Latest news with #PADA
Arab Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Arab Times
Crackdown on Fictitious Disabilities Files Saves Big Money
KUWAIT CITY, June 1: Acting Director of the Public Authority for Disabled Affairs (PADA) Wafaa Al-Mahanna revealed that the decision of the authority to suspend the files of persons with disabilities whose data have not been updated led to savings of KD166,445 per month or KD1.998 million per year, reports Al-Jarida daily. Al-Mahanna told the daily that the total number of these cases reached 826 -- 183 of which reported to the authority. He gave a breakdown of these cases as follows: three died in 2017, 2022 and 2025 respectively; 18 renewed their registration; 40 had appointments; 46 appeared before the committees but their renewal requests were denied; 25 renewed their registration with reduction in the severity of their disability -- from severe to moderate or from moderate to mild; 51 renewed their registration with the same degree of disability; and 643 neither reported to the authority nor responded to repeated calls to update their data and documents and re-submit them to the relevant medical committees. She confirmed that these individuals were given a 60- day grace period to respond and update their information, but they did not do so. She said the authority ensured that they were notified on the need to review their cases through various means like SMS messages, Sahel application or WhatsApp. 'After exhausting all available means, the authority was forced to suspend their files pending review and update,' she added. She revealed the financial impact of the suspension was as follows: 201 learning disability cases received a total of KD37,185,000 monthly or KD446,220,000 annually; 96 minor disability cases received KD17,760,000 monthly or KD213,120,000 annually; and 11 moderate disability cases received KD2,475,000 monthly or KD29,700,000 annually. On moderate disability cases receiving household worker and driver allowances; 277 cases got a total of KD27,700 monthly or KD332,400 annually; 114 moderate disability cases receiving personal, household worker and driver allowances got KD37,050 or KD444,600 annually; three severe disability cases receiving personal allowance got KD825 monthly or KD9,900 annually; 57 other severe disability cases receiving a household worker allowance got KD8,550 monthly or KD102,600 annually; 41 severe disability cases receiving personal, driver and household allowances got KD17,424 monthly or KD209,100 annually; five severe disability cases receiving household and disabled care allowances got KD2,250 monthly or KD27,000 annually; and 21 cases receiving personal, household, driver and disabled care allowances got KD15,225 monthly or KD182,700 annually.
Arab Times
26-05-2025
- Health
- Arab Times
'Kuwait Disability Index 2025' to strengthen disability rights and services
KUWAIT CITY, May 26: The Minister of Social Affairs, Family Affairs, and Childhood, Dr. Amthal Al-Huwailah, announced the official launch of the "Kuwait Disability Index 2025" on Monday, marking a significant step in the country's commitment to both national legislation and international agreements on disability rights. Speaking to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) about the initiative, Dr. Al-Huwailah emphasized that the launch aligns with Law No. 73/2020, particularly Article 48, Clause 17, which mandates the establishment of clear scientific standards for diagnosing disabilities. Additionally, the law requires that these standards be made publicly available through the Public Authority for Disability Affairs' (PADA) official website. The comprehensive reference guide, which has been under development for the past ten years, is the result of collaborative efforts involving experts from the United Nations, the World Health Organization (WHO), the PADA's medical and technical committees, and specialists from the Ministry of Health (MoH). The aim is to provide precise and standardized criteria for diagnosing various types of disabilities, including mental, physical, psychological, mobility, visual, and hearing impairments. Dr. Al-Huwailah explained that the reference guide will not only assist specialists in making accurate decisions but will also promote fairness and consistency in the procedures followed across medical, educational, and employment sectors. The guide serves as a key tool for unifying the diagnostic process, ensuring that all individuals receive the appropriate support based on their unique needs. Highlighting the social importance of the initiative, Dr. Al-Huwailah stressed that protecting the rights of people with disabilities is a shared national responsibility. She reaffirmed the country's commitment to providing equitable opportunities for individuals with disabilities, ensuring their active participation in community development. Dr. Al-Huwailah also expressed her gratitude to all those who contributed to the creation of the guide, emphasizing Kuwait's continued support for the disabled community and their full integration into society. In a related statement, Wafaa Al-Muhanna, the Acting Director General of PADA, described the guide as an essential tool in advancing transparency and promoting awareness of disability issues in society. Al-Muhanna pointed out that the guide will help government and medical agencies accurately assess and categorize disabilities, ensuring a consistent approach to diagnosis and care. Al-Muhanna noted that the guide would be uploaded on PADA's official website in compliance with Law No. 8/2010, and it is designed to serve both governmental agencies and medical professionals working with individuals with disabilities. The official launch of the "Kuwait Reference for Disability 2025" marks a milestone in the country's ongoing efforts to create a more inclusive society and enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.
