Health
From The Report: Kuwait 2014
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With a growing population and a rise in the incidence of non-communicable diseases placing greater demands on health services, efforts are being made to boost capacity in Kuwait’s health care services. As some $3.2bn in projects are planned, the private sector can look forward to a greater number of partnerships with the government. Efforts to tackle lifestyle diseases will intensify, especially as privatisation frees up new resources to be dedicated to Kuwaiti nationals and as public awareness of the issue rises. This chapter contains an interview with Qais Marafie, CEO, Kuwait Life Sciences Company.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

The government is making strategic policy adjustments to stay ahead of trends in health care
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As with many developed countries, the health challenges that Kuwait is likely to face over the next few years are different than those it has dealt with in the past. To overcome these new circumstances, the government is looking to restructure the sector to make it more responsive to current and future needs, and especially to encourage more participation by the private sector. Historical Background In 1912, American missionaries established a clinic in Kuwait at the behest of the then-ruler, Sheikh…

Interview

OBG talks to Qais Marafie, CEO, Kuwait Life Sciences Company
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Interview:Qais Marafie How detrimental is the lack of medical manpower to the advancement of the health care sector? QAIS MARAFIE: With the huge expansion in the number of beds in public hospitals and the construction of new, larger facilities, there will be even greater demand for medical professionals in the country, at a time when international demand for staff is also rising, especially in nursing and technology. It is important to incentivise locals to fill such positions by creating…

Analysis

Faced with a rise in non-communicable diseases, authorities are trying to persuade people to live healthier
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The so-called lifestyle diseases – especially diabetes, heart disease and obesity – have long been on the rise in Kuwait, and remain a concern. According to the Dasman Diabetes Institute (DDI), a tertiary health organisation, 17% of adult Kuwaitis suffer from diabetes, compared to 9% two decades ago. Coronary heart disease, meanwhile, has become the leading cause of death, and 70% of Kuwaitis are considered obese. Lifestyles Choices As elsewhere in the developed world, where similar increases…

Analysis

Increasing provision: Ongoing efforts to tackle growing demand for health services
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As Kuwait moves forward on health care reforms aimed at expanding service provision for its growing population, the private sector is set to play a larger role in the industry. While free health care is guaranteed to all Kuwaiti citizens, population growth has put considerable strain on state-owned facilities. The government has recently announced several new projects slated to be constructed across the country, with public-private partnerships (PPPs) expected to bolster service quality and provision…