Expat Coronavirus Patients Decry Shifting Of Medical Center

Expatriate coronavirus patients residing in Ahmadi Governorate have voiced their dismay at the recent decision by the Ministry of Health (MoH) to transfer their treatment from the nearby Shuaiba Health Center to the Jaber Al-Ahmad Health Center in Kuwait City nearly 40km away.

The patients said the long-distance and lack of conveyance made it difficult for many of them to meet their appointments with specialist doctors on time, and there was also the additional problem of patients from Fahaheel being admitted in Amiri Hospital in Kuwait City and having to return to Adan Hospital in Ahmadi governorate.

At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry of Health had designated 10 health centers in various areas to provide treatment to those diagnosed with COVID-19 in the area. Accordingly, the Musaed Al-Saleh Center was demarcated for Kuwaiti patients in the capital health zone, while the Jaber Al-Ahmad Center was set aside for expatriates in this area. In the Hawally health zone, the Shuhada Health Center was for Kuwaiti citizens and Jabriya Health Center was for expatriates. 

In the Farwaniya health zone, Rehab Health Center was allocated for Kuwait citizens and Riggae Health Center for expatriates. In Jahra health zone, the Naeem Health Center was reserved for Kuwaiti citizens, and the Naseem temporary center in Taima area for expatriates. In Ahmadi health zone, Egaila Health Center  was set aside for Kuwaitis and the Shuaiba Industrial Area Health Center was allocated for expatriates.

But in August, the MoH inexplicably issued a new directive that transferred the health center for expatriates in Ahmadi health zone to the Jaber Al-Ahmad Health Center in Kuwait City, causing a lot of confusion and difficulties for expatriate patients.

In response to appeals from expatriate patients, the MoH is said to be reviewing its transfer directive. As an alternative, the ministry is understood to be planning to shift the expatriate patients to one floor at the Egaila Health Center, which would be separated from the floor already allocated to Kuwaiti patients in the Ahmadi health zone. 

Sources at MoH confirmed that a decision on the transfer of expatriate patients would be issued soon so that these patients can avail of healthcare services and communicate with medical professionals in the most expeditious manner.

 

Source: Timeskuwait

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