As part of the Ministry of Health's (MOH) efforts to put the laws and regulations into effect, and to follow up the private health sector’s commitment to enhancing the health services offered to patients, the Assistant Deputy Minister for the Private Health Sector Affairs, Dr. Ali bin Hussein Al-Zawawi, has announced that the Ministry had closed 38 private health institutions, including two hospitals in Riyadh and Madinah; due to non-compliance with health regulations. “Besides, the Ministry recorded 299 irregularities against some private health and pharmaceutical institutions in a number of the Kingdom’s regions over the month of Jumada I, 1436H; due to non-compliance with the health regulations”, said Dr. Al-Zawawi, adding that the MOH's Medical Irregularities and Legitimate Health Institutions Committees have recorded also 90 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, keeps following up and overseeing the health services offered in the health sector; in an endeavor to ensure their compliance with the needed requirements and standards, aiming to serve patients and visitors of those facilities, in addition to offering high-quality health services to meet patients' health needs.
Furthermore, Dr. Al-Zawawi has lauded the effective role of the private health sector, describing it as a main partner in providing health services. In addition, he called upon all workers in this sector to exert their utmost efforts; in order 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 prudent government of 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; in order 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 the inspection committees in health affairs general directorates, as well as the sudden tours, citizens’ cooperative initiatives, communication via the MOH Portal, 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 professionals. They may include also deportation. This gives an actual indication that the MOH and its health affairs directorates are very serious about inspecting and redressing any deficiencies or failures in the health services offered in the private health sector.