Kuwait’s Minister of Health, Ahmed Al-Awadhi, has ordered all facilities operating under public health supervision to stop accepting cash and collect service fees exclusively through banking channels and electronic payment systems.
The directive was issued in an official letter to Al-Mundhir Al-Hasawi, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Affairs, instructing him to circulate the order to all relevant establishments.
Part of digital transformation drive
The move aligns with Kuwait’s broader digital transformation strategy and efforts to enhance transparency and financial oversight in healthcare services.
Under the new policy, all service fees must be processed via:
- Approved banking channels
- Electronic payment systems
- Properly documented digital transactions
The aim is to reduce reliance on cash handling, improve record-keeping, and strengthen regulatory oversight.
Wide scope of implementation
The decision applies to a broad range of establishments supervised by public health authorities, including:
- Health institutes
- Men’s, women’s, and children’s salons
- Sports clubs
- Private nurseries
- Private training institutes
- Pest control companies
- Businesses importing, exporting, or storing public health pesticides
Strict compliance measures
The Health Minister instructed authorities to closely monitor compliance and take necessary action against violators.
Officials described the directive as part of a broader package of regulatory reforms designed to modernize operational systems, improve governance, and reinforce financial transparency.
In a related development, the Committee for the Oversight of Salons and Health Institutes emphasized the importance of ensuring proper dissemination and enforcement of the new cashless payment rule across all regulated facilities.
