(MENAFN- Arab Times) KUWAIT CITY Nov 11: The Health Social and Labor Affairs Committee in the Parliament will approve next week a draft bill requiring foreigners who visit the country to obtain health insurance prior to the issuance of entry visa says Committee Rapporteur MP Saadoun Hammad Al-Otaibi.
In a press statement Tuesday Al- Otaibi disclosed that the committee has agreed to discuss the comments of the ministers of Foreign Affairs Interior Social Affairs and Labor before endorsing the bill. In another development the Civil Court has instructed the government to pay KD 5001 compensation to MP Abdul-Hameed Dashti for removing him from the list of winners in the last parliamentary elections.
This came after the Constitutional Court reinstated Dashti to the Parliament as he landed on the 10th position in the First Constituency. On the other hand Minister of Justice Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Yakoub Al-Sanei has referred to the National Assembly a request to lift the parliamentary immunity of Dashti in view of the lawsuit filed against him for issuing statements deemed offensive to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Earlier the Public Prosecutor interrogated Dashti and referred the case to the concerned court. He was released on KD 1000 bail upon completion of interrogations.
Meanwhile MP Nabil Al-Fadel has presented queries to Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hind Al-Sabeeh on the financial violations committed by some local charitable organizations. He said a team from the ministry had previously looked into the activities of the charitable organizations and their branches; resulting in the discovery of several irregularities like raising funds without a license and financial violations. He revealed the ministry prepared a detailed report on violations uncovered in 27 branches of the Social Reform Society (SRS); hence the decision of the minister to close these branches. He argued the closure of the erring branches is not enough; asserting the minister should have referred those behind the violations to the concerned authorities such as the Public Prosecution or the General Investigation Department.
Al-Fadel then asked the minister to provide him with pertinent details like the amount collected by the 27 SRS branches how this money was spent actions taken after discovering the illegal collection of cash donations assets of the society in Kuwaiti banks deposits loans and real estate funds registered under its name among others. On another issue Chairman of the Priorities Committee MP Yousef Al- Zalzalah revealed the panel has reached an agreement with the government to finalize discussions on the items in its agenda; as well as the security agreement and increasing capital in sectors wherein the executive authority owns shares. He said the committee had asked its Women and Family Affairs counterpart to complete the Child Rights Bill within two weeks for inclusion in the agenda of the Parliament.
Deal signed on expat medicals
The Health Ministry has signed a contract with a local trading and construction company for the medical examination of expatriate workers hired from the Philippines and Sri Lanka reports Al-Qabas daily quoting reliable sources.
Sources disclosed the two parties have yet to reach an agreement on the financial aspect of the project as the company still needs to assess the cost of implementation in both countries. Sources said the company will officially announce implementation of the project immediately after determining the cost and finalizing the deal with the ministry.
Sources confirmed the same project has been implemented in Egypt and Jordan resulting in the discovery of chronic diseases among those applying for jobs in Kuwait. Sources added 11 Jordanians were banned from entering Kuwait this year because they were found to be infected with chronic diseases.
Sources went on to say the authority which will carry out the project in the Philippines and Sri Lanka will conduct a study on the prices taxes rent of buildings and salaries of employees in those countries before agreeing with the ministry on the financial aspect of the contract. In another development a knowledgeable source has revealed that the Ministry of Health floated a tender to expand and equip the new surgery rooms and intensive care units in Jahra Hospital. He added the project is handled by the concerned surveillance authorities and they are working to obtain approval to move towards its implementation. He disclosed the ministry submitted the project to the Central Tenders Committee in October in order to accommodate the growing population in Jahra and provide the best services to those residing in the governorate.
By: Abubakar A. Ibrahim Arab Times Staff
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