Kuwait MOH General Practitioner Exam: Official Blueprint & Preparation
The General Practitioner (GENPR) examination is one of the licensing tests that Prometric delivers for the Kuwait Ministry of Health. It is aimed at physicians applying to practice at general practitioner level, so it samples the broad, undifferentiated clinical knowledge expected of a doctor who may see an adult with chest pain, a pregnant woman with bleeding, a feverish infant and a patient with an acute abdomen in the same shift. Questions are clinical vignettes rather than isolated recall, and they reward safe first-line decisions.
- Questions150 MCQs
- Time170 min + 10 min break
- Pass mark60%
- Attempts3, 6 weeks apart
General Practitioner: Kuwait licensing facts
| Specialty | General Practitioner |
|---|---|
| Professional category | Medical |
| Licensing authority | Kuwait Ministry of Health — Medical Licensing Department |
| Official exam | Kuwait Licensing Exam — General Practitioner |
| Exam provider | Prometric (worldwide test centres) |
| Blueprint status | Official Prometric blueprint Official Prometric blueprint: 150 MCQs, 170 min, pass mark 60%. |
| Questions | 150 multiple-choice questions |
| Duration | 170 min plus a 10-minute break |
| Passing score | 60% |
| Attempts | 3 attempts, at least 6 weeks apart |
| Language | Not stated in official documents |
| Source | Prometric “Kuwait Licensing Exam” document |
| Last verified |
The exam contains 150 computer-based multiple-choice questions. You have 170 minutes of testing time plus a 10-minute optional break, which works out to a little over one minute per question. The pass mark is 60%. Candidates are allowed three attempts, and each attempt must be at least six weeks after the previous one, so it pays to sit the exam only when your practice scores are consistently above the threshold rather than treating the first attempt as a trial run.
The official blueprint divides the 150 items into four sections: Medicine (45 items), Obstetrics and Gynaecology (38), Pediatrics (37) and Surgery (30). Each section is broken into subtopics with their own item counts, and every section also carries a small number of patient safety, ethics and preventive care questions. Because these counts tell you how much of the score each area is worth, the blueprint is the most reliable way to plan revision. Prometric notes that the content outline is subject to change upon department review, so always confirm the current version with Kuwait MOH or Prometric before your test date.
General Practitioner exam blueprint: questions per section
| # | Section | Questions | % of exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MedicineCardiology 6 · Pulmonary 5 · Gastroenterology and Hepatology 5 · Nephrology 4 · Infectious Diseases 3 · Endocrine 3 · Hematology 2 · Rheumatology 2 · Neurology 3 · Oncology 2 · Critical Care 2 · Geriatrics 1 · Psychiatry 2 · Patient Safety 1 · Ethics 2 · Preventive 2 | 45 | 30% |
| 2 | Obstetrics and GynaecologyGeneral Obstetrics 13 · General Gynaecology 13 · Subspecialties 7 · Patient Safety 1 · Ethics 2 · Preventive 2 | 38 | 25.3% |
| 3 | PediatricsGeneral Pediatrics 10 · Ambulatory 5 · Central Nervous System 1 · Cardiovascular System 1 · Respiratory System 2 · Gastrointestinal System 2 · Musculoskeletal System 1 · Infectious Diseases 2 · Nephrology 1 · Acute Care 2 · Hematology/Oncology 1 · Neonatology 3 · Endocrinology 1 · Genetic/Metabolic 1 · Allergy/Immunology 1 · Patient Safety 1 · Ethics 1 · Preventive 1 | 37 | 24.7% |
| 4 | SurgeryBasic Principles 3 · General Surgery 15 · Trauma and Acute Care Surgery 6 · Subspecialties 3 · Patient Safety 1 · Ethics 1 · Preventive 1 | 30 | 20% |
| Total | 150 | 100% |
Source: Prometric “Kuwait Licensing Exam”, verified 1 November 2026. Section totals checked to equal 150. Prometric notes that content, percentages and attempts are subject to change upon department review.
Section-by-section high-yield topics
1Medicine 45 Q · 30%
The largest section, covering common adult medical presentations across all major organ systems plus psychiatry, geriatrics, patient safety, ethics and prevention. Expect emphasis on recognizing emergencies and choosing first-line investigations and treatment.
