The Ministry of Health (MOH) has approved the decisions of the Private Health Institutions’ Violations Consideration Committee at Jeddah Health Affairs General Directorate, fining a number of private health institutions, including two hospitals, two pharmacies and a physician in Jeddah, a total sum of SR 195.000.
As for the first hospital, its owner has been fined SR 55.000; due to violating the Pharmaceutical Institutions and Products Law and its Regulations. The violations included refraining from recruiting a Saudi pharmacist, as well as allowing a pharmacist to work before obtaining the statutory license, in addition to finding 12 medicines unregistered by the competent authority. Besides, three employees working in the same hospital and its annexed pharmacy have been referred to the Private Health Profession Practice’s Violations Consideration Committee; in order to take the statutory punitive actions against them.
With regard to the second hospital, the MOH has approved the decision of the Private Health Institutions’ Violations Consideration Committee, fining the owner of the hospital SR 25.000; for not recruiting a full time Saudi pharmacist as a manager of the pharmacy affiliating to the hospital, as well as selling medicines in prices other than those approved by the Ministry. Besides, three employees working in the same hospital have been referred to the Private Health Profession Practice’s Violations Consideration Committee, in order to take the statutory punitive actions against them.
Within the same vein, the Ministry of Health has approved the decision of the Private Health Institutions’ Violations Consideration Committee at Jeddah Health Affairs General Directorate, fining the owner of a private pharmacy SR 80.000; due to finding five medicines unregistered by the Ministry, and whose prices are different from what is approved by the Ministry, that is to be added to the pharmacy’s poor hygiene. Moreover, the pharmacist has been referred to the Private Health Profession Practice’s Violations Consideration Committee in Jeddah; to take the statutory punitive actions against him.
Furthermore, the MOH has approved the decision of the Private Health Institutions’ Violations Consideration Committee at Jeddah Health Affairs General Directorate, fining the owner of a pharmacy SR 20.000; due to finding some medicines purchased from different private and governmental suppliers without any bills, in addition to the unavailability of a PC in the pharmacy.
Over and above, the Ministry has approved the decision of the Health Profession Practice’ Violations Consideration Committee at Jeddah Health Affairs General Directorate, fining a physician working at a private hospital SR 15.000, as well as referring the hospital to the Private Health Institutions’ Violations Consideration Committee to take the punitive actions against it; due to allowing the aforementioned physician to work before obtaining the statutory license.
For its part, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has underscored that it would publish such decisions, once they become final, meanwhile, threatening the violators that it will take all the statutory procedures, including the cautionary closure, towards any health institution that does not comply with the required quality standards of health services; in an endeavor to oblige such institutions to improve their conditions and redress all irregularities observed there, pursuant to the statutory procedures.