Kuwaiti cabinet revamps overseas treatment regulations

The Cabinet, at its weekly meeting held on Monday at Bayan Palace, revamped the overseas treatment regulations including the financial appropriations (pocket money) given to patients who are dispatched for treatment abroad.
"The Cabinet endorsed a resolution on financial appropriations for patients, who are dispatched to receive medical treatment abroad, and their companions to be equivalent to the maximum appropriations for them in all Gulf Cooperation Council member states," Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Acting Justice Minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah said in a statement following the meeting, chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. "The appropriations would be as follows: KD 75 for the patient and KD 50 for his companion during the treatment trip." Sheikh Mohammad added that the state will pay the cost of the flight tickets of another companion, if there was.
He noted that the move is part of broader measures to reform and address the loopholes of the current overseas treatment system.
The cabinet resolution is based on the outcome of the work of a joint committee, which was formed from ministries of health, defense, interior and oil to study unification of overseas treatment regulations and benefits. It also comes after surveying and comparing the overseas regulations in other Gulf states, he added. Sheikh Mohammad unveiled that the cabinet has asked the Ministry of Health to contract with world-class medical consultants and international hospitals and medical centers to offer their services in Kuwait.
It also tasked it to contract with reputable health administrations to transfer health management skills to Kuwait. It also urged the Ministry to put into effect the health insurance law and to encourage private sector to invest in the health sector and to transfer patients to the private clinics to reduce the number of those benefiting from the overseas treatment system.
Then, the cabinet reviewed and approved a draft law amending expertise regulating law No. 40 of 1980.
Furthermore, and in a response to a proposal from Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah to set up a youth council to promote national values and traditions among youth, the cabinet asked the minister to coordinate with Fatwa and Legislation Department and relevant bodies to provide the cabinet with the legal framework for establishing the proposed council.
Earlier, the ministers were informed about the letter addressed by Mexico President Enrique Pena Nieto to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The letter focused on bilateral relations and means to strengthen ties between the two friendly countries.
They were briefed about the letter received by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah from Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller on prospects on bilateral relations and means to bolster them.
The cabinet was apprised of the delegation which will accompany His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak during his upcoming visits to Italy and Germany, planned September 16-17 and September 17-19 respectively.
His Highness Sheikh Jaber will be accompanied by First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Lieutenant General Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, Minister of Finance Anas Al-Saleh, Minister of Oil and Minister of National Assembly Affairs Ali Al-Omair and several senior officials from the Amiri Diwan, Prime Minister Diwan and Foreign Ministry.
The cabinet was informed about His Highness the Premier's visit to New York to partake in 69th session of the United National General Assembly during the period September 19-29. His Highness Sheikh Jaber will be accompanied during New York visit by First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sabah Khaled, Minister of Oil and Minister of National Assembly Affairs Ali Al-Omair and several senior officials from the Amiri Diwan, Prime Minister Diwan and Foreign Ministry.
The ministers, then, discussed the parliamentary affairs and the issues on the agenda of the National Assembly.
They also addressed the latest developments in the Arab world and the whole world.