MoH launches ‘virtual office’, seeks to cut cost

Kuwait: Kuwait is looking to minimize the number of health offices overseas by downsizing staff and closing offices in some countries as a cost-cutting measure, Minister of Health Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi said. The step comes in tandem with a new project called the ‘virtual office’ that the minister announced Saturday and aims to handle matters related to patients sent by the government for treatment abroad through the Ministry’s digital system.

The program, described by the minister as “a quantum leap and unique step in the health system,” allows the Ministry to stay in touch with patients abroad virtually to help accelerate their treatment period. It is part of the Ministry’s efforts to transition to digital services. The virtual office “aims to accelerate the pace and facilitate communication with patients abroad and measures with Kuwait’s embassies through positive cooperation with other countries’ foreign ministries,” the minister said, adding that the Ministry is considering expanding virtual offices working around the clock.

Kuwait’s Health Minister declared on Saturday the launch of a virtual office to deal with overseas patients. The virtual office will lessen cost through minimizing overseas health offices. Al-Awadhi pointed out that programs were implemented after being approved by the Civil Service Commission. He underlined the importance of moving to a digital system in accordance with a well-studied plan. In addition, the minister affirmed that several projects would be inaugurated through the launch of the ministry’s strategic plan. He finally reiterated his eagerness to develop the health system in a way that serves citizens, the statement noted.

Meanwhile, Assistant Undersecretary for Foreign Health Services Affairs at the Ministry of Health, Dr Hisham Kalander, said on Saturday that the launch of the virtual health office comes within the Ministry’s policy, which is in line with the state’s orientation towards rationalizing spending and enhancing effectiveness in resource management.

Dr Kalander said in a press release that the idea of the virtual health office began to crystallize since 2023, when a technical committee was formed to develop the work mechanisms. He explained that cooperation was made with the embassies of Kuwait and permanent missions to international organizations to ensure the success of this initiative, explaining that the pilot phase, which was launched at the beginning of the year, resulted in the application of requests to bear medical expenses in countries such as Thailand.