Two patients were transferred from Farwaniya Hospital to recover at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, a senior Ministry of Health (MoH) official said on Saturday. “(The two patients) were transferred after their condition stabilized and their presence at Farwaniya became no longer necessary,” said Dr Jamaal Al-Duaij, Director of the Infectious Diseases Hospital. He stated that his hospital does not accept patients for recovery unless their condition is stable. The two men were admitted to Farwaniya Hospital suffering from the infectious disease.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health Dr. Mustafa Al-Shamali said that all hospitals in Kuwait are capable of providing competent medical services. He categorically rejected speculation that imply Farwaniya Hospital staff are incapable of containing a meningitis outbreak within its facility.

Al-Shamali, also Minister of Finance, used the term ‘criminal’ to describe any individual “who spreads false rumors that end up damaging the image of Kuwait”. Dr. Qais Al-Duwaisri, MOH Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Affairs, told Al-Rai that the MoH possesses enough vaccine for the entire population. Yet he echoed statements of other MOH officials, who said vaccination should only be sought by people who come into direct contact with infected people.

MOH officials confirmed that there are no meningitis patients at Sabah, Jahra or Adan Hospital. Dr. Abdul-Aziz Al-Farhoud, Director of Hawally Health Directorate, said that a Canadian woman was released yesterday after her condition stabilized following successful treatment for meningitis.  Dr. Yousuf Mendekhar, Director of the General Health Department, said only 3 cases of neisseria meningitides have been confirmed, adding that he is personally keeping the World Health Organization updated.

In other news, a recently released report assessing the health sector in Kuwait indicates that the country has an average of 18 physicians to every 10 thousand people; a rate that is ten doctors lower than Qatar which has an average of 28 doctors per 10 thousand individuals. Kuwait’s average is also notably lower than average income countries such as Egypt (26 doctors per 10 thousand), Jordan (24 doctors) and Azerbaijan (38 doctors). The maximum global average for doctors per capita rate is 64 doctors per 10 thousand people, while the minimum is 14 doctors per 10 thousand.