KUWAIT CITY, Nov 29: The second batch of Pakistani medical staff, constituting 232 doctors, technicians and nurses will arrive in Kuwait in the coming days to help confront the Corona pandemic, along with the national and local teams, after the Ministry of Health completed all procedures for their recruitment, reports Al-Jarida daily.

The first batch of the Pakistani medical delegation that arrived in the country in October included 208 doctors, technicians and nurses. With the arrival of the second batch, the total number of Pakistani staff in Kuwait is 440, constituting 97 doctors, 280 nurses and 63 technicians.

Informed health sources said the second batch includes doctors in anesthesiology, intensive care, internal medicine and chest diseases, as well as nurses specialized in intensive and abdominal care. They indicated the batch will work in Jaber and Farwaniyah hospitals, as well as Kuwait Field Hospital at the exhibition grounds.

Contracts and financial benefits

The same sources indicated the ministry few weeks ago had sent the contracts for the second batch of Pakistani medical teams, including salaries and financial benefits they would receive during their stay in Kuwait.

They stated the decision to bring in medical teams from Pakistan is within the framework of joint medical and technical cooperation agreement and exchange of experiences between the two countries, as signed by the Ministry of Health in early July- with the aim of strengthening cooperation between the two sides.
It is worth noting the Pakistani medical staff will be recruited through the "Lokum" system and their services used for a period of 3 months. However, their appointment will be extended for an additional three months; thus serving the ministry for up to 6 months without transferring sponsorship.
Also, Ministry of Health is studying the possibility of appointing several members of the team at the end of their contract so as to continue using their services in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Psychological counseling

On the other hand, Ministry of Health has completed all arrangements and procedures for launching and inaugurating support services and psychological counseling for citizens and residents at primary health care centers. The launch of this service will soon be announced in all 105 clinics across the country.

Informed health sources revealed that doctors have been assigned to the health centers to provide all aspects of psychological support services in a manner comparable to what is provided by Kuwait Center for Mental Health, such as depression, anxiety and others. They indicated that support and psychological counseling service in the clinics is unique and considered the first of its kind in the region, launched after the Covid-19 pandemic in Kuwait and the world.

Provision of medicines

The sources explained that the medical warehouses will provide medicine for treating anxiety, depression and hallucinations in the health centers, as provided at the Kuwait Center for Mental Health for those who suffer tension, isolation, anxiety and fear of the future, besides responding to mental health inquiries- especially during the escalation of Corona epidemic in Kuwait in the months of April, May, June, July and August.