Kuwait tightens controls on narcotics and cosmetic surgery

Kuwait is tightening oversight of narcotic medicines and psychotropic substances while rewriting rules for cosmetic surgery and related procedures. Health Minister Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi issued a series of decrees covering medical research, pharmaceutical production, transport and clinical use.

One decree allows narcotic plants to be cultivated only with a Health Ministry license, and only for medical or scientific research by specified entities. It establishes requirements for licensing, documentation, seed and plant preservation, movement tracking, site security and continuous monitoring. Entities must also submit periodic reports and coordinate responses to crop loss or damage.

Separate rules govern psychotropic substances carried on international aircraft and ships. They set permitted quantities for first-aid and emergencies, assign custody responsibilities and restrict administration to licensed practitioners or first-aid staff. Storage, dispensing, documentation and the handling of loss or breakage will also face defined procedures.

The ministry will limit the production of medicines containing narcotic or psychotropic substances to licensed pharmaceutical factories. Registration, inventories, inspections, tracking and reporting will form part of the regulatory system. A new Customs Follow-up and Coordination Department will work with customs and other regulators to speed medical shipments and maintain related databases and statistics.

The cosmetic surgery changes specify which medical specialties may perform particular procedures and set qualification and experience requirements. They also regulate laser use by nursing staff, requiring licenses, accredited training, physician supervision, pre-session examinations, documented assessments and informed consent. Patients showing psychological symptoms or disorders must receive an accredited psychiatric assessment before cosmetic surgery. Another new department at the Kuwait Cancer Control Center will build a comprehensive national cancer database.