Emergency departments in hospitals began applying a policy of quick examination of expatriates to determine whether the patient is to be admitted or transferred to health centers in the area where he or she belongs, local daily Kuwait Times reported citing Al Rai Arabic daily.

According to report, 70 percent of emergency department cases are expats suffering from simple medical symptoms that can be dealt with by primary health care centers and this new system will ease pressure on emergency departments. The pre-check-up will be conducted by a nurse who has experience in dealing with emergency cases.

If the expat patient is found to not requiring immediate medical intervention such as cases of mild diarrhea, cough or common cold, he will be transferred to his medical center, the manager of a health area said on the condition of anonymity.