Citizens and expatriates alike continue to react because of the inability to get health services at government health centers and public hospitals due to lack of medicines and this has confused the cancer patients more than anybody else, reports Al-Qabas daily. A number of patients confirmed that they had not received chemical medicines for two months, which exposes them to health risks due to immunodeficiency and the disease spreading in their bodies. While the patients and their families expressed dissatisfaction with the failure of officials in the Ministry of Health to respond to their inquiries, they stated that 5 patients were admitted to intensive care within a week due to their interruption from taking medication, pointing out that some had to travel for treatment at their own expense to neighboring countries.

They pointed out that they visited private hospitals, and it was also found that they had no cancer drugs, wondering who is responsible for the worsening of our health condition, and when our medicines will be available. From cancer to other incurable diseases, the drug shortage crisis has spread, without any radical solutions commensurate with the suffering of patients whose original medicines are difficult to replace with others, according to specialist doctors. On social media, some patients talked about the lack of specific medicines for cancer for a period of up to weeks, with the limited quantities of insulin needles designated for diabetic patients, according to citizens, as well as the disappearance of nose drops and Panadrex from some public pharmacies, and ointments, creams and water for lotion in Dental departments, sometimes anesthetic needles, and other supplies for blood tests.

A citizen recounted his suffering when he went to the Qortuba Health Center for a diabetes analysis, and he was told the needles used for blood tests were not available, and he had to visit the center after a week. Another person indicated that his mother has been visiting Al-Razi Hospital for two years because she is suffering due to fragility, arthritis, roughness and pain, and her treatment was interrupted two months ago. Another citizen stated that her son suffers from asthma and its complications, and every time she visits the hospital, she finds that his medicine is not available, so she is forced to buy it from pharmacies in the private sector.

Another citizen referred to the lack of important medicines for the treatment of heart diseases, and the interruption of clot spraying since December, while Umm Abdul Rahman pointed out that she had been receiving cancer treatment for 3 years, but specialists at Badriya Ahmed Center told her that treatment was not available for a while, and this aggravated her condition. In a related context, health sources confirmed to Al-Qabas that the problem requires granting greater independence to the heads of the boards of medical departments, hospitals and specialized centers, indicating that the continuous change in the departments concerned with the pharmaceutical sector, with the noticeable shortage in the budget allocated to medicines and medical equipment, is one of the reasons for the shortage of medicines during the recent period.

Reasons
The sources pointed out that one of the reasons for the shortage is also the change in the procurement mechanisms used in the supply of medicines and medical supplies since approximately December 2021, as well as the failure of local companies to collect their dues quickly, similar to what happened with companies such as Pfizer and Moderna specialized in supplying vaccines against the Corona virus to Kuwait. The sources pointed out the importance of granting a broader role and powers to specialized committees and council chairpersons in requests to purchase medicines and supplies, with the aim of accelerating the pace of supply and eliminating the documentary cycle that impedes the arrival of more than one important drug class, including cancer, blood pressure, diabetes, digestive system and incurable and rare diseases, adding that the replacement of treatment protocols it is very difficult because original medicines cannot be dispensed with. The sources indicated the need to address the decisions issued since mid-2021 regarding supply operations, including not receiving medicines from companies until after the completion of the contracting procedures, which hinders their regular access to health facilities.

According to informed sources at Kuwait University, the University Council approved to accept foreign students for the open admission seats in the College of Administrative Sciences, and the College of Engineering and Petroleum for the first time. This is based on the proposal of the Vice President of the university to plan the list of rules that regulate the admission of foreign students in various disciplines who will pay tuition fees, reports Al-Anba daily. They explained that the cost for one subject/unit in the foreign students’ courses is KD 100.

The council agreed to accept foreign students from inside Kuwait in the first stage, and accepting students from outside Kuwait will be considered during the next stage. The council approved the admission of 7,953 male and female students for the 2022/2023 academic year based on the proposal submitted by the Deanship of Admission and Registration to accept students applying for admission to Kuwait University for the first semester.

The number of available seats for admission are as follows: Medicine 165, Dentistry 60, Pharmacy 100, Allied Medical Sciences 310, Public Health 60, Law 450, Architecture 150, Science 1,253, Engineering and Petroleum 900, Life Sciences 800, Administrative Sciences 950, Arts 1,055, Education 950, Social Sciences 500, and Sharia and Islamic Studies 250.