- Acute coronary syndrome recognition and initial management
- Hypertension diagnosis, targets and first-line drugs
- Asthma and COPD stepwise therapy and exacerbations
- Type 2 diabetes management, HbA1c targets and DKA
- Community-acquired pneumonia severity scoring and antibiotics
- Acute kidney injury causes and electrolyte disorders
- Upper GI bleeding and chronic liver disease complications
- Stroke and TIA recognition and urgent referral
- Iron deficiency and other common anemias
- Depression and anxiety screening and first-line treatment
Official subtopics in detail
Cardiology: STEMI and NSTEMI ECG recognition and initial therapy; Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction medications; Atrial fibrillation rate control and CHA2DS2-VASc anticoagulation; Hypertensive urgency versus emergency; Infective endocarditis Duke criteria
Pulmonary: Asthma stepwise management and acute severe asthma; COPD diagnosis by spirometry and exacerbation treatment; Pulmonary embolism Wells score and D-dimer use; Pneumothorax assessment and management; Tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment regimen
Gastroenterology and Hepatology: Peptic ulcer disease and Helicobacter pylori eradication; Upper GI bleeding resuscitation and Glasgow-Blatchford score; Viral hepatitis B and C serology interpretation; Cirrhosis complications: ascites, varices, encephalopathy; Inflammatory bowel disease versus irritable bowel syndrome
Nephrology: Acute kidney injury prerenal, renal and postrenal causes; Chronic kidney disease staging by eGFR and albuminuria; Hyperkalemia emergency management; Hyponatremia assessment and safe correction; Nephrotic versus nephritic syndrome
Infectious Diseases: Sepsis recognition and the first-hour bundle; Urinary tract infection and pyelonephritis treatment; Meningitis empirical antibiotics; HIV testing and post-exposure prophylaxis; Brucellosis and other regionally relevant infections
Endocrine: Type 2 diabetes stepwise therapy including SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 agonists; Diabetic ketoacidosis fluids, insulin and potassium; Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism diagnosis by TSH; Adrenal insufficiency and steroid cover; Hypercalcemia causes and treatment
Hematology: Microcytic anemia: iron deficiency versus thalassemia trait; Vitamin B12 and folate deficiency; Sickle cell disease crises; Venous thromboembolism anticoagulation
Rheumatology: Gout acute treatment and urate-lowering therapy; Rheumatoid arthritis early diagnosis and DMARDs; Septic arthritis joint aspiration; Systemic lupus erythematosus features and antibodies
Neurology: Acute stroke and thrombolysis time windows; First seizure and status epilepticus management; Headache red flags and migraine treatment; Bell palsy versus central facial weakness
Oncology: Red-flag symptoms for common cancers; Oncologic emergencies: spinal cord compression and hypercalcemia; Neutropenic fever management; Tumor lysis syndrome
Critical Care: Shock classification and initial resuscitation; Anaphylaxis and intramuscular epinephrine; Adult basic and advanced life support algorithms; Arterial blood gas interpretation
Geriatrics: Delirium versus dementia; Falls assessment in older adults; Polypharmacy and inappropriate prescribing
Psychiatry: Major depressive disorder diagnosis and SSRIs; Suicide risk assessment; Generalized anxiety and panic disorder; Acute psychosis and antipsychotic adverse effects
Patient Safety: Medication error prevention and reporting; Hand hygiene and infection control; Patient identification and handover
Ethics: Informed consent and capacity; Confidentiality and its limits; Breaking bad news; Professional boundaries and conflicts of interest
Preventive: Adult screening for hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia; Colorectal cancer screening; Adult immunization schedules; Smoking cessation interventions
2Obstetrics and Gynaecology 38 Q · 25.3%
Covers antenatal care, labor and delivery, obstetric emergencies and common gynecologic problems at the level expected of a general practitioner. Questions often test when to treat, when to investigate and when to refer urgently.
