In line with the directives given by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, May Allah protect him, towards maintaining the health and well-being of citizens and providing them with integrated health services, and out of the Ministry of Health's active role in harnessing all its all human and material resources for citizens as part of the the National Project for Integrated and Comprehensive Healthcare, the Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah has adopted the new system of working hours at MOH health centers and hospitals. The decision comes within the framework of MOH's endeavors to bring into effect the slogan “Patient First”, alleviate pressure imposed on hospitals, shorten waiting lists, and improve services provided by the primary healthcare centers.
The new system, which will come into force as of May 30, 2014 (corresponding to Sha'ban 1, 1435H), was framed upon proposals submitted by citizens and some regional councils to the ministry. In addition, the newly-approved system meets the aspirations of employees and comes in line with the royal decree considering Fridays and Saturdays as weekends in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Article (7) of the MOH's Health Job Regulations regarding the working hours of practitioners, was also taken into account when drafting the system.
It is worth mentioning that MOH's administrative and technical committees have strictly reviewed the adopted system, after listening to the recommendations of the Consultative Council and taking the approval of the Executive Board.
On his part, Dr. Al-Rabeeah has submitted an urgent circular to all health affairs directorates in regions and provinces, asking them to accurately apply and enforce the new system, as follows:
First: Health centers in villages and distant places where there are no nearby hospitals for providing ambulatory services around the clock:
- The daily working hours will start at 7:30 am in all regions. A delay of 30 minutes is allowed as the work interest permits.
- The official working days will be from Sunday to Wednesday (nine and a half hours a day). There will be two shifts a day (morning 7:30 am to 12:30 pm., night 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm). On Thursday, the practitioners will work nine hours, divided into two shifts (morning 7:30 am to 12:30 pm., night 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm), except for the Saudi consultant physicians, whose working hours will hit 176 hours a month. The consultants will work eight hours a day (from Sunday to Thursday). Their working hours will be divided into two shifts (morning 8:00 am to 12 pm., night 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm). They will be on call for a maximum period of 10 days a month, to handle any urgent matters.
- After finishing their working hours, persons on duty will be entrusted to provide any medical services in these sites on Fridays and Saturdays, as the work interest requires. They will be granted an overtime allowance for any extra time, as the law stipulates.
Second: Health centers in cities, villages and distant places where there are nearby hospitals for providing ambulatory services around the clock:
- The daily working hours will start at 7:30 am in all regions. A delay of 30 minutes is allowed as the work interest permits.
- The official working hours will be nine and a half hours a day from Sunday to Wednesday, and nine hours on Thursday, according to one of these two options:
First Option: The official working days will be from Sunday to Wednesday (nine and a half hours a day). There will be only one shift (8:00 am to 5:30 pm). On Thursday, the practitioners will work nine hours (8:00 am to 5:00 pm), except for the Saudi consultant physicians, whose working hours will hit 176 hours a month. The consultants will work eight hours a day (from Sunday to Thursday). Their working hours will be divided into two shifts (morning 8:00 am to 12 pm., night 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm). They will be on call for a maximum period of 10 days a month, to handle any urgent matters.
Second Option: The official working days will be from Sunday to Wednesday (nine and a half hours a day). There will be two shifts a day (morning 7:30 am to 12:30 pm., night 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm). On Thursday, the practitioners will work nine hours, divided into two shifts (morning 7:30 am to 12:30 pm., night 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm), except for the Saudi consultant physicians, whose working hours will hit 176 hours a month. The consultants will work eight hours a day (from Sunday to Thursday). Their working hours will be divided into two shifts (morning 8:00 am to 12 pm., night 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm). They will be on call for a maximum period of 10 days a month, to handle any urgent matters.
- The director general of health affairs will submit both options to the regional council, which in turn, will determine the best option to be adopted at health centers according to the work interest.
- The director general of health affairs can ask practitioners to work overtime during night shifts at the main cities' health centers, which work on a two-shift system, serve a large number of people, and need more working hours. This procedure can be applied from Sunday to Wednesday (9:30 am to 10:30 pm) and on Thursday (9:00 am to 10:00 pm). Persons on duty will be granted an overtime allowance for any extra time, as the law stipulates.
Third: The other practitioners not enrolled in MOH's Health Job Regulations will work 155 hours a month. They will be granted an overtime allowance for any extra time.
Fourth: As for the ambulatory centers deployed on roads, the work will be around the clock and on a shift system, when needed. The working hours will be 208 hours a month. Persons on duty will be granted an overtime allowance for any extra time.
Fifth: Hospitals and other health facilities:
- The daily working hours will start at 8:00 am in all regions.
- The official working days will be from Sunday to Wednesday (nine and a half hours a day). There will be only one shift a day (8:00 am to 5:30 pm). On Thursday, the practitioners will work nine hours (8:00 am to 5:00 pm).
- The Saudi consultant physicians will work 176 hours a month. They will work eight hours a day (from Sunday to Thursday). Their working hours will start at 8:00 am and end at 4:00 pm. They will be on call for a maximum period of 10 days a month, to handle any urgent matters.
- At hospitals and health facilities where the shift system is applied, the practitioners will work according to the previously-prepared shift schedules in such a manner that ensures the proper functioning. The working hours will be 208 hours a month. They will be on call for a maximum period of 10 days a month to handle any urgent matters. The trainees will be governed by their training requirements.
- At outpatients and other one-shift sections, the working days will be from Sunday to Wednesday (nine and a half hours a day). On Thursday, the working hours will be nine. The practitioners will work according to the previously-prepared shift schedules in such a manner that ensures the proper functioning. Their working hours will not exceed 208 hours a month. The consultant physicians and heads of sections will work 176 hours a month. They will be on call for a maximum period of 10 days a month to handle any urgent matters. Persons on duty will be granted an overtime allowance for any extra time. At the main hospitals with long waiting lists, a third night shift will be applied to the outpatients there. The shift will be enforced from Sunday to Wednesday (5:00 pm to 9:30 pm) and on Thursday (5:00 pm to 9:00 pm). Persons on duty will be granted an overtime allowance for any extra time.
- The other practitioners not enrolled in MOH's Health Job Regulations will work 155 hours a month. They will be granted an overtime allowance for any extra time.