KUWAIT CITY, April 10: The Ministry of Interior is seriously considering the possibility of asking the Psychiatric Hospital Administration — through the Ministry of Health — to provide the list of expatriate psychiatric patients in order to check if anyone among them is holding a driver’s license, reports Al-Rai daily quoting sources from the security sector. This came after the daily published a report about the health minister’s response to a parliamentary query, stating that the Psychiatric Hospital opened files for more than 36,000 expatriates from 1953 to 2020.

Speaking to the daily, sources explained the Interior Ministry will use the list as reference for withdrawing the driver’s license if proven that the holder cannot drive due to his mental condition as per the recommendation of his doctor. Sources said the files of expatriates at the hospital and their number have become a cause of concern for security entities, which will study the information they received and issue strict instructions to deal with such sensitive files.

Sources affirmed the Ministry of Interior keeps a record of citizens and expatriates involved in drug abuse cases and those who have been placed under psychiatric care. Sources said these people are under security control, especially since the condition of some of them will get worse if they do not complete the treatment.