Kuwait city: Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi has issued a ministerial decision introducing new rules regarding the on-call allowance for employees in pharmaceutical and medical services. The decision seeks to strengthen administrative governance, regulate duty schedules, and ensure operational efficiency across the ministry's facilities.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the Ministry of Health announced that the new regulations establish a minimum of 30 on-call hours per month and a maximum of 48 hours. The allowance will be paid strictly for hours actually worked, with hours deducted during any type of leave. The decision also prohibits combining the on-call allowance with overtime compensation or shift-based work. However, employees may still be assigned overtime duties on days when they are not scheduled for on-call shifts.
The ministry further explained that eligible job categories are defined according to Schedule No. 4 attached to Civil Service Commission Decision No. 7 of 2003, adhering to approved standards and criteria. The decision mandates that all work centers prepare monthly on-call schedules, detailing staff assignments, shift timings, and required hours to ensure service continuity. These schedules must receive approval from the technical department head and the medical authority head, depending on the specialty in hospitals and primary healthcare centers.
Work centers are required to send copies of the approved schedules to relevant department directors and upload them electronically through the Injaz system, while maintaining an official copy on record.