Kuwait’s Minister of Health (MoH) D. Ahmad Al-Awadhi made on Saturday a decision implementing the updated executive bylaw of the program of “Wafid”, expatriates, issued by the GCC Health Ministers’ council.

In a statement, the ministry said that the step comes within the framework of efforts aiming at enhancing the medical test system of expats and raising preventive health efficiency to protect public health and boost health security in the country.

The bylaw, which includes 54 articles, aims to develop action mechanisms and e-linkage among relevant bodies in a way that enhances the accuracy and speed of medical testing procedures of expats and cements governance and control over approved examination centers abroad, it added.

The bylaw includes ongoing updates of laboratory, x-ray and clinic checks and preventive vaccines, in addition to setting accurate criteria for approving and assessing overseas medical test centers, it noted.

The regulation underlined the necessity for health facilities to abide by the highest moral and professional criteria and strengthen integrity and transparency in all transactions, it pointed out.

The program is a precautionary step prior to traveling to Kuwait to verify health fitness of expats before departure, and medical tests will be re-conducted by approved centers in the country after arrival, in accordance with implemented health measures. – Kuna