KUWAIT: The Minister of Health, Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi, issued a decision to close four private clinics for committing violations, including subcontracting, and committing health violations, in addition to employing workers who do not hold licenses to practice medical professions.

It is worth mentioning that the minister recently temporarily suspended granting and issuance of licenses for private pharmacies, until the completion of the study to evaluate their status.

Moreover, he issued a decision to establish a central electronic system under the supervision of the ministry, through which prescribing medicines and preparations dispensed from private sector pharmacies will be regulated.

The decision is the first of its kind in 2024. The minister had cracked down on dozens of clinics in 2023, the last of which was a dermatology and beauty clinic shut down in December. A doctor at the clinic was also suspended. The decision had come based on the recommendations of a team investigating a report of a child going under the knife at the clinic. The inspection team has also found a number of violations in accordance with Law No 70 of 2020 regarding the regulation of the medical profession.