Kuwait Dental Care Market Analysis

Kuwait Dental Care Market Executive Summary

Kuwait's dental care market is at around $143.52 Mn in 2022 and is projected to reach $xx Mn in 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of xx% during the forecast period 2022-2030. Kuwait now boasts one of the greatest per capita incomes in the world due to its oil riches, with a population of 4.3 Mn people and a GDP of $289.7 Bn. The population has grown by 25% since 2016, including immigrants and temporary employees. The majority of the population is non-Kuwaiti, resulting in strict segregation and intense nationalism. 60% of the population is under the age of 20 which makes it a young population even with a median age of 19.8 years. With the country's independence and the vast growth in money from oil, the Kuwaiti government devised a strategy to disperse the wealth among its population in a variety of ways. Health, education, and public works have received significant funding, with the health ministry accounting for roughly 20% of the budget. The healthcare system has been organized around the provision of basic healthcare services, and the primary healthcare clinic is the major point of entry into the healthcare system, which is intended to reach all segments of the population. Combined clinics provide both primary care and specialist care. Over the previous ten years, the number of hospitals has more than doubled. The focus is on curative care. Western medicine is widely valued, and immunization and vaccination initiatives have been extremely successful.

The Ministries of Health and Public Works have announced a $4.42 Bn initiative over the next ten years to replace or extend nine operating hospitals. The plan is to add 5,400 hospital beds, 150 operating rooms, and 500 outpatient clinics to the country's present 7,095 hospital beds. In addition, the near-completion $1.1 Bn Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah Hospital would add 1,200 beds. Kuwait now has two hospital beds for every 1,000 people. In light of population expansion and increased disease burdens, this implies a significant undersupply. Kuwait's children's health achieves a number of objectives. For every 1,000 live births, approximately eight newborns die. Approximately 91% of these children receive three doses of the DTP vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus, and 94% receive two doses of the measles vaccine. Even as youngsters grow older, they have a strong chance of surviving and remaining healthy. The female under-five mortality rate is 7 deaths per 1,000 children, whereas the male rate is 9 deaths per 1,000 births. Children have access to proper schooling, sanitation, and clean water. Kuwait has a life expectancy of 75.31 years. This figure is higher than that of India, Russia, and Mexico, and it is comparable to that of China and the United States. Kuwait's high life expectancy is due in part to the country's economic prosperity, which is supported by the petroleum industry. High economic status is closely related to high life expectancy — because many individuals in Kuwait benefit from the petroleum business, more Kuwaitis live happy, long lives. The Ministry of Health (MoH) of Kuwait is the government agency in charge of the country's public healthcare system. The ministry was formed about 80 years ago and is currently one of the country's main government ministries. Through its network of public clinics and hospitals, the Ministry of Health aspires to provide free, high-quality medical treatment to all people of the country. The system is comprised of a complicated network of health centers classified as primary, secondary, and specialized. Medical care from general practitioners, dentists, maternity care, nursing care, preventative care, medications, and family medicine are all available at primary care institutions. There are currently more than 70 of these facilities located throughout the country. Secondary healthcare is provided by six large hospitals. These are the Jahra hospital, the Amiri hospital, the Mubarak Al-kabeer hospital, the Sabah hospital, the Farwaniya hospital, and the Adan hospital.

Private facilities in Kuwait adhere to high standards, albeit the expenses are typically greater than those in public hospitals. Some private clinics refuse to accept local health insurance, so expats should ensure that they have other options for coverage, such as travel insurance or international health insurance, and that this covers everything, including medical repatriation, which may be required in certain serious cases. All Kuwaitis are entitled to free healthcare and medical treatment at government facilities. However, some services, such as X-rays and specialist diagnostics, are not free. These services are frequently expensive, and many are not available at government institutions. As a result, patients must seek treatment in the private sector or, in severe situations, travel to North America.

Dental services are provided in Kuwait by both the governmental and private sectors. The public sector is less expensive in general, although it may have longer wait times and less advanced technologies. The Ministry of Health runs a number of public dental clinics across the country, where citizens and residents can get basic dental care. Private dentists and clinics exist in Kuwait as well, and these provide a broader range of services, lower wait times, and access to more advanced technology.

