State healthcare fees for expats in Kuwait are increasing next month with the cost of some services increasing by 500% as officials say low fees have been too much of a financial burden.

According to Health Minister Dr Jamal Al-Harbi the increases are long overdue and he said that those expats who think they cannot afford them should consider alternatives such as private health insurance.

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The fees relate to certain medication and services such as X-rays and blood tests but are still expected to be around 20% less than in the private sector. Al-Harbi pointed out that fees have not been increased for many years.

It is also hoped that the increase in fees will lead to more expats using private healthcare facilities and that will ease the pressure on state provided services. Visitors face even higher charges as there will be separate scales for expats and visitors.

For example a blood test charge will go up from $65 to $820 for expats and $1,540 for visitors. A cardiac test cost will rise from $33 to $165 for expats and $330 for visitors. Charges for a pregnancy ultrasound scan will increase from $33 to $100 for expats while a CT scan will rise to $260 and an MRI scan to $390.

‘There are treatments and medications that are costly for the state and everyone has to pay for treatment, especially people on visitor visas,’ Al-Harbi added.

According to officials around three million expats use the state public health service. They are being encouraged to move into the private sector and new clinics and hospitals are being built under the Health Insurance Hospitals Company for the use of expats.

Overall three hospitals and 15 clinics are planned to be fully operational by 2020 with the first departments opening in the next couple of months. The ultimate goal is for all expats, except those on low pay will be required to have private health insurance.

However, there are no guarantees about prices in the private sector. Some believe that the recent increase in electricity and water tariffs will mean private hospitals and clinics facing higher utility bills which will be passed on to customers.

Currently costs differ from clinic to clinic in the private sector. According to the Union of Owners of Private Medical Professions, this is because rents and other costs vary depending on location so it pays to shop around.