A lack of investment along with booming population growth in Kuwait has seen the number of hospital beds per 10,000 people fall to 19 in recent years. This compares to 30 beds per 10,000 people in the US and 82 in Germany.

The government wants to bring some 3,500 new beds online over the next few years, partly through the construction of eight hospitals by 2016. The state is also investing significantly in research and training facilities, and plans to increase capacity at nine existing hospitals. In total, Kuwait has $7.3bn of healthcare projects planned or under way.

In order to receive a residency permit in Kuwait, expatriates must have health insurance. This can be secured through a private insurer, or through a government-run scheme at a cost of about KD50 a year. Some companies may include medical coverage as part of the employment contract.

As part of Kuwait’s efforts to overhaul its healthcare industry, plans are under way to privatise this scheme through the creation of a public-private partnership. The planned Kuwait Health Assurance Company will offer medical coverage to foreign workers, along with operating several hospitals and clinics. The company is expected to be operational by 2015, and will be the sole provider of insurance to about 60 per cent of foreign workers. Healthcare is free to citizens.

Once insurance is obtained, it is advisable to double-check which hospitals are included in the coverage, as the cost of private appointments is high. The country also suffers from a shortage of trained specialists, although the government is working hard to remedy this. Those with chronic medical conditions, or who need complex treatment, will find it is worth researching treatment options.

There are several major hospitals dotted across the city and the wider country. Private hospitals tend to be responsive to drop-ins and have appointments available relatively quickly. Getting treated at state-run facilities can be a somewhat different experience, with long waiting times for those who arrive on-site and extended waiting lists for appointments.