My hospitalization in Kuwait

I am in Kuwait since 1978 and during all these years it was my 3^rd time to be hospitalized and I will very judiciously describe as to what I have experienced and what are the ground realities so that the subject can be understood in crystal clear terms without any ambiguity and or doubts.

Kuwait can very proudly and rightly boast of rendering one of the best possible medical treatments offered on the face of earth and unbelievably it was free, absolutely free not only for local citizens but expatriates like me. There was a time that expatriates were not supposed to even a single fils (1000 fils is 1 Kuwaiti Dinar) but yet they were entitled to go for any type of treatment including admission into any type of hospitals, laboratory tests, radiographic examinations, surgical operation and medicines etc. There was hardly a distinction between a Kuwaiti and expatriate and all were treated alike. This facility was available to foreigners both at general hospitals and specialized hospitals and I know personally quite many of those expatriates who availed the opportune and had been treated and operated upon even by those visiting foreign consultants and experts who had been called for some stipulated period of time and I need not explain how much that did cost fortune to the national exchequer.

For quite many years it had been felt by different quarters, both public and private, that Kuwait is one of the few countries spending quite substantial money in health sector looking after its expatriate’s population which is certainly greater than Kuwaitis meaning by that numerically speaking more is spent on foreigner than a local but luckily or unluckily the issue was buried and never surfaced so openly. However, it is quite but natural that the situation could not be dormant for ever and hence it raised some eye brows in different quarters at various levels which gave birth to a new controversial discussion if the expatriates can be penalized to pay some fee as medical insurance or not particularly when they have not paid from day one. Those who opposed the introduction of any medical charges raised not only very blunt but even quite awkward questions namely. Is government short of cash and wants to recoup its shortage to some extent by fleecing the foreigners? Will the government losses, if any, cam be replenished by expatriates in this manner? Aren’t the expatriates rendering meritorious services and directly or indirectly contributing towards the development of the country otherwise they were not needed?

The next question which was equally trifling and burning, as to how much, in terms of monetary burden, an expatriate can be taxed (Kuwait is tax free) on this account and what facilities will be enjoyed by those who pay for the medical insurance fee. Some opined that that the amount cannot and should not be fixed and applied equally rather it should vary from as per the monthly intake of the person concerned meaning by that more the salary more the fee and accordingly less salary will attract less fee.  This leveling of fee as per income of the concerned had some advantages but nevertheless it lacked uniformity and equality.  Undoubtedly bulk majority of the expatriates, mostly drawn up from Asian and Arab countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, to name few, are either daily wage earners and or low paid workers so it could be next to impossible for these nationals in any case to pocket any expense howsoever meager to pay for the medical insurance. Many months had been spent on the issue and its pros and cons were discussed in greater length which one time even created some bad taste between the executive and legislature. Some NGOs and Human Rights activists also opposed it tooth and nail terming that on the part of the government it is nothing short of negation the rights, entitlements and privileges it conferred on the foreign residents. Some of those who belonged to the opposite clan even went that far away that they did not bulge in terming it even as unconstitutional particularly in a country which is known for democracy and welfare of its residents. 

Different suggestions, formulas and policies were proposed by both local and foreign experts, researchers and the same were discussed microscopically and thrashed out from variety of angles and perhaps approximately fifteen years ago or so and that too after lot of heated discussions and opposition from some members of Kuwait Parliament and NGOOs, a nominal charge of KD 50/ per annum on account of annual medical fee has been introduced and implemented in the country whereby each and every expatriate resident is obliged to pay this money before his / her local resident permit can be affixed on passport. This money is however paid to the government by the employer for and on behalf of its employees and it is heard that some companies are deducting the money from their employees in easy monthly installments.  The most glaring and appreciative angle of the scheme is that when it comes to medical treatment  then irrespective of the official title of the patient, the boss and the subordinates are treated alike and no one is preferred over the other under any circumstances whatsoever. A daily wage earner of a company, to corroborate my statement for example, is seen by the same consultant who sees even the director of the same company and this equation in terms of medical attendance itself proves that at least in this country the two patients who though in fact are miles apart in terms of their job title, duties and responsibilities and monthly income etc are treated at par with no distinction, preference and neglect when it comes to medical treatment. But on the contra, if the two patients had paid medical insurance fee as per their income, which was proposed by some quarters also, then quite naturally the practical scenario could have been like this that an ordinary general practitioner treats all general and low paid workers; a senior general practitioner attends to supervisory staff; a physician looks after managerial lot and a consultant sees those who fall under the category of management.

Needless to mention that it will be the very right opportune for me to record, that prior to the introduction of this medical insurance fee, quite a sizeable number of foreign nationals from various countries in general and Asia in particular had entered this country on a visit visa and they were either sick at the time of their entrance or had later on fallen sick. The public hospitals did not even think to that suck like patients are actually not the residents of the country rather visitor to the country and all of them got treated even for chronic diseases while the others were even operated upon for various chronic complications and operative calls for quite certainly they absolutely treated free and, therefore, so far as I am concerned they are the real lucky ones who rightly practiced as ordained by the dictum saying ‘make haste while the sun shines.’

