The Ministry of Health has issued a ministerial decree requiring all doctors and dentists to pass a unified national licensing examination before practising in Kuwait.
The decree was announced by Health Minister Ahmed Abdulwahab Al-Awadhi and introduces two standardized exams:
- Kuwait Medical Licensing Examination (KMLE)
- Kuwait Dental Licensing Examination (KDLE)
Under the new regulation, medical and dental professionals must successfully complete the relevant exam before practising medicine or dentistry in the country, as well as before appointment as resident physicians or assistant registrars.
National benchmark for competence
The KMLE and KDLE will serve as national benchmarks to assess:
- Scientific knowledge
- Clinical competence
- Professional standards
The stated objective is to strengthen patient safety and ensure consistently high standards of care across Kuwait’s healthcare system.
Oversight structure
A dedicated KMLE board will be established within the Kuwait Institute for Medical Specializations.
The board will be chaired by the institute’s Secretary-General and include senior representatives from health, academic, and regulatory sectors. Its responsibilities will include:
- Setting and approving examination standards
- Overseeing policies
- Ensuring governance and institutional integrity
Changes to promotion pathway
The decree also reforms the promotion process. Doctors covered under the new licensing framework will no longer need to sit for a comprehensive examination when advancing from resident to registered assistant.
Implementation timeline
The new system will come into force on 1 January 2027. Any previous regulations that conflict with the decree will be formally annulled.
The move reflects Kuwait’s broader efforts to modernize healthcare governance and reinforce quality assurance mechanisms across its medical sector.
