Kuwait Health Minister Announces Price Hike for Expat Healthcare in the Country

Healthcare charges are announced to increase by almost 500% as of mid-February this year. Health Minister Dr Jamal Al-Harby released a new price list last week revealing a five-fold increase for expatriate and visitors healthcare in the country.

This is part of a campaign headed by a group of Kuwaiti MPs who are set to reduce the number of expats in the country. According to Health Minister Al-Harby quoted from the news site, Al-Rai:

Medical service costs are now a burden on the state’s general budget due to rising prices of medical equipment and medication. He said advanced medical examinations and nuclear tests that are not currently available in the private sector will be charged 50% of the cost.

The increase in fees fell mostly to treatments and tests for cardiac and cancer treatments as well as pregnancy and pre-natal tests.