Kuwait to restructure committee to oversee salons, health shops

KUWAIT CITY, April 23: Ministry of Health Undersecretary Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi issued an administrative decision to reconstitute the committee tasked to oversee salons and health institutes, which took effect on April 1 and is valid for one year, in order to intensify health oversight and guarantee compliance with professional standards. Article One of the decision stipulates the appointment of Public Health Department Director Dr. Mona Al-Khabbaz as chairperson of the committee, while the members include Faisal Al-Ansari who represents the Commercial Control Department at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Suad Abel from the Health Licensing Department, a Kuwait Municipality representative, and officials from the Radiation Protection, Public Health, Legal Research, Drug Inspection, Infection Prevention and Environmental Health departments. Article Two states the tasks of the committee as follows:

■ Specify the technical standards and prerequisites for health institutes and salons,

■ Deploy field teams to carry out inspections to make sure that professional and health regulations are followed,

■ Propose penalties and legal measures for violating establishments,

■ Develop effective mechanisms for reporting health and administrative violations,

■ Monitor the use of radiation devices,

■ Ensure compliance with safety procedures,

■ Ensure the application of infection control standards and adherence to health and safety practices,

■ Check the licenses of facilities and employees’ health certificates to protect customers.

The decision mandates the committee to hold meetings periodically or as needed, at the invitation of its chairperson or deputy chairperson, and submit reports on its activities and recommendations to the assistant undersecretary for public health affairs. It authorizes the committee to form inspection teams to conduct monitoring and technical evaluation in accordance with the regulations.

By Marwa Al-Bahrawi Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff