Premarital Testing Made Compulsory in Kuwait
From today’s Al Watan
MPs make premarital tests compulsory
KUWAIT: The National Assembly passed a new law on Tuesday that makes preـmarital medical checks compulsory.
The first article of the law stipulates that wouldـbe couples have to undergo medical tests to verify they are free from contagious or hereditary diseases.
In they are free of the diseases outlined in a decree by the minister of health they will get a medical certificate that proves their marriage is safe.
The document is valid for six months only, according to the provisions of the new law.
The second article bans the endorsement of a marriage by any concerned authorities without a valid medical certificate.
If the medical report shows that the possible marriage is unsafe and the wouldـbe couple still insists on getting married, the marriage officer must get a written notice from the couple stating that they are aware of the risks and want to pursue the affair.
The third article of the law stipulates that the minister of health should issue executive statutes for the new legislation which includes the type of medical tests required and the relevant procedures within three months of the new law”s publication in the official gazette.
The fourth article pertains to the privacy of all the information contained in the medical report and stipulates a punishment of up to one year in prison and up to 1,000 Kuwaiti dinars as a fine on anyone who might violate the privacy of such information.
The fifth article stipulates either or both punishments of up to oneـyear in prison and up to KD 1,000 fine on the marriage officer should he violate the provisions of the second article. ـKUNA
Last updated on Wednesday 12/11/2008
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Amazina
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Here There and Everywhere 
wow all the hits me is the fine ;p
It’s about time. This should have been legislated long ago.
Pretty steep fine, Amu – and I wonder if there is also a BIG penalty for fraud.
I will be interested in enforcement, Mac. It’s one thing to pass a law – a whole other thing to enforce it. It’s a good law. It gives both parties to the marriage protection, and information to make good decisions.
I hope this won’t go the same way as the mobile phone while driving ban 😦
Jewaira – Is there a marriage registry? When does the marriage get registered, when the contract has been signed? Are all marriages registered?
All are registered at the Ministry of Justice. This is a good and needed step.