Healthcare in Kuwait in 2017 – Overview by Al Seef Hospital

“The health sector has developed during the past few years due to the high demand caused by certain insurance programs that have covered the public sector and public corporates. From 2012 until now, two major groups were added to the private health insurance sector,” says Dr Yousif Abou Zahr, CEO of Al Seef Hospital.

“The first was the Kuwait Oil Company employees and their dependents who are covered by insurance. There are more than 50,000. The second group that was added four months ago was the retirees. They account for 120,000. Both are currently covered by the private health insurance programs and they have access to the private sector, which has increased the demand for private sector services. Now, we can see how the service is shifting from the public sector to the private health sector. This has stimulated growth in the private sector. Most hospitals are expanding their services and capacity so they can accommodate the additional numbers. The expectation is that other groups will also be added to the private health sector. This is the trend in the government in order to relieve the load from public hospitals and give the opportunity to some groups in the public sector to use the private sector.”