Market Dynamics

Market Growth Drivers

The Kuwait Development Plan (KDP) the government includes reforms to the national healthcare system. The Ministry of Health intends to build eight hospitals and hospital additions at a cost of $1 Bn. The Ministry of Public Works has also earmarked $4.2 Bn to develop nine new hospitals, bringing the total number of beds available in government healthcare facilities to 3,334. As Kuwait's economy has grown, more people now have discretionary income to spend on private dental care.

As Kuwait's population gets more educated and aware of the importance of oral health, the need for specialized dental services such as orthodontics and implantology grows. The use of new technology in dentistry, such as digital radiography and computer-aided design, has resulted in more accurate diagnoses and better treatment outcomes, prompting individuals to seek services from private clinics. The Kuwaiti government has encouraged private sector participation in healthcare, as well as the creation of private clinics and hospitals. Dental facilities in the public sector are frequently overcrowded and have significant wait times. As a result, many people are turning to private dental care as an alternative. Marketing and promotion are increasingly being used by private dental clinics to promote their services and attract patients. The Ministry of Health's healthcare spending as a percentage of total government spending has been relatively steady at roughly 7%. This amounts to nearly 11% of the total budget. These estimates, however, do not include the amount spent on healthcare by the other eight linked government institutions, such as the Ministries of Defence and Interior, as well as the Kuwait Oil Company, which account for 10- 20% of Kuwait's healthcare industry. Kuwait's healthcare spending has increased. Despite the sharp drop in oil prices, the number of dental professionals flocking to the country has remained consistent.

Market Restraints

The cost of dental care in Kuwait can be quite high, which may make it difficult for some people to afford it. This can limit the demand for dental services, and make it difficult for dental companies to grow. Many insurance plans in Kuwait do not provide coverage for certain dental procedures, which can make it difficult for people to afford the cost of dental care. This can limit the demand for dental services, and make it difficult for dental companies to grow. Dental clinics and companies are not as widely available as public clinics, and may not be easily accessible to all segments of the population. This can limit the demand for dental services, and make it difficult for dental companies to grow. Some people in Kuwait may not be aware of the importance of oral health and the services offered by dental companies, which can limit the demand for dental care. The Kuwaiti government has strict regulations and rules for opening dental clinics and companies, which can make it difficult for some dentists and entrepreneurs to start or expand a dental business.

Competitive Landscape

Key Players

• Al-Amiri Hospital Dental Center
• Al-Rashid Hospital Dental Center
• Kuwait Dental Center

Healthcare Policies and Regulatory Landscape

The Ministry of Health (MOH) in Kuwait is the governing organization for dental services. The Ministry of Health is in charge of overseeing the provision of healthcare services in the country, including dental services. The Ministry of Health establishes rules and norms for the practice of dentistry in Kuwait, as well as licensing and regulating dentists and dental clinics. Dentists must be licensed by the MOH to practice in Kuwait, and dental clinics must be registered with the MOH to function. The MOH can also examine dental clinics and take action against those that do not fulfill its standards. Imports of special medical devices into the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are subjected to a 5% tax. Kuwait corporate income taxes for international firms were originally 15-55% but were reduced to a flat 15% rate in 2008. Companies from the US frequently identify, create, and support a local agent, representative, or account executive to oversee their marketing strategy in the Kuwait market. Because of the local tax laws, several corporations choose to work with a Kuwaiti partner rather than an agent.

Reimbursement Scenario

In Kuwait, having health insurance is required. The state insurance scheme provides access to the public healthcare system. Expats must contribute to this scheme on an annual basis. However, treatment at private healthcare facilities is not covered by the scheme. As a result, expats in Kuwait should obtain comprehensive health insurance for the duration of their stay. The cost of comprehensive health insurance used to be around $70, but this was due to the fact that much of the treatment for expats in Kuwait was government-subsidized. The legal amendments in 2016 increased the cost of health insurance for expats. Kuwaiti and GCC nationals have access to free healthcare services through the public sector. The Ministry of Health launched a new healthcare insurance plan for Kuwaiti retirees in 2016, allowing them to choose private healthcare services within Kuwait. The healthcare insurance plan covers around 107,000 pensioners and has an annual ceiling of $51,600 for male retirees and $56,600 for female retirees, regardless of age. The Ministry of Health revealed plans in 2016 to require all international tourists and workers to obtain local health insurance policies that would link to three special expat-only hospitals and 15 expat-only health clinics that are now under construction. This proposal has yet to be implemented; instead, foreign nationals, who account for more than two-thirds of the population, will be required to pay for using public healthcare through a list of fee-based procedures.