KUWAIT CITY, Sept 12: The Ministry of Health announced the suspension of “Afia” health insurance services for retirees effective Thursday due to the insurance company’s failure to meet the requirements for extending the “Afia 3” contract. In a press release, the ministry stated that the insurance company had also refused to adhere to the previous terms and prices without increases, and it abdicated its contractual responsibilities and relinquished accountability for the lack of insurance coverage and guarantees provided by re-insurers.

The Ministry of Health affirmed that it is coordinating with the country’s legal and other concerned authorities, including the Fatwa and Legislation Department, to clarify the legal procedures to be followed in response to the company’s evasion of contractual obligations and refusal to meet the contract extension requirements, which violate the terms of the concluded contract.

The ministry stated that it will pursue all necessary legal actions against the company, including filing a lawsuit and seeking compensation for damages resulting from the breach of contract, adding that it will also activate all penalty clauses stipulated in the contract. The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to providing comprehensive health care services - primary, secondary, and specialized, including diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitative care - to citizens covered by Afia health insurance. It pledged to prioritize these citizens and all eligible groups while adhering to the laws currently in effect in the country. In this context, several experts and retirees have called on Minister of Finance Noura Al-Fassam to address the concerns and challenges faced by their segment.

The number of retirees has increased to approximately 151,448 citizens as of the middle of this year. They include 85,199 men and around 66,000 women. However, this number may double by the end of the year due to the increasing number of retirement requests, which have surged following the implementation of the third fingerprint requirement and the general trend to raise the retirement age. They stressed the need to open additional branches of the Public Institution for Social Security to handle transactions efficiently and alleviate the severe congestion currently experienced. They also called for the launch of evening shifts in all branches and the improvement of the Public Institution for Social Security’s website, due to the constant disruptions.

They expressed frustration with the ongoing bureaucracy in the customer service halls in various branches of the Public Institution for Social Security. The news about the suspension of Afia medical insurance for retirees came as a shock. Questions were raised about why the state delayed the construction of private hospitals for retirees, especially since there are designated lands for this purpose. In this regard, retiree and writer Nawaf Al-Mutairi highlighted the urgent need to solve the issue of overcrowding in the Public Institution for Social Security’s branches. He said visitors often have to wait for a long time to complete their transactions, which are sometimes delayed or disrupted due to system outages.

Al-Mutairi stressed the importance of extending operating hours to include evenings at all branches of the Public Institution for Social Security. He indicated that many elderly retirees struggle with the institution’s website and cannot complete transactions online, especially as the number of retirees exceeds 151,000, adding that this number is expected to double by the end of the year due to the implementation of the third fingerprint requirement and the general trend to raise the retirement age. Al-Mutairi expressed his dissatisfaction with the sudden suspension of Afia medical insurance, stressing that it has exacerbated the difficulties faced by retirees. He criticized the Public Institution for Social Security for not securing an alternative provider before terminating the contract with the previous company, and he wondered where retirees who are accustomed to Afia’s services are supposed to turn for medical care. Al-Mutairi insisted that expediting the construction of private hospitals for retirees is essential, such that there should be a hospital in each governorate. He also questioned why the medical city, for which land was allocated by the municipality three years ago, has not yet been completed. In a related context, a Professor in the Accounting Department of Kuwait University Dr. Sadiq Al-Bassam affirmed the need to solve the problems faced by retirees due to their increasing numbers.

He highlighted the urgency of resolving the congestion problem at the main center of the Public Institution for Social Security and its affiliated branches. Dr. Al-Bassam proposed increasing the number of branches, starting evening shifts at all branches, and expanding the workforce, as well as addressing issues related to online transaction disruptions. While Dr. Al-Bassam supported the suspension of Afia, he said the Ministry of Health must fulfill its commitment to providing treatment to retirees, as it had strongly pledged after Afia’s suspension. He suggested that the Ministry of Health establish private sector hospitals dedicated solely to retiree care, with oversight from the ministry. Dr. Al-Bassam stressed that delegating this responsibility to the private sector would alleviate some of the burdens on the state. He emphasized the importance of treating elderly retirees with compassion and ensuring that their needs are fully met.

Meanwhile, retiree Bu Abdulrahman said the growing challenges faced by retirees need to be addressed, especially since many are elderly and in poor health. He pointed out the fact that the website for handling transactions frequently malfunctions due to high demand. Bu Abdulrahman explained that it is particularly challenging for elderly retirees to wait for three hours or more to complete their transactions.

Also, recent retirees often face the additional burden of having to visit the ministry where they previously worked and the Public Institution for Social Security multiple times before their transactions are completed. This process can take several months, leaving retirees without their pensions during that period. He urged the new Minister of Finance Noura Al-Fassam to prioritize retirees’ rights and issues, pointing out the directives from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad to resolve the concerns affecting the public. Bu Abdulrahman highlighted that studies and recommendations from advisors to former ministers have been pending implementation for four years, adding that he wondered how much longer retirees will have to wait for these recommendations to be enacted. He stressed the need for solutions that would allow them to maintain a decent standard of living amid global infl ation and rising prices. Bu Abdulrahman expressed hope that the Public Institution for Social Security will expand its workforce and open additional branches across various governorates. This is particularly important given the noticeable increase in retirement applications. He said, “While many transactions can be handled online, many others still require in-person attendance.”

Furthermore, another retiree Bader Al-Ali said , “There is a real suffering among the segment of retirees due to the delay in completing transactions during the past years”. He called for extending the operating hours in the Public Institution for Social Security’s branches to include evening shifts to better accommodate the elderly, who have devoted their lives to serving the country. Al-Ali questioned the rationale behind abruptly suspending Afia insurance for retirees without prior notice. He stressed the need to hold accountable the company responsible for Afia, as closing this service has created an undue burden on retirees. Al-Ali expressed concern that transitioning from Afia to Ministry of Health services will exacerbate pressure on citizens.

In this regard, the coordinator of the Pensioners’ Gathering Nabeel Aber Al- Shammari has urged the new Minister of Finance Noura Al-Fassam to prioritize the needs and demands of retirees. He explained that the major demands include increasing the soft loan limit to 21 times the salary and setting the monthly installment at ten percent of the pension, as well as raising the salaries for those with shares and revising the rules for combining pensions with other entitlements. They also need to boost pensions for all retirees, particularly those under the fifth chapter, similar to the rest of the retirees, and to cancel the replacement interest. He stressed the necessity of expediting the resolution of retirees’ issues in consideration of their significant contributions to the country, as well as removing obstacles in completing transactions, both online and at Public Institutions for Social Security branches. In addition, the Public Institution for Social Security has released statistics on its official website regarding the transactions and certificates issued during the first half of 2024. According to the statistics, the institution received 591,490 visitors during that period and completed a total of 149,459 transactions both in person and electronically. Of these transactions, 81,913 were conducted at the institution’s branches through direct interaction, while 67,546 transactions were processed via electronic

By Marwa Al-Bahrawi and Najeh Bilal
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff