Non-Kuwaitis married to Kuwaiti women will be added to the list of those exempt from healthcare fees at public hospitals and clinics throughout Kuwait, Health Minister Jamal Al-Harbi said on Sunday.

The minister also issued several “explanatory decisions” regarding health insurance, fees pertaining to medical prescriptions and receiving intensive care at public hospitals for non-Kuwaitis, read a ministry statement.

Intensive care fees will be subject to a medical report approved by the doctor and after consultation from the head of the specialised ward, said the minister, adding that domestic workers will not be subject to these fees.

He reiterated that the increase in the fees is due to the high expense burden of healthcare on the ministry. Those exempt from the fees include children under the age of 12, cancer patients, non-Kuwaiti women married to Kuwaitis, non-Kuwaiti mothers of Kuwaitis and the daughters of a Kuwaiti mother married to a non-Kuwaiti.

Others include people receiving care at welfare homes, Gulf Cooperation Council citizens, illegal residents, members of official delegations, transit travelers, non-Kuwaiti prisoners and students on a Kuwaiti funded grant.

Also, non-Kuwaiti blind patients will be exempt from overnight stay fees, while non-Kuwaiti special needs cases will be given the same treatment as their Kuwaiti counterparts in regards to prosthetic amputee rehabilitation.