KUWAIT CITY, Dec 22: Several doctors have uninstalled the smart fingerprint application, which the Ministry of Health began implementing on an experimental basis from December 4 to January 4, in preparation for its official launch on January 5.
They revealed that many doctors removed the application from their phones during the current trial period, citing concerns about privacy violations.

The sources expressed concerns about the application’s continuous tracking and monitoring of doctors outside of official working hours on a 24/7 basis. They raised questions about whether the Ministry of Health might face challenges in implementing the fingerprint system, given the concerns of doctors who have chosen to delete the program. The sources affirmed the need for the ministry to reassure doctors and all employees about the safety of the program, and offer guarantees that their privacy will not be compromised. They urged the ministry to launch awareness campaigns and initiatives that clearly explain the program and its mechanisms and ensure doctors and all technical and administrative staff feel confident about its security and privacy protections. The sources questioned whether the Ministry of Health had fully considered the unique nature of doctors’ work, particularly their need to attend meetings outside of official working hours. These may include participation in higher committees for treatment abroad, meetings with external entities, or other healthcare- related gatherings outside their regular workplaces.

This raises concerns about how the smart fingerprint system will be applied in such cases. They highlighted concerns among some doctors regarding the security and safety of storing their private information and data, as doctors’ files contain sensitive details, including their personal information, vacation records, salaries, and other confidential data. The sources raised questions about the origin of the program, whether it was developed internally by the ministry’s Information Systems Department or purchased from an external provider. They also questioned the necessity of requiring doctors and employees to take repeated photographs, stressing that this step seems redundant since they already provide a fingerprint scan, sometimes multiple times. It is worth noting that the Ministry of Health has introduced the smart fingerprint system for all employees, including doctors, nurses, administrators, pharmacists, engineers, and other workers. The trial phase is part of the ministry’s digital transformation strategy, aimed at improving efficiency and in line with the highest standards of governance.