How Kuwait’s Vision 2035 development plan is driving healthcare expenditure

The country’s health spending per capita reached a total of $2,292, above the global median of $440.

Kuwait has recorded one of the highest levels of healthcare expenditure as a share of GDP in the Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC), driven by its Vision 2035 strategic development plan.

According to a BMI report, the country’s health expenditure as a percentage of GDP was at 5.1% in 2023, just behind Saudi Arabia at 5.6%. In terms of health spending per capita, Kuwait came third behind Qatar and UAE with a total of $2,292, above the global median of $440.

The report further emphasised Vision 2035’s role in driving healthcare expenditure, aiming to transform the country into a regional financial and cultural hub.

“A key pillar of the development plan includes substantial investment into healthcare infrastructure and services,” BMI said.

Moreover, other initiatives include strengthening the nation’s healthcare workforce, driving digital health solutions uptake, and promoting the country as a destination for innovative research and development.

“We expect the sector will remain an investment priority over the medium-to-long term under the ongoing national development plan, Vision 2035,” BMI added.

Meanwhile, consistent investments in the sector have also driven Kuwait’s high levels of healthcare expenditure.

Before the pandemic, the report revealed that the country had invested significantly in the development of its healthcare sector, reflected in the rise in public hospital numbers from 15 in 2010 to 21 in 2022.