The sources announced the University Council’s approval to cancel the aptitude test requirement for admission to the College of Engineering and Petroleum based on the proposal of the National Union of Kuwait University Students submitted to the Dean of Admission and Registration and the Deanship of the College of Engineering and Petroleum. Meanwhile, Kuwait University has denied the alleged cancellation of aptitude tests in English and Mathematics as a condition for admission to the colleges of Engineering, Petroleum and Administrative Sciences, reports Al-Seyassah daily.

In a press statement, acting Dean of Admission and Registration Dr Mishaal Al-Gharaballi stressed that the rumor is baseless. He affirmed: “Admission to the College of Engineering and Petroleum is still based on performance in academic ability tests in English and Mathematics.” He clarified the University Council has approved the cancellation of the condition to obtain a score of 40 percent or higher in tMathematics test, and 50 percent or higher in English; in addition to a grade point average of 78 percent or higher for admission to other colleges.

Forbes Middle East has announced the list of the 100 most powerful CEOs in the Middle East including six CEOs of Kuwaiti companies and banks make the list — Engr. Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi, Sheikha Dana Nasser Al-Sabah Al-Ahmad, Issam Al-Sager, Tarek Sultan, Elham Mahfouz and Muhammad Al-Osaimi, reports Al-Anba daily.

Sheikha Adana Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad, Issam Al-Sager, Tariq Sultan, Ilham Mahfouz, Mohammed Al Aseemy and M. Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi

In terms of the full list, it includes 26 different nationalities for the most powerful CEOs in the Middle East, led by the Emiratis with 19, followed by the Egyptians 16, the Saudis with 15 business leaders. Seven CEOs are in each of the energy and logistics sector, while the value of the companies run by the 100 most powerful CEOs in the Middle East exceeds about $5 trillion, and their revenues amounted to more than $1 trillion last year.

Returning to the list of the most powerful CEOs in Kuwait, Vice-Chairman and CEO of Zain Group Eng Bader Nasser Al-Kharafitops and his overall ranking is 35th. Al-Kharafiis the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Executive Committee of the Kuwait Stock Exchange, a member of the Board of Directors of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and is also the founder of the private joint stock company (BNK Holding). The CEO of Kuwait Projects Group Holding (KIPCO) Sheikha Dana Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad came in second place in Kuwait and 58th overall.

Sheikha Adana Al-Nasser is also the founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the American University of Kuwait, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of United Education Company. She is also a member of the Boards of Directors of Gulf Insurance Group, Kamco Invest and (OSN), as well as previously held the position of CEO of Al Fotouh Holding Company. Issam Al-Sager, Vice Chairman and CEO of the National Bank of Kuwait Group, came in third place in Kuwait and 59th overall.

The National Bank of Kuwait has 140 branches in 14 countries, and employs 7,511 employees. In 2021, the National Bank of Kuwait launched the first digital bank in Kuwait (WiYi), and in March 2022, it launched the sustainable financing framework, to integrate environmental, social and governance standards into its operations, and plans to reduce total operational emissions by 25% by 2025, to reach Operationally net-zero emissions by 2035.

Al-Sager is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Bank of Kuwait (International) and is a member of the Boards of Directors of NBK Wealth Management, NBK Properties and NBK Trustees. In the fourth and 67th place in the overall ranking, the CEO and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Agility, Tariq Sultan, has been the CEO of Agility since 1997, and it is today one of the largest logistics companies in the Middle East and North Africa, with assets of $9.5 billion and revenues Valued at $1.6 billion in 2021.

During the Heritage Committee's eleventh meeting at the Islamic International, ISESCO decided to designate Kuwait's Naif Palace as an Islamic Heritage Website. Dr Walid Al-Saif, marketing consultant to the secretary-general of Kuwait's National Council for Tradition, Arts, and Letters (NCCAL), claimed that included Naif Palace in ISESCO's Heritage index is of "great historical value, since it's one of the most important Islamic castles."

He also underlined the ancient, political, and cultural significance of location, as well as its architectural assemblage that prompted such an inclusion to ISESCO's heritage inventory. The Palace has a total area of 28,882 square metres and 214 rooms that have been used to store cannons and artillery while other rooms have been utilised to accommodate guards and infantrymen due to its proximity to the town boundaries and primary gate. It's a surprise of Kuwait's antiquities from the first quarter of the twentieth century, with wide open courtyards and massive handcrafted picket doors, as well as Islamic flavour arches around the interior design of the construction.

