MoH recovers KD 7.5 mn from patients being treated overseas

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‘Sums disbursed to patient, companions checked’

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 8: Ministry of Health was able to recover about 7.5 million dinars from patients undergoing medical treatment abroad and their companions who benefited from sums at the end of the treatment period. Informed health sources disclosed that those sums were recovered within 5 years of implementing the clearance certificates system in 2016, explaining that the Ministry’s Legal Affairs Department is looking into other financial demands in the same context.

On the other hand, Ministry of Health recently renewed the call for citizens and expatriates not to travel now due to the instability of the global epidemiological situation, indicating the airport was recently opened for cases that require travel; such as study and treatment abroad, reports Al-Qabas daily. In this context, the Ministry’s Spokesperson Dr Abdullah Al-Sanad confirmed that relative decrease in the number of suspected cases of coronavirus in the country is reflecting relative comfort in the health facilities, compared to the past months.

Infection
On Friday, Kuwait recorded 620 new cases of infection, bringing the total cases registered in the country to 70,045, while one death was recorded, bringing the total number of deaths to 469. Sources were quoted as saying Chairman of the Foreign Treatment Accountability Department Asma Al-Fadhli set the requirements of clearance for patients treated abroad online by entering the Ministry of Health website MOH.GOV. KW, then e-services page for citizens, and return of patients – treatment abroad.

The same sources indicated “after registering for the return of patients and entering the civil number and password, the patient and accompanying information such as civil number, the country of treatment, date of departure, date of return, and the attachment of passport photos ‘entry and exit stamp of the treatment country’, as well as phone number to follow-up with the competent employee in case there is any notice”.

They pointed out that providing this service online is to ensure that patients do not visit the ministry and to make things easy for them, especially in the corona crisis period. They indicated the audit process are carried out through computer, and in the event of any remarks, references are notified directly to visit the ministry.

Regarding the importance of the clearance certificate, sources stated that sums disbursed to the patient and his companions are checked throughout the treatment period abroad, in addition to recovering any sums that were unlawfully disbursed by making use of them after the patient’s scheduled treatment ends.

On the other hand, the spokesman for the Ministry of Health Dr Abdullah Al-Sanad reported “a relative decrease in the number of suspected cases of coronavirus in the country,” which resulted in “relative comfort in the health facilities compared to previous months.” Al-Sanad indicated during the ministry’s weekly press conference that “there are positive indications of the imminent production of a vaccine for the virus, which the ministry follows through the committee specialized in the Covid-19 vaccine on a daily basis, with regard to the viral load and the rate of patient survival in the hospital, noting the anti-virus is available on clinical trials in Kuwait.” He pointed out that “the transition within the stages of returning to normal life is progressing well so far, and the cases of contact form the highest percentage of the total number of infections”.

Instability
Al-Sanad renewed the call to citizens and residents not to travel now due to the instability of the global epidemiological situation, indicating that the airport was recently opened for cases that require travel, such as cases of study and treatment abroad. He mentioned that “the sense of smell and taste does not affect all people with coronavirus, as it may last for six weeks for some, and it’s necessary to see a doctor to follow up on the health situation,” stressing the need to adhere to the health requirements and personal preventive measures.

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