Further to the previous statements on compliance with MOH rules and regulations, and as part of the ministry's efforts to follow up the private health sector’s commitment to enhance the health services provided for patients, the Assistant Deputy Minister for the Private Health Sector, Dr. Ali bin Hussein Al-Zawawi, has announced that the Ministry of Health (MOH) had closed 32 private health institutions and recorded 293 irregularities in some private health and pharmaceutical institutions located at a number of the Kingdom’s regions over the month of Rabee' Al-Akher, 1435H; due to their non-compliance with the health regulations. The MOH's Medical Irregularities and Legitimate Health Institutions Committees have recorded also 43 violations against the medical and technical cadres during the same period.
Within the same vein, Dr. Al-Zawawi has highlighted that the MOH, through its different committees, will keep on following up and overseeing the offered services in the health sector; in an endeavor to ensure their compliance with the required regulations and qualifications, aiming to serve patients and visitors of those facilities, in addition to offering high-quality health services to meet their health needs.
Dr. Al-Zawawi went on adding that health affairs directorates all over the Kingdom’s regions are overseeing 130 private hospitals, 2000 medical clinic complexes and 7000 pharmacies, indicating that there are 98,000 health professionals working at the private health sector.
Furthermore, Dr. Al-Zawawi has lauded the effective role of the private health sector, describing it as a main partner in providing health services. Furthermore, he called upon all workers in this sector to exert their utmost efforts to promote the level of health services provided for citizens and residents, in such a manner that helps further the health progress in the Kingdom as directed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, May Allah protect him, to promote the level of health facilities' performance.
It is worth mentioning that the MOH, out of its responsibility for the performance level in the private health sector, pays great attention to inspection tours to verify the implementation of the rules and regulations. This aims at maintaining safety and security of the services offered to patients through the constant follow-up by the inspection committees in health affairs directorates, as well as the sudden tours, citizens’ cooperative initiatives, and communication via the MOH Portal:
http://www.moh.gov.sa, the Citizen’s Voice service, or fax no. 0112124196.
Over and above, the MOH threatened that it will take the statutory punitive actions against any violations, including fines, suspension, license withdrawal, or temporary or final closure. Those penalties may be imposed upon the private health institutions and pharmacies, or health profession staffs. They may include also deportation. This gives an actual indication that the MOH and its health affairs directorates are very serious about inspecting and addressing any deficiencies or failures in the health services offered in the private health sector.