11/06/2025
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11/06/2025
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Kuwait requires comprehensive medical exams for expats to safeguard public health.
KUWAIT CITY, June 11: Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Affairs at the Ministry of Health Dr. Munther Al-Hasawi confirmed that Kuwait implements a comprehensive and precise health surveillance system to prevent infectious diseases, amid international reports of rising HIV infection rates in some countries.
In a press statement, Dr. Al-Hasawi explained that preventive measures begin even before entering Kuwait. Expatriates seeking to work in the country must undergo medical examinations at accredited centers abroad, which are then approved by Kuwaiti consulates or embassies as part of the visa application process.
The examination is repeated upon arrival in Kuwait to obtain the health certificate required for residency issuance. The tests cover not only HIV but also other diseases such as hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, and additional illnesses depending on the traveler’s country of origin, including malaria and filariasis. Certain job categories, especially those involved in food handling, barbershops, health centers, and other sectors with specific health requirements, are subject to periodic medical examinations. Dr. Al-Hasawi emphasized that the Ministry of Health continuously monitors global infectious disease rates and updates the list of countries whose citizens must undergo medical examinations upon returning to Kuwait.
Marwa Al-Bahrawi
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff
