According to the Director of Public Health in the Ministry of Health Dr Fahad Al-Ghumlas, a new list will be released to include non-contagious diseases such as diabetes, for which an expatriates must undergo tests before entering the country.

At present, expatriates are tested for contagious diseases such as Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B and C, and HIV/Aids. Dr Fahad Al-Ghumlas said the recommendation for 2019 list will be approved within the next few days to include diabetes and other diseases, which will prevent expatriates from residing or working in Kuwait.

According to local media report, diabetic is added to the list as a measure to relieve the state treasury of more burden coupled with the increasing costs of medical care for expatriates.

Dr Ghumlas said that diabetes indirectly leads to death considering the complexities involved. He stressed that the essence of recruiting expatriates is for them to have strength and not to become liability.