- Routine antenatal care and screening tests
- Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and preeclampsia
- Gestational diabetes screening and management
- Antepartum hemorrhage: placenta previa versus abruption
- Postpartum hemorrhage causes and first-line treatment
- Ectopic pregnancy diagnosis with beta-hCG and ultrasound
- Abnormal uterine bleeding PALM-COEIN approach
- Contraception choice and contraindications
- Cervical cancer screening and HPV
- Polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosis
Official subtopics in detail
General Obstetrics: Antenatal booking investigations and folic acid; Preeclampsia and eclampsia with magnesium sulfate; Normal and abnormal labor, partograph and CTG basics; Postpartum hemorrhage and the four Ts; Rh alloimmunization prevention with anti-D
General Gynaecology: Abnormal uterine bleeding evaluation; Pelvic inflammatory disease treatment; Contraception methods and emergency contraception; Amenorrhea work-up; Vaginal discharge: candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis
Subspecialties: Infertility initial evaluation; Menopause symptoms and hormone therapy; Ovarian masses and tumor markers; Pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence
Patient Safety: Safe prescribing in pregnancy and lactation; Obstetric emergency drills and communication; Surgical safety checklist in gynecology
Ethics: Consent for obstetric procedures; Confidentiality in reproductive health; Chaperones for intimate examinations
Preventive: Cervical screening intervals; Rubella and other immunizations around pregnancy; Preconception counseling
3Pediatrics 37 Q · 24.7%
Assesses care of children from the newborn period to adolescence, with emphasis on common ambulatory problems, growth and development, acute illness and neonatal care. Recognition of the seriously ill child is a recurring theme.
- Developmental milestones and growth chart interpretation
- Childhood immunization schedule
- Febrile seizures and fever without a source
- Bronchiolitis, croup and pediatric asthma
- Gastroenteritis and dehydration assessment
- Neonatal jaundice and phototherapy thresholds
- Urinary tract infection in children
- Kawasaki disease and congenital heart disease
- Pediatric resuscitation and anaphylaxis
- Iron deficiency anemia and thalassemia in children
Official subtopics in detail
General Pediatrics: Developmental milestones and red flags; Failure to thrive evaluation; Infant nutrition and breastfeeding; Child abuse recognition
Ambulatory: Acute otitis media and pharyngitis; Childhood rashes and exanthems; Enuresis and constipation; Common skin conditions such as eczema
Central Nervous System: Febrile seizures; Bacterial meningitis in children; Cerebral palsy features
Cardiovascular System: Innocent versus pathological murmurs; Kawasaki disease; Cyanotic congenital heart disease
Respiratory System: Bronchiolitis supportive management; Croup and dexamethasone; Pediatric asthma exacerbation; Foreign body aspiration
Gastrointestinal System: Dehydration and oral rehydration; Intussusception; Pyloric stenosis; Celiac disease
Musculoskeletal System: Developmental dysplasia of the hip; Slipped capital femoral epiphysis; Transient synovitis versus septic arthritis
Infectious Diseases: Measles, varicella and other exanthems; Fever in infants under 3 months; Pediatric UTI diagnosis
Nephrology: Nephrotic syndrome in children; Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis; Vesicoureteral reflux
Acute Care: Pediatric basic and advanced life support; Anaphylaxis dosing in children; Poisoning and accidental ingestion
Hematology/Oncology: Iron deficiency anemia; Immune thrombocytopenia; Acute lymphoblastic leukemia presentation
Neonatology: Neonatal resuscitation steps; Neonatal jaundice; Respiratory distress in the newborn; Neonatal sepsis
Endocrinology: Type 1 diabetes and pediatric DKA; Congenital hypothyroidism screening; Short stature evaluation
Genetic/Metabolic: Down syndrome associated conditions; Newborn metabolic screening; G6PD deficiency
Allergy/Immunology: Food allergy; Allergic rhinitis; Primary immunodeficiency warning signs
Patient Safety: Weight-based drug dosing errors; Safe sleep and injury prevention; Pediatric early warning scores
Ethics: Parental consent and the best interests of the child; Adolescent confidentiality; Safeguarding duties
Preventive: Routine childhood immunizations; Vision and hearing screening; Obesity prevention counseling
4Surgery 30 Q · 20%
Focuses on surgical principles, common general surgical conditions, trauma and acute care surgery, with a smaller share of subspecialty topics. Questions stress initial assessment, resuscitation and appropriate referral.
