The Assistant Deputy Minister for Private Health Sector Affairs, Dr. Ali bin Hussein Al-Zawawi, has announced that the Ministry of Health (MOH) closed 42 private health facilities and recorded 356 irregularities in some private health and pharmaceutical institutions in a number of the Kingdom’s regions over the month of Safar, 1435H; due to their non-compliance with the health regulations. MOH's Medical Irregularities and Legitimate Health Institutions Committees recorded 83 irregularities on the medical and technical cadres during the same period.
Within the same vein, 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, under the support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, May Allah protect him, to promote the level of health facilities' performance.
Furthermore, Dr. Al-Zawawi highlighted that the MOH, through its different committees, will keep on following up and overseeing the offered services in the health sector; in order to ensure their compliance with the required regulations and specifications, aiming to serve patients and visitors of those facilities, as well as 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 oversee 130 private hospitals, 2000 medical clinic complexes and 7000 pharmacies, indicating that there are 98,000 health practitioners working in the private health sector.
It is worth mentioning that the MOH, out of its responsibility for the performance level in the private health sector, places particular emphasis on inspection tours to verify of 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 inspection committees in health affairs directorates, as well as the sudden tours, citizens’ cooperative initiatives, and communication via MOH Portal (
http://www.moh.gov.sa), the Citizen’s Voice service, or fax no. 0112124196.
Over and above, MOH will take the proper statutory actions against all irregularities, including financial fines, suspension, license withdrawal, or temporary or final closure. Those sanctions may be imposed upon the private health facilities and pharmacies, or health profession practices. They may include termination and 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.