 Reverting back to my own experiences, it was March 1981 when I was admitted into a hospital for the first time since I had arrived here in September, 1978. It was early morning when I was dashing to my office and driving a Toyota Jeepster four wheels drive, quite a sturdy vehicle, and as the bad luck had it, I dashed it into the road curb which busted one of the tires and I despite my all frantic efforts, simply could not control the vehicle which rolled on may a time on the road before resting with a tree planted next to the footpath. I stood up and picked up my brief case from the main road and though there was a fracture and or wounds cut but yet felt some pain in chest and neck and by the time, an ambulance came, I had lost my conscious. I still do not know who informed the ambulance but it is an admitted fact that ambulance is one the ever fastest service in this tiny oil export country and during my over three decades’ stay, I am yet to hear even one complaint that an ambulance did not come on time as and when asked for or required. When I woke up, I was admitted into Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital which was the nearest possible one. X-ray reports confirmed that there was no fracture or rupture but serious thrust to the neck. A cap was placed over my neck hooked up with a chain so that it remains straight rather than moving to right and or left. I was discharged from the hospital in one week time. Ever since it was a road accident, I after leaving the hospital had to see the traffic police chief and he was astonished and couldn’t believe that I could be driving the four wheels which reduced to scrap and eventually company got it struck off its list. The officer maintained that I am really too fortunate otherwise the damaged vehicle itself speaks aloud as to how much the driver had been hurt. Thanks Allah I was as active as before in just one week even though had gone through such a horrible and terrible accident.

Second time I had to be admitted in December, 2006 when I had high fever coupled with cough which is quite natural consequence since I did smoke for quite many years. I went in evening to Al- Adan Hospital which is the assigned one to the area I reside. I was kept in the Observation Room for about five hours and during the period of time, an xray had been done and also blood, urine and sputum samples were taken and even ECG was performed. They had pricked my left hand to administer a drip which contained some intravenous injection also. The Emergency Medical Officer after seeing various laboratory reports decided to be shifted to Medical Ward and be admitted as an indoor patient. It was around mid night when I was bedded in the ward and a senior medical officer attended to me and had asked for again blood and sputum samples. In the morning a full medical team headed by a Consultant and assisted by physician, respiratory specialist and alike were right at my bed. The consultant decided that I must be sent for CTC scan examination and third sample of sputum be carried out to reach to the conclusive findings as what could be the real cause for ailment. Antibiotics given to me had acted fast and the second day I requested the doctor in-charge if I could be released and a bit reluctantly he agreed to my request though he in my own interest wished that I could have stayed back for one more day. I promised to the doctor to take the medicines strictly as advised and if unluckily I had gain fever or any other complication I will immediately rush back to the hospital without any second thought and fortunately the situation never necessitated to revert to hospital. I took my medicines and did not pay even a single dime for all such like treatment. However, I had to pay only to CTC scan and not otherwise.

The third and I wish be the last, is this time when on 29^th August, evening I went back to the same Al-Adan Hospital with earlier sickness conditions-high fever and cough but not chronic or serious. The Emergency Medical Officer examined my chest and back and wrote for x-ray reports and blood examples. The nurse checked my blood pressure, fever and pulse rate. The doctor asked me to come back to him with my x-ray report and after seeing the same, he decided that I am kept under observation, given medicines and blood samples be sent for pathological examination. Sputum report was negative. However, there were three blood reports but I as a layman cannot make out if one or two or all the three went against me but in any case the EMO, ordered that I must be admitted into medical ward for thorough check up, investigations and treatment. Now I was scared but what could I do otherwise. I had to land into medical ward as an internee where straight away the medical officer in-charge for the night shift asked the nurse to send sputum for second analysis. He also wrote for further blood test along with two different urines examinations. This all was quite threatening and frightening and I wished if I could be released before my daughter flies back to Ukraine on 3^rd September to study in final sixth year to obtain her MBBS degree but the problem was will I recover by that time and God forbid, if not then will the doctors accede to my such a request. In the morning, this year too I have been checked up by again a medical team led by an aged and highly experienced Consultant who was accompanied by various other specialists. They read my previous reports and compared the same with the present ones to know how much I have improved upon or deteriorated than earlier. Unluckily, my CTC scan report was missing which caused some concerns but Kuwaiti lady doctor who was in-charge of my case was extra kind to go her to the department to retrieve my earlier CTC scan report and she succeeded in her pursuit. However, third sputum test was a must. Nutrition too came each day and discussed my food plan.  On 31^st August, the same Kuwaiti Medical Specialist told me that if I do not have any fever during next twenty four hours then I can be released to join back my wife and daughter. Now I had very mixed feelings and being awed, I asked two different nurses to check my fever in addition to how many times it is to be checked. Thanks Allah the 1^st of September, 2010 dawned with the good news and my doctor in-charge after going through the whole file again finally ordered that I be released. I have been given antibiotics to eat at my house and see the doctor at the hospital after one month.

In my candid opinion, and I very seriously doubt if any expatriate irrespective of gender, nationality, religion, region and or status can refute me when I say that Kuwait hospitals are best from each and every angle. The whole building is kept neat and clean on round the clock basis, very nutritive and healthy food elegantly packed in individual plastic wrap is really moth watering. The beds and the attached paraphernalia for each and every bed, outshines local hospitals if compared with other countries to be honest. Lastly let me record that on 1^st morning fortunately I could see the Hospital Director who during the discussion hinted that some of the patients want to prefer to stay back at the hospital rather than returning to their homes and had I not heard it myself from such a responsible entity I too had not believed it.

In conclusion and appreciation, I salute to His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir of Kuwait; His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Crown Prince; His Excellency Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Amed Al-Sabah, Prime Minister; and the government and people of Kuwait. Long live Royal family and the State of Kuwait.

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With my honest and solemn prayers