- ATLS primary survey and hemorrhage control
- Acute appendicitis and Alvarado score
- Acute cholecystitis and biliary colic
- Bowel obstruction causes and initial management
- Inguinal and femoral hernias
- Burns assessment and fluid resuscitation
- Acute pancreatitis severity and supportive care
- Breast lump triple assessment
- Perioperative fluid, electrolyte and VTE prophylaxis
- Wound healing and surgical site infection
Official subtopics in detail
Basic Principles: Fluid and electrolyte management; Surgical site infection prevention; Wound healing and suturing principles; Preoperative assessment
General Surgery: Acute appendicitis; Gallstone disease; Hernias and their complications; Breast lumps and breast cancer; Colorectal cancer presentation
Trauma and Acute Care Surgery: ATLS primary and secondary survey; Hemorrhagic shock classes; Head injury and Glasgow Coma Scale; Burns and the Parkland formula; Tension pneumothorax
Subspecialties: Urinary retention and renal colic; Acute limb ischemia; Common fractures and compartment syndrome; Testicular torsion
Patient Safety: WHO Surgical Safety Checklist; Wrong-site surgery prevention; Retained surgical items
Ethics: Surgical informed consent; Disclosure of complications; Duty of candor
Preventive: VTE prophylaxis; Smoking cessation before surgery; Tetanus prophylaxis
High-yield topics & competencies
Must-know topics
- Recognize STEMI patterns, including right ventricular infarction, and know which drugs to avoid in each.
- Know the first-line management of postpartum hemorrhage and the contraindications to ergometrine.
- Use magnesium sulfate for seizure prophylaxis in preeclampsia with severe features and for eclampsia.
- Recognize sepsis early and apply the first-hour bundle: cultures, lactate, broad-spectrum antibiotics and fluids.
- Apply ATLS principles, especially airway with cervical spine protection and control of hemorrhage.
- Know the routine childhood immunization schedule and developmental milestones.
- Interpret common laboratory patterns: microcytic anemia, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia and liver function tests.
- Identify surgical emergencies such as testicular torsion, acute limb ischemia and perforated viscus.
- Apply informed consent, capacity and confidentiality principles across all four sections.
- Know evidence-based adult screening and preventive measures.
Competencies assessed
- Gather a focused history and examination to reach a safe working diagnosis
- Select appropriate first-line investigations and interpret the results
- Initiate evidence-based first-line management for common conditions
- Recognize emergencies and red flags that need urgent escalation or referral
- Apply patient safety, preventive care and ethical principles in everyday practice
- Care for patients across the life span, from newborns to older adults
How to prepare for the General Practitioner exam
Start by turning the blueprint into a study calendar: Medicine accounts for 45 of 150 items (30%), Obstetrics and Gynaecology 38 (about 25%), Pediatrics 37 (about 25%) and Surgery 30 (20%), so allocate your hours in roughly the same proportions. Within each section, give the most time to the heaviest subtopics, such as General Obstetrics, General Gynaecology, General Pediatrics and General Surgery, without skipping the small patient safety, ethics and preventive slices that recur in every section. Read from the reference texts or a concise review book, then consolidate with timed blocks of clinical vignette questions under exam-like conditions of about one minute per question. Review every explanation, including those for questions you answered correctly, and keep an error log of weak topics to revisit each week. Book the exam when you are scoring comfortably above 60% on mixed, timed practice sets.
How our question bank is weighted
Practice questions follow the official section percentages:
- Medicine30%
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology25.3%
- Pediatrics24.7%
- Surgery20%
Recommended references (from Prometric’s reference list)
- Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine (Fauci et al., McGraw-Hill)
- Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine (Churchill Livingstone)
- Hacker & Moore's Essentials of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Hacker, Gambone, Hobel)
- Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Obstetrics & Gynecology (DeCherney et al.)
