientific and professional principles.