The Ministry of Health (MOH) closed 55
private health facilities in a number of the Kingdom’s regions over the
past two months (Dhul-Qi‘dah And Dhul-Hijjah); due to their
non-compliance with Health Regulations. The number of irregularities
detected on the private health institutions reached 229; whereas the
number of the pharmaceutical facilities irregularities reached 101. As
for the irregularities, monitored by the MOH Medical Irregularities and
Legitimate Health Institutions Committee, on the medical or technical
cadres, they reached 179 irregularities during the same period.
For his part, the Assistant Deputy
Minister for Private Health Sector, Dr. Ali bin Hussein Al-Zawawi, has
lauded the effective role of the private health sector as a main partner
in providing health services. Furthermore, he called upon the workers
in this sector to exert their utmost efforts to promote the level of
health services offered to citizens and residents, in a manner that
helps further the health progress in the Kingdom, with the support of
the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, May Allah protect him, in an
endeavor to promote the level of health facilities performance.
Within the same vein, Dr. Al-Zawawi
highlighted that the MOH and its different committees will keep on
following-up and overseeing the offered services in the health sector;
in order to ensure the 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.
It is worth mentioning that the MOH,
being responsible for the performance level in the health sector, places
particular emphasis on inspection and monitoring to verify of the
implementation of the rules and regulations in order to maintain safety
and security of the services offered to patients, by constant follow-ups
through inspection committees in health affairs directorates, sudden
tours, citizen’s cooperation, through the MOH Portal
(http://www.moh.gov.sa ), via the Citizen’s Voice service, or fax no.
0112124196.
Over and above, MOH takes the proper
statutory punitive actions against all irregularities, including
financial fines, suspension, license withdrawal, or temporary or final
closure. Those sanctions are may be imposed upon private the health
facilities and pharmacies, or health profession practices; they may
reach termination and deportation. That 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.