Uproar over steep hike in Medical test fee for Kuwait from India

Manpower Recruiters Association in Indian state of Kerala approach ministry of external affairs to quash the current system wherein foreign companies are permitted to conduct medical screening of Indian candidates leaving for jobs in Kuwait.

According to new notification from the Kuwait Consulate General in Mumbai, new visa holders leaving to Kuwait from Indian are required to conduct their medical test in India only by the private firm Khadamat Integrated Solutions Pvt Ltd, which is reportedly collecting Rs 24,000 for medical screening as against Rs 3,600 collected by previous company GAMCA.

"The fee currently charged by Khadamat is excessive and the company does not have facilities to conduct tests at its offices. Though GAMCA used to charge Rs 3,600 for the procedure, this was also unwanted. Our demand to the ministry is to appoint Indian companies to do the procedure without allowing foreign firms to swindle money in the country," said K Sreenivasan, president of Kerala Manpower Exporters Association. According to Sreenivasan, countries like Sri Lanka and Philippines have stopped permitting foreign companies to conduct medical screening. Khadamat is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kuwait based Public Services Company.

Khadamat Integrated Solutions Pvt Ltd only holds the right to conduct medical screening of job aspirants in India leaving for Kuwait. That also can be done only in 4 places in India. ie Cochin, Mumbai, Delhi & Hyderbad. After medical screening, candidates are also required to get visa stamping done by Kuwait Embassy, which costs Rs 12,000.

According to the Kuwait consulate in Mumbai, The decision has been taken by the ministry of health in Kuwait.

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