Ramadan is when this palace is most visible since it is utilized for the fire of the iftar cannon, which has been a tradition in Kuwait since town walls were built. "From both the northern and Japanese sides of the courtyard, you'll view the long liwan with arches and columns of Islamic architectural style." Under the patronage of Sheikh Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah and Sheikh Abdullah Ahmad Al-Sabah, the Palace became the headquarters of the Public Security Directorate in 1950, serving as a location to settle disputes, differences, and criminal cases. After all, the conclusion came after two days of sanctioned conversations since the committee thoroughly investigated the palace's ancient significance. - KUNA

According to Al-Seyassah daily, the Court of Cassation sentenced two visa traders to one year in prison with hard labor for defrauding Egyptians and Indians.

After investigations, the Ministry of Interior referred the accused to the Public Prosecution due to the fact that they had brought expatriate workers to the country in exchange for a large amount of money without providing them with employment. Forgery, human trafficking, and labor law violations were charged against them by the prosecution.

MP Khalid Al- Otaibi has forwarded queries to Minister of Health Dr Khalid Al-Saeed about the shortage of medicines for cancer, high blood pressure and triglycerides, and lung diseases. He requested for copies of correspondences with the manufacturers and countries which export medicines to Kuwait.

He asked about the measures taken by the Emergency Department to address this issue, and why such important medicines are not available in the pharmacies of public hospitals while they are available in private pharmacies even if a huge budget of KD400 million has been allocated for the procurement of medicines.

He warned that causing the shortage of essential medicines is considered a crime as it could lead to the death of many patients. He asserted the resignation of the government does not mean the concerned officials will not be held accountable for any negative consequences of such negligence. By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff

The Deputy Director-General for Planning and Projects Affairs and the official spokesman for the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Engr. Saad Al-Otaibi revealed that 3,484 flights will transport more than half a million passengers during Eid al-Adha holidays, reports Al-Rai daily. In a press statement issued during a tour of Kuwait International Airport, Eng. Al-Otaibi explained that the passenger traffic increased during the Eid holidays, reaching 542,161 passengers, compared to 592,790 passengers during the Eid holidays in 2019.

Kuwaiti pilgrims stand in line at the airport to enter the immigration hall before leaving for the Holy Lands in Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj rituals. The annual Hajj is likely to fall on July 8, Friday. Thousands of Kuwaitis are going from their country via land route and by plane.

About 3,484 flights will be operated round trip during this year’s holidays, compared to 3,713 flights in 2019. The travel demand rates began to return to the levels prior to COVID-19 pandemic, especially during the current summer season.

The Cabinet’s decision, which was implemented from May 1 to raise travel requirements, helped in the high pace of travel demand and the gradual but progressive recovery of the air transportation market in Kuwait. The opening of new destinations for Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways also led to an increase in the movement of passengers to and from Kuwait International Airport. Engr. Al-Otaibi revealed that 1,747 departure flights carrying about 25,706 passengers, and 1,737 arriving flights carrying 28,555 passengers will be operated during the Eid al-Adha holidays.

According to the Public Authority for Manpower, the authority is working with concerned authorities to expedite the process of issuing work permits for foreign workers. The new system of issuing a work permit will take no more than ten days instead of three months.

Our team is working with Daman Health Insurance Hospitals Company, which coordinates with approved hospitals in labor outsourcing countries to develop a new procedure. During the medical period, 2 days are spent in the country of origin and 2 days are spent in the country of destination.

In order to speed up the medical examination process of foreign workers, the board of directors of the authority is in the process of studying a proposal. Al Rai reports that the goal is to eliminate long lines at the labor examination center. Labor examination centers have been crowded and stampeded in recent months. In addition, to avoid delays of a month in obtaining results. There will be a higher fee for this new service, and it will be optional.

The Central Bank of Kuwait announced it will provide ATM service in a number of commercial complexes during the Eid period. These machines will have banknotes of all Kuwaiti dinar denominations. This is due to the increased demand from the public for these denominations to distribute Eid gifts, reports Al-Nahar daily. In a press release, the Central Bank of Kuwait explained that the ATM service will be available in the Avenues Mall, 360 Mall and Al Kout Mall, starting from July 3 until the third day of Eid Al-Adha.

