The Ministry of Health (MOH) has issued strict instructions preventing its employees at all private health institutions from receiving any fees from patients in return for opening a medical file or for any other administrative procedures.
These instructions came within a strict circular issued by the Minister of Health for all health affairs general directorates in the Kingdom’s regions, whereby, Dr. Al-Rabeeah has given his orders to the private health institutions, which are subject to the Private Health Institutions Law and its Executive Regulations, not to take any fees from patients in return for opening a medical file to them, proceeding from the keenness of the ministry not to make the patient bear any financial burdens in return for such administrative procedures. Dr. Al-Rabeeah underlined that the MOH will impose the maximum statutory sanctions against the violators at any private health institutions.
“In reference to the complaints submitted by some citizens to the ministry, with regard to paying fees for opening a medical file at some private health institutions, we would like to highlight that this practice is violating the Private Health Institutions Law and its Executive Regulation; because this action is an administrative procedure and the health facility is not entitled to take any financial fees in return,” the circular read.
Furthermore, the circular called upon the Directors of all Health Affairs to follow up this issue, as any violations of the private health institutions will be referred to the irregularities committee which will take the maximum statutory sanctions against violators.
Within the same vein, the MOH has urged all citizens and residents to report any complaints in this regard via fax (011/2124196) or through the Citizen's Voice Service on the MOH Portal:
www.moh.gov.sa.