Workshop seeks to standardize expat medical exam procedures

KUWAIT: Kuwait hosted a specialized training workshop for members of the technical committees of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries under the “Wafid” program, aimed at enhancing cooperation and unifying health procedures related to the medical examination of expatriate workers. The three-day workshop was jointly organized by Kuwait’s Ministry of Health, represented by the Public Health Department, and the Health Council of the GCC countries.

Director of the Public Health Department at the Ministry of Health, Dr Fahad Al-Ghamlas, said in a press statement on Thursday that the workshop brings together a select group of doctors and public health specialists from across the GCC, all of whom are involved in the medical screening of expatriates from labor-exporting countries.

Participants take group photos after the technical committees workshop for the Wafid Program. – KUNA photos

Dr Al-Ghamlas noted that the workshop focuses on reviewing and updating the regulations governing medical examinations for expatriates entering GCC countries for employment or residency, ensuring alignment with regional and global health standards. He explained that participants are also being trained on the use of the guide to accreditation standards for medical examination centers and the application of a modern electronic evaluation form to assess center performance.

“The workshop marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to develop the external medical examination system for expatriates,” he said, adding that the initiative will bolster the reliability of health screening procedures and contribute to the early detection of communicable and non-communicable diseases, thereby reducing the health and economic burdens on GCC healthcare systems.

Dr Al-Ghamlas said the program includes several key components, including hands-on training in technical evaluation methods, review of unified Gulf health requirements, and updates to clinical, laboratory, and radiological examination protocols in line with the latest internationally approved standards. He added that Kuwait’s hosting of the workshop for the second time reflects its commitment to a unified regional strategy aimed at strengthening integration among GCC countries in the field of health policy. The initiative seeks to ensure the highest standards of quality and excellence in both preventive and therapeutic healthcare services across the region. — KUNA