Kuwait Restricts Healthcare for Visit Visa Holders to Prioritize Citizens

  • 22/08/2025

Kuwait’s Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadhi, has issued a directive excluding individuals entering the country on temporary or visit visas from accessing healthcare services at public hospitals, specialist centers, and primary care facilities. The decision aims to prioritize medical resources for Kuwaiti citizens and legally insured residents, ensuring the health system remains sustainable and efficient.

The Ministry of Health emphasized that this measure aligns with a broader healthcare vision to balance operational efficiency, rationalize service allocation, and direct resources to those entitled under national policies. By limiting access for short-term visitors, the government seeks to maintain high-quality care for eligible populations and avoid straining public health infrastructure.

This policy reinforces Kuwait’s commitment to strengthening its health system amid growing demands. It underscores the importance of channeling energies toward citizens and long-term residents who contribute to or are covered by the country’s health insurance framework, thereby enhancing patient satisfaction and care standards.

The move also highlights Kuwait’s focus on regulatory precision in healthcare governance. By clearly defining eligibility criteria, the ministry aims to reduce unnecessary burdens on medical facilities, ensure fiscal responsibility, and uphold the principle that healthcare services are a right primarily reserved for those integrated into the nation’s social and economic fabric.

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