This service had previously been well received by the public, as it saved them the trouble of obtaining different denominations of banknotes, especially the smaller ones, which are not usually available in other ATMs. The Central Bank of Kuwait had earlier provided local banks with new banknotes of the aforementioned denominations so that they could be made available to the public in bank branches located in all parts of Kuwait.

The Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) has taken legal measures against five companies proven to have violated the ban on work in open areas from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm during summer to protect the workers from the extremely hot weather conditions, reports Al-Seyassah daily. The authority took this step after reviewing the results of the inspection campaigns carried out by the concerned team in the National Center for Occupational Health and Safety from June 1-30.

The team inspected a total of 295 work sites within this period. For the first time, the number of erring companies reached 250, while the number of companies that fulfilled the conditions upon re-inspection totaled 245. The number of workers found in the sites during the banned hours reached 392 workers and 14 warnings were issued.

According to the Bloomberg news agency, Kuwait ranked first within the Gulf region in terms of cheap fuel prices, based on the data obtained from the Global Petroleum Price website, reports Al-Anba daily. Also, the price of fuel in Kuwait is lower than the world average, as the price of a liter of gasoline is USD 0.34 cents while the global average is USD 1.47.

On the other hand, the price of fuel in the UAE is three times higher than in Kuwait. The UAE, which is the third largest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), has raised gasoline prices for the fifth time this year to about USD 1.23 per liter, further widening the gap with other oil producers in the region who are subsidizing the cost of fuel. While other oil-producing countries in the region subsidize the fuel to varying degrees, the UAE liberalized gasoline prices in 2015.

Its prices are now three times the price in Kuwait and more than twice the average cost in other Gulf countries. It should be noted that the high cost of fuel prompted the company “Uber Technologies”, which provides transportation services, to raise the prices in the UAE twice this year. In a post uploaded last week on Twitter and shared by Bloomberg, academic Abdul- Khaliq Abdullah said the price of fuel in the UAE is the highest and most expensive in the Gulf and is still trending upwards, but it is lower than the global average of $ 1.47, according to data from the Global Petroleum website, as the average cost of a liter of gasoline is $ 1.37 in the United States, and $2.32 in the United Kingdom.

Director General of Kuwait General Administration of Customs (KGAC) Suleiman Al-Fahd said the electronic customs declaration form is one way of easing procedures for travelers; as it is activated automatically in accordance with law number 106 of 2013 on money laundering and financing terrorism, reports Al-Jarida daily. Al-Fahd explained the form is completed electronically prior to arrival in a way that shortens time and strengthens security, warning that an incorrect declaration will prompt customs authorities to take legal action against the concerned passenger.

He added that every person entering or leaving the country through various ports must disclose to the customs authorities the amount they have in their possession during travel like currencies or negotiable financial instruments whose value exceeds KD3,000 or the equivalent in any foreign currency.

As per regulation, the Ministry of Health has made the fourth dose of Covid-19 vaccine available for enhanced immunity.

For those who have completed four months after the third dose, the fourth dose can be taken. It is recommended for everyone over the age of 50 years and for those aged between 12 and 50 years with weak immune systems.

Additionally, authorities urged those over 12 years old to take their first booster dose if they haven't already done so.

 The Ministry of Information has issued administrative decisions to cancel the licenses of 50 electronic newspapers, reports Al-Qabas daily. The administrative decisions, a copy of which has been obtained by the daily, stated that the decisions were issued in implementation of the law regulating electronic media and in accordance with the decisions, the reasons for cancellation varied in application of Articles 14 and 16 of the Electronic Media Law, which included that the cancellation of licenses is for the following reasons:

• Every lease of the license is void, and it may not be sold or ceded without obtaining a prior approval from the Ministry. The buyer or the assignee must meet the conditions prescribed in this law for the issuance of the license or to another person if the legally prescribed conditions are met.
  ● If the licensee is a legal person, and his legal personality lapses for any of the legally prescribed reasons.
  ● If the licensee loses any of the conditions mentioned in Article (8) of this law.
  ● If the position of the responsible manager becomes vacant, or if the appointed manager loses one of the conditions that it must meet, and the licensee has not appointed a replacement who meets the prescribed conditions within the period specified in Article (10) of this law.
  ● If the licensee leases the license.
  ● If the licensee sells or assigns the license without the approval of the Ministry.
  ● If the licensee does not carry out the licensed activity within the period stipulated in Article (13) of this law.
  ● If the license period expires without a request to renew it within six months from the date of its expiry.
  ● If the licensee dies without having a legal heir, or if the heirs have not transferred the license within the period specified in Article (14). In other than the previous cases, the license may not be canceled except by an enforceable court ruling or upon a written request from the licensee.

