Minister of Health issues a decision regulating the possession of psychoactive substances on board aircraft and ships
Minister of Health Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadi issued Ministerial Decision No. 290 of 2026 regarding the regulation of the possession and dispensing of psychotropic substances to pilots and captains of international public aircraft and ships registered in Kuwait and foreign vessels. The decision was published in the official gazette, "Kuwait Today," on August 30, 2026. This measure reflects the Ministry’s desire to establish controls for the regulation, possession, and dispensing of psychotropic substances aboard local transport and incoming vessels for first aid and emergency purposes. Article One authorized pilots and captains of international public aircraft and ships registered in Kuwait to possess a specified quantity of psychotropic substances listed in Tables 2, 3, and 4 of Group 2 attached to Law Decree No. 159 of 2025, for the purpose of first aid and emergencies aboard these means of transport.
Article Two stipulates that entities responsible for pilots and captains of international public aircraft and ships registered in Kuwait must submit estimates of their needs for psychotropic substances for first aid purposes to the Licensing Control of Narcotic and Psychotropic Materials and Substances at the Ministry of Health. These submissions must include the following, with all documents being valid: licenses specific to the entity responsible for pilots and captains of international public aircraft and ships registered in Kuwait; data regarding the pilots and captains; names, types, and quantities of the requested substances, along with the intended purpose of their use; and a statement indicating whether any crew member is licensed to practice medicine or pharmacy, or one of the auxiliary professions related to them, and whether the transport crew is licensed to practice medicine.
Furthermore, Article Three of the decision stipulates that substances must be stored in a securely locked special cabinet in a safe place. The pilot or ship captain must personally hold the cabinet keys and be responsible for the custody of these materials. The decision obligates transport operators to record the materials in their custody in a special register for the dispensing and possession of these substances, retaining the register for three years from the date of the last entry. The register must include the name, concentration, and pharmaceutical form of the substance, as well as the quantities received, dispensed, and remaining, the date of dispensing, details of the patient, and the name and signature of the person who administered the medication. These substances must be in the form of single-use injections, and their use is restricted to aboard the means of transport.
The decision also stipulates that substances are to be dispensed by the Medical Warehouses Administration under the Ministry of Health, following approval from the Licensing Control of Narcotic and Psychotropic Materials and Substances. Empty, expired, or unused injection containers must be returned or replaced upon request submitted to the Control. In the event of cancellation of a possession request for any reason, the substances, whether full or empty, must be returned to the Medical Warehouses Administration after obtaining approval from the Control. The decision specifies that the possession license is valid for only one year from the date of issuance, and the license holder must apply for renewal before the expiration date. The Control is granted the authority to reduce the requested quantities or reject them entirely. In the event of loss or breakage of any container, an initial investigation into the incident must be conducted, and the relevant security authorities must be notified immediately upon arrival to verify the incident. Documentation confirming the report of the lost or broken container must be provided when requesting a replacement quantity.
The decision exempts these materials and substances from the import and export provisions stipulated in Law Decree No. 159 of 2025. It also authorizes Ministry of Health employees designated by the Minister to verify the implementation of the provisions of the Law Decree and the decisions regulating it. The decision takes effect from the date of its issuance, and any decision or provision conflicting with its terms is hereby repealed.
