Job Discussion Forums

rasd · Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 15

I worked in Saudi - never detected my Hep C. Same for U.A.E. I am in China - caught the Hep C and told me. I was not denied a work permit. I am coming to Kuwait. Will I be checked for Hep C and will it affect my Iqama?
Thanks and I promise not to share my needles with anyone who posts a response.
Rolling Eyes

q8teacher · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 23

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but yes they check it and yes they throw you out. I recall reading a long string on this topic earlier this year-you might check it out.

15yearsinQ8 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 462 Location: kuwait

the previous thread was about HEB B !!!!!
although stephen jones did give us all a primer about what HEP A, B, and C are.....

OP- maybe it was a false positive or a very recent contact - test for it again...

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

You will fail the medical for the entry visa. The GCC health ministers give instructions as to what people are to be failed on and Hepatitis C antibodies are one of them. In Saudi there are certain jobs you can work in if you have Hep C, but it's getting in that's the problem. I don't know about Kuwait. I'd find out the situation and then see if you can wangle the entry visa.

rasd · Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 15

Well maybe they check in all GCC countries. I'm not sure - I was recently in UAE and they passed me fine. I worked in a high school in Saudi - no problem and I suspect that the quality of service is low - as in they have poor or lazy help in the labs. I'm sure about one thing -I was diagnosed for hep C after a blood transfusion in - of all places - Thailand.
I couldn't sue of course and there is no recourse. Just beware of the bad blood in S.E. Asian nations. Why they didn't prescreen the blood in the first place is a mystery to me - and the "oh, we are sorry didn't help much!" So even though you have hep c in China - a near normal LFT - liver function test - means you can stay. It is only transmitted by blood transfusions, needles etc. BTW - after the nurse used the syringe to sample my blood on the examination day - I saw her put it on the table with other syringes - not in the "Used syringe - throw me out box"
Who know what poor *beep* got stuck with my needle. Fact - China reuses some med-equipment - at least in the backwoods smalltowns.