Kuwait ranked first in the world with one billionaire for every 33,090 population, according to Global Finance, citing a report by the Ultrata Corporation, which monitors wealthy people, followed by San Francisco, with a billionaire for every 56,209 residents, and Hong Kong in third place with one billionaire per 59,516 inhabitants, reports Al-Rai daily. Based on its being an urban area (capital), Kuwait is considered the highest-ranked city in terms of billionaire density.

Ultrata revealed that the wealth of the world’s billionaires jumped in 2021 by 17.8 percent to a record $11.8 trillion, with an increase in the number of billionaires in the world by 3.3 percent to 3,311. The report pointed out that billionaires monopolize a high proportion of the volume of global wealth. Last year, they represented only 0.9 percent of the world’s high net worth, meaning those with a fortune of $30 million and above, but they monopolized 27.4 percent of the total wealth of that group.

Director- General of the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) Engr Ali Al-Farsi issued a decision to suspend the director of the Execution and Maintenance Department in the Agricultural Sector for three months and refer him for investigation on suspicion of negligence and failure to follow up the implementation of contracts with the concerned companies, reports Al-Rai daily.

In a related development, the director- general terminated 25 expatriate engineers as per the directive of Public Works Minister Engr Ali Al- Mousa. These expatriate engineers will be replaced with Kuwaitis, who will then follow the implementation of contracts.

With electric vehicles growing increasingly popular in recent years, the worldwide movement for greener means of transportation has taken a significant leap. Electric automobiles may be spotted roaming throughout Kuwait, with such vehicles charging at electric charging stations, which have begun to appear in many areas around the nation.

Being environmentally conscious and conscious is likely the biggest driving reason behind electric automobiles, with various car makers now offering this choice to eager customers

COVID-19 is no longer a global threat in spite of significant and impressive advances in vaccine technology. Identifying those with severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is critical to limiting its spread. Using an antibody-based detection method, Japanese researchers developed a rapid and reliable way to detect SARS-CoV-2 without collecting blood samples.

Global response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been severely limited by ineffective identification of SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals, and the high rate of asymptomatic infections (16 percent to 38 percent) has only exacerbated this issue. Up to this point, most detection methods involve swabbing the nose and throat with a cotton swab. Nonetheless, the application of this method is limited by its long detection time (4-6 hours), high cost, and requirement for specialized equipment and medical personnel, especially in countries with limited resources.

A complementary and alternative means of confirming COVID-19 infection involves the detection of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies. In many countries, testing strips based on gold nanoparticles are used for point-of-care testing. Results are available within 10-20 minutes, but blood samples must be collected by using a lancing device on a finger prick. In addition to being painful, this increases the risk of infection and cross-contamination, and the kit components present a biohazard risk.

Leilei Bao from the Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo, explains: "We explored the possibility of sampling and testing interstitial fluid (ISF), which is in the epidermis and dermis layers of human skin. Despite the antibody levels in the ISF being around 15%-25% of those in blood, we experimentally confirmed this method of non-invasive detection, and that ISF could substitute for blood sampling for the detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG antibodies."

In order to sample and test the ISF, the researchers developed an innovative approach after demonstrating that ISF can be used for antibody detection. In the first step, we developed biodegradable porous microneedles made of polylactic acid to extract the ISF from human skin, says senior author Beomjoon Kim. Our next step was to construct a paper-based immunoassay biosensor for the detection of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies. By combining these two elements, the researchers created a compact patch that can detect the antibodies on-site within 3 minutes (results from in vitro testing).

With this new detection device, patients will be able to obtain rapid screening for COVID-19 and many other infectious diseases in a safe and comfortable manner. A key goal of managing infectious diseases globally is to use this technology in as many countries as possible, regardless of wealth.