- Nelson Essentials of Pediatrics (Marcdante, Kliegman)
- Illustrated Textbook of Paediatrics (Lissauer, Carroll)
- Bailey & Love's Short Practice of Surgery (Williams, Bulstrode, O'Connell)
- WHO Patient Safety Curriculum Guide (2011)
General Practitioner sample questions
Q1. A 58-year-old man presents to the emergency department with 1 hour of crushing chest pain. His blood pressure is 82/50 mm Hg and heart rate is 54/min. His lungs are clear on auscultation and his jugular venous pressure is raised. The ECG shows ST elevation in leads II, III and aVF, and a right-sided lead V4R also shows ST elevation. Aspirin has been given and primary PCI is being arranged.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Inferior STEMI with ST elevation in V4R, hypotension, clear lungs and raised JVP indicates right ventricular infarction. The right ventricle depends on preload, so the hypotension responds to careful intravenous fluid boluses while reperfusion is arranged. Bradycardia is also common in inferior infarction because of involvement of the right coronary artery, which supplies the conduction system in most people. Inotropes are added if hypotension persists after adequate fluid.
- A: Nitrates reduce preload and can cause profound hypotension in right ventricular infarction, especially when the patient is already hypotensive.
- B: Diuretics further reduce preload and would worsen hypotension; the lungs are clear, so there is no pulmonary edema to treat.
- D: Beta-blockers are contraindicated in a patient with hypotension, bradycardia and signs of low cardiac output.
Q2. A 29-year-old woman with preeclampsia delivers vaginally at term. Ten minutes after delivery of a complete placenta, she has heavy vaginal bleeding estimated at 900 mL. Her blood pressure is 158/104 mm Hg and her pulse is 112/min. On abdominal palpation the uterus is soft and enlarged above the umbilicus. There are no obvious genital tract lacerations.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A. A soft, enlarged uterus after delivery of a complete placenta points to uterine atony, the most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage. First-line management is uterine massage together with uterotonic therapy, with oxytocin as the first-choice drug, while the team resuscitates with IV access, fluids and blood as needed. Tranexamic acid can be added early as an adjunct. Escalation to other uterotonics, balloon tamponade or surgery follows if bleeding continues.
- B: Ergot alkaloids such as methylergonovine are contraindicated in hypertension and preeclampsia because they can cause a dangerous rise in blood pressure.
- C: Hysterectomy is a last resort after medical, mechanical and conservative surgical measures have failed.
- D: Tranexamic acid is a useful adjunct but does not treat atony on its own and should not replace massage and uterotonics.
Q3. An 18-month-old girl is brought to the clinic after a 3-minute generalized tonic-clonic seizure at home, which stopped without treatment. She has had a fever and runny nose since yesterday. She is now alert, playful and back to her usual behavior. Her immunizations are up to date, there are no meningeal signs and the neurological examination is normal. This is her first seizure.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D. This is a simple febrile seizure: generalized, lasting less than 15 minutes, occurring once in 24 hours, in a child aged 6 months to 5 years who returns to baseline. Management focuses on finding and treating the cause of fever and counseling the parents about the generally benign prognosis and the risk of recurrence. Routine EEG, neuroimaging, blood tests and antiepileptic drugs are not indicated. Parents should be taught seizure first aid and when to seek urgent care.
- A: EEG does not predict recurrence or epilepsy after a simple febrile seizure and is not routinely recommended.
- B: Neuroimaging is not indicated in a well child with a simple febrile seizure and a normal neurological examination.
- C: Lumbar puncture is reserved for children with meningeal signs, an unwell appearance, or incomplete Hib or pneumococcal immunization.
Original educational question written by KMLE Exam — not a recalled exam question.
General Practitioner exam FAQs
How many questions are on the Kuwait MOH General Practitioner exam?
The exam has 150 computer-based multiple-choice questions, divided across Medicine (45), Obstetrics and Gynaecology (38), Pediatrics (37) and Surgery (30) according to the official blueprint.
How long is the exam?
You have 170 minutes of testing time plus a 10-minute break. That allows a little over one minute per question, so timed practice is important.
What is the pass mark?
The pass mark for the General Practitioner exam is 60%.
How many attempts are allowed?
Candidates are allowed three attempts, and each attempt must be at least six weeks after the previous one.
Does the blueprint change?
The official document states that content is subject to change upon department review. Always confirm the current blueprint with Kuwait MOH or Prometric before you sit the exam.
Where can I find fees, eligibility and registration steps?
These details are not covered in the blueprint document. Please confirm fees, eligibility and the registration process directly with the Kuwait Ministry of Health or Prometric.