Kuwait: Strict Measures Imposed to Prevent Drugs Manipulation

Alqabas, 20 January 2024: Sources have announced strict new controls have been approved by the Health Minister to control treatment with narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

They have also been approved to prevent narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances being exploited for abuse and addiction.

The measures are aimed at preventing the trade in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances following reports about the exploitation of these types of medicines by turning them from substances for medicinal purposes to profit making sources.

The Health Minister’s recent decision to stop the circulation of narcotic drugs outside the government medical sector followed revelations by inspection committees of 2.5 million narcotic pills in the possession of the private medical sector.

This compared to under a million narcotic pills and psychotropic substances in the public medical sector.

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Kuwait: Automatic Prescription Directives Issued

Kuwait Times, 14 January 2024: Kuwait’s Health Minister has issued automatic prescription directives.

Under the directives, prescription data for prescribed medicines dispensed by private sector pharmacies will be linked.

An electronic system for the Health Ministry will be established between the Assistant Undersecretary for Drug and Food Control Affairs and the Assistant Undersecretary for Digital Health Affairs.

The system will help link all prescription data for prescribed medicines and preparations dispensed by private sector pharmacies.

The medicines inspection department will be responsible for monitoring and ensuring the regularity of prescription registrations for medicines by private sector pharmacies in the electronic system.

All private sector pharmacies licensed to trade in prescribed medicine and regulate their circulation must register with the system in line with the specified conditions and procedures.

They must also create a dedicated account for each private pharmacy in the electronic system. The pharmacy licence holder and the pharmacist in charge of the pharmacy will be jointly responsible for all prescription data uploaded to the pharmacy’s account.

The pharmacist in charge must ensure that prescription data for prescribed medicines and preparations meet all the necessary conditions outlined in the prescriptions for these substances and the procedures for their circulation, in line with Ministerial Decisions, before dispensing to the patient.

They must also register and upload each prescription of the substances and preparations dispensed in the pharmacy to the electronic system.

In addition, they must verify that prescriptions received by the pharmacy are issued by doctors registered in the Ministry’s electronic system. No prescriptions may be dispensed unless they meet the required conditions.

They must download the prescription onto the electronic system after dispensing to ensure clarity as well.

A photocopy in PDF format should be created. This should contain the pharmacist’s seal and the pharmacy’s seal and be stored with the original copy in the pharmacy.

The data should match the records in the pharmacy’s register of prescribed medicines and preparations.

This process must be completed on the same date as the dispensing of the prescription.

The pharmacy licence holder and the pharmacist responsible for dispensing the prescription must be legally accountable for all prescription data uploaded to the pharmacy’s account in the electronic system.

Licences, permits and approvals for these pharmacies will not be issued or renewed in the event of non-compliance with the directives.

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Kuwait: Draft Law Amending Criminal Procedures and Trials Law Rejected

Alqabas, 2 January 2024: The Kuwaiti government has rejected a draft law amending the Criminal Procedures and Trials Law.

The government stated that the periods included in the rehabilitation proposal are not intended to achieve its desired goal. This would undermine the interest of society in enabling criminals whose crime has been verified, pursuant to a final judicial ruling, to evade its effects immediately after the punishment is implemented or after a few months have passed.

It has also rejected a draft law amending Kuwait Law No. 8/2010 on the rights of persons with disabilities.

The government stated that the proposed law contains many observations, which may lead to a negative result that harms the rights of persons with disabilities.

It also risks the government not being able to honour its commitments.

For the full story, click here.

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Kuwait: Electronic Driving Licences for Expatriates Launched

Gulf News (United Arab Emirates), 11 December 2023: Kuwait’s Interior Minister has approved a Decision introducing electronic driving licences for expatriates in the country.

Under Kuwait Ministerial Decision No. 410/2023, the licences will be valid for one year and may be renewed.

It means physical driving licences will not be available to this group.

Expatriates will be able to renew their licences electronically via the Interior Ministry’s website or the Sahel application.

The Kuwait Mobile ID section in the application will activate the new licences.

Residents can check their licence status via this section as well. If the licence is valid, there will be a green tick. If the licence has expired, there will be a red mark instead.

The licences of domestic and international truck drivers are not affected by the new Decision.

Kuwait residents travelling abroad must use licences from their respective countries.

Also reported in Alrai on 10 December 2023. For the full story, click here.

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Kuwait: New Residency Law Finalised

Kuwait Times, 2 December 2023: The Kuwaiti government has announced it has finalised a new residency law. It will refer the law to the Interior and Defence Committees of the country’s National Assembly to consider. It is then expected to be approved by the National Assembly by the end of the year.

The law specifies the regulations for foreigners’ entry, deportation, iqama trade and penalties.

It also grants Kuwaiti women married to foreigners the right to sponsor their husbands and children, provided they haven’t obtained nationality under Article 8 of the new law., This provision relates to expatriate women naturalised by marrying Kuwaiti citizens. In addition, it authorises hotels and aparthotels to report the residence of foreigners.

A Ministerial Decision will determine fees for residency permits, renewals and all entry visas.

The law prohibits iqama trade through exploitation and imposes penalties of up to three years in jail and a fine of between 5,000 and 10,000 Dinars on violators. Only the country’s Public Prosecution will be able to issue residency trade pardons.

Domestic worker amendments mean domestic workers will be allowed to have regular residency permits for the duration of their contract period. If a domestic worker’s permit is cancelled when they leave the job, they must leave Kuwait within the specified timeframes unless a new residency is obtained.

To transfer the domestic worker’s permit, the employer must give their approval and the worker cannot stay outside Kuwait for more than four months without permission from the Interior Ministry.

The Interior Minister will be able to deport foreigners, even if they have residency permits, on public interest, general security, public morality or lack of a legal source of income grounds.

Deportation decisions may include dependents and the deportee can be jailed for up to 30 days. This can be extended if required.

The Interior Minister can exempt deported foreigners from fines after they have left Kuwait. Heads of state, members of the diplomatic corps and official employees are exempt from the law. Foreigners will be able to stay for up to three months. This can be extended for up to a year.

Foreigners can also stay in Kuwait for five years, while children of Kuwaiti women and real estate owners can stay for 10 years and investors may be granted residency permits for 15 years.

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Kuwait: Parliamentary Code of Conduct Proposal Being Discussed

Alrai Media, 27 November 2023: Kuwait’s Parliament is discussing a letter from MP Dr Jinan Bushehri, requesting a Parliamentary code of conduct be referred to the Council’s office for approval.

The letter includes a definition of the Code of Parliamentary Work.

The Code will be based on a set of standards, principles and guidelines that helps achieve transparency, improve the integrity of representatives and Parliamentary practice in a way befitting it and the process and integrity of democracy in Kuwait.

The Code aims to fortify the reputation of representatives and the Parliamentary institution as well as improve voter confidence in them.

It also aims to lay the foundations to make them good and influential role models in approving and activating codes of conduct in the country at executive and judicial authorities.

To read the full story, click here.

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Kuwait: Debt Restructuring Guidelines Apply to All Retired Borrowers

Alrai, 15 November 2023: Sources have confirmed the Central Bank has confirmed its debt restructuring guidelines apply to all retired borrowers.

This is the case even where they retired before 29 May 2023 and are listed with the Social Insurance General Organisation.

The Bank issued this clarification because there was an assumption banks can only offer debt restructuring to new pensioners.

To read the full story, click here.

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