A week ago I covered the story of a 22-year-old citizen who was arrested at Amiri Hospital for impersonating a doctor. While the health ministry took some disciplinary actions against some staff, everyone is still amazed at the level of carelessness. Today's article is not about the fake doctor who happened to be a Kuwaiti and was well-received just because everyone thought he was from the royal family, but about patients who don't respect expat doctors and treat them badly just because they are non-Kuwaitis, as if these doctors are slaves! This is total discrimination. These doctors face the threat of physical and verbal abuse by those who claim to be sick people!

Two Kuwaiti sisters attacked an Egyptian lady doctor recently at north Sabah Al-Salem health center. These sisters went for medical treatment, but for reasons unknown, a verbal exchange occurred that led to an altercation between the three. A complaint was filed at the police station, but later withdrawn, some say due to wasta.

Respecting expats no matter what nationality they hold can't be enforced by laws. It is clear that respect for others, especially doctors, is missing. A study by InterNations in 2015 named Kuwait as the worst country to work and live for expats (out of 64 countries), after they surveyed over 14,000 expats worldwide. I agree with the study because I feel that everyone here seems to want to start a fight, and doctors are no exceptions. This is shameful.

Those who carry out public services are the most exposed to abuse, especially verbal. We can all see the warning labels in hospital corridors against those who attempt to attack staff, but who cares! No one even bothers to look at them. I don't think we need more laws on how to behave. We need enforcement of laws and preventing wasta against those who misbehave. We also need doctors to reject the apologies of those who only say sorry after humiliating the doctors in front of all their colleagues at their workplaces.

Doctors here, especially expats, are doing the best of their abilities with little appreciation, salaries and lots of pressure. This is a sad fact, but not saying a word about it means more expat doctors will leave Kuwait for next-door countries, not only seeking better salaries, but respect too, something that we really lack here.

By Muna Al-Fuzai

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