Arab Times
11-05-2025
- Health
- Arab Times
68,739 Registered Disability Cases in Kuwait
KUWAIT CITY, May 11: The latest statistics of the Public Authority for Disabled Affairs (PADA) revealed that the number of disability cases of various categories registered at the authority has reached 68,739, reports Al-Anba daily. The authority gave a breakdown of the cases per category as follows: 17,939 mental disabilities (the largest number); 15,228 mobility disabilities;11,978 physical disabilities; 7,778 learning disabilities; 5,505 hearing disabilities; 5,390 visual disabilities; 2,534 psychological disabilities; 1,897 developmental disabilities; and 495 unspecified cases. A source from the authority disclosed that the requirements for opening a file for different disability cases include the following: Latest medical report from a government hospital; Valid civil identification card of the applicant; Civil identification cards and birth certificates of parents if the applicant is below 21 years old; If the applicant is a Bedoun, a copy of a valid security card showing the civil identification number and birth certificate if the applicant is a Bedoun child; If the applicant is a non-Kuwaiti with a Kuwaiti mother, birth certificate, civil identification and nationality cards of the mother, and the latest medical report in Arabic or English (should not be more than one year old) from a government hospital; For hearing impairment cases, the latest hearing test (not older than three to six months), attending physician's comments and signature on the OAE & ABRTEST - Diagnosis and Speech Test; For hearing and visual impairment cases, a medical report, a hearing impairment diagnosis, and a completed hearing committee form. For those with learning and psychological disabilities, a medical report from a government hospital or from a center accredited by PADA, a psychological report, an intelligence test, and reports sent by schools to the Education Department. For those with developmental disabilities aged five to six years: latest medical report and Stanford Test; For those with developmental disabilities aged three to 12: latest medical report or a developmental medicine report not more than one year old and a valid civil identification card. The source added that the service for opening a medical file for the first time is available year-round, indicating all documents should be submitted to the headquarters of PADA, along with a telephone number for communication and for sending messages regarding committee appointments
Zawya
07-03-2025
- General
- Zawya
Kuwait steps in to clear citizens' debts
KUWAIT CITY - The Minister of Social Affairs, Family, and Childhood Affairs Dr. Amthal Al-Huwailah announced that the ministry is preparing to launch a campaign to help pay off the debts of Kuwaiti debtors through charity societies in line with specific conditions and standards set for debt repayment. In a press statement issued on the sidelines of the annual Iftar party organized by the Ministry of Social Affairs in cooperation with the Public Authority for Disability Affairs (PADA) at social welfare homes complex, Dr. Al-Huwailah explained that the campaign to collect donations for paying off debts of indebted citizens comes in response to the directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to promote local charitable work. The campaign will be conducted through the Central Assistance Platform, which allows beneficiaries to apply easily using their civil ID and uploading required documents and information. Charity societies will receive requests from debtors, and each charity society will classify them according to what it deems appropriate based on the set conditions. She stated that the campaign will be supervised by the ministry in collaboration with charitable societies, as part of efforts to strengthen social solidarity and alleviate the burdens of struggling families. Dr. Al-Huwailah commended the efforts of the staff at the ministry and PADA. She stressed her keenness to improve communication with beneficiaries and provide services that meet the highest standards of quality and comfort. Meanwhile, the acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs Dr. Khaled Al-Ajmi revealed that a large portion of the funds raised by charity societies during the month of Ramadan will be allocated to assist debtors, under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Affairs, to support charitable initiatives. In a press statement, he revealed that a circular has been issued to all charitable societies to direct them to allocate their funds toward promoting local charitable work through charities and endowments. Dr. Al-Ajmi explained that the project will be launched under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Affairs and will include the legal conditions for the indebted. The funds collected during Ramadan by charitable societies will be primarily directed toward this campaign. Regarding the exceptional performance bonuses, he indicated that they will be distributed soon but only to those who truly deserve them, rather than to all employees who received an 'excellent' rating, in line with the requirements of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in this regard. In addition, the Assistant Undersecretary for Social Care Affairs Dr. Jassim Al-Kandari affirmed the ministry's commitment to providing a supportive environment that ensures the delivery of the best services to beneficiaries. He stressed that the Social Care Sector is a main pillar of the social work system. Arab Times | © Copyright 2024, All Rights Reserved Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( arabtimes
Arab Times
06-03-2025
- General
- Arab Times
Kuwait steps in to clear citizens' debts
KUWAIT CITY, March 6: The Minister of Social Affairs, Family, and Childhood Affairs Dr. Amthal Al-Huwailah announced that the ministry is preparing to launch a campaign to help pay off the debts of Kuwaiti debtors through charity societies in line with specific conditions and standards set for debt repayment. In a press statement issued on the sidelines of the annual Iftar party organized by the Ministry of Social Affairs in cooperation with the Public Authority for Disability Affairs (PADA) at social welfare homes complex, Dr. Al-Huwailah explained that the campaign to collect donations for paying off debts of indebted citizens comes in response to the directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to promote local charitable work. The campaign will be conducted through the Central Assistance Platform, which allows beneficiaries to apply easily using their civil ID and uploading required documents and information. Charity societies will receive requests from debtors, and each charity society will classify them according to what it deems appropriate based on the set conditions. She stated that the campaign will be supervised by the ministry in collaboration with charitable societies, as part of efforts to strengthen social solidarity and alleviate the burdens of struggling families. Dr. Al-Huwailah commended the efforts of the staff at the ministry and PADA. She stressed her keenness to improve communication with beneficiaries and provide services that meet the highest standards of quality and comfort. Meanwhile, the acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs Dr. Khaled Al-Ajmi revealed that a large portion of the funds raised by charity societies during the month of Ramadan will be allocated to assist debtors, under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Affairs, to support charitable initiatives. In a press statement, he revealed that a circular has been issued to all charitable societies to direct them to allocate their funds toward promoting local charitable work through charities and endowments. Dr. Al-Ajmi explained that the project will be launched under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Affairs and will include the legal conditions for the indebted. The funds collected during Ramadan by charitable societies will be primarily directed toward this campaign. Regarding the exceptional performance bonuses, he indicated that they will be distributed soon but only to those who truly deserve them, rather than to all employees who received an 'excellent' rating, in line with the requirements of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in this regard. In addition, the Assistant Undersecretary for Social Care Affairs Dr. Jassim Al-Kandari affirmed the ministry's commitment to providing a supportive environment that ensures the delivery of the best services to beneficiaries. He stressed that the Social Care Sector is a main pillar of the social work system.
