His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, has issued a resolution sacking a Saudi consultant physician at the Ministry of Health (MOH) and canceling his license, after proven guilty by the Legitimate Health Authority in a case of medical malpractice. The authority sentenced to terminate his work permit.
The Legitimate Health Authority is an independent legitimate court and it is chaired by a judge of category (A), being appointed by the Minister of Justice. Besides, the authority comprises in its membership a professor, being appointed by the Minister of Higher Education, as well as two other experienced and efficient physicians, being appointed by the Minister of Health, in addition to a statutory adviser.
This decision comes within the framework of MOH's constant follow-up of the workflow at its health facilities, making use of the “Patient Safety” program which enables the officials to monitor the serious and negative events at the health facilities and the private health sector. This move comes also as part of the MOH's developmental steps aimed to promote the performance of staff, improve the services provided for citizens, avoid any shortcomings, and impose punishment against those proven negligent or guilty.
It is worth mentioning that the “Patient Safety” program monitors the serious and negative events once they occur, then it submits an analysis, and develops the policies which ensure their non-recurrence.