RIYADH — The Ministry of Health announced on Sunday the detection of 130 violations and the closure of five non-compliant health facilities in the Riyadh, Madinah and Asir regions. The penal action was taken as part of the ministry’s oversight activities during April, which included field inspections of more than 1,500 health facilities across the Kingdom.
The ministry revealed that the major violations identified included practicing medicine without a license, exceeding authorized clinical privileges, and conducting hair transplant procedures without proper licensing or by nursing staff without the supervision of qualified physicians. Additional violations included deficiencies related to infection control measures and shortages of essential medications and medical equipment.
The ministry stated that these efforts form part of its ongoing commitment to enhancing patient safety and ensuring the quality of healthcare services provided. The compliance rate exceeded 91 percent, reflecting the efficiency of regulatory oversight and the high level of adherence within the healthcare sector. This aligns with the objectives of the Healthcare Transformation Program under Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to improve healthcare quality and strengthen patient safety.
The ministry emphasized that these inspections are conducted within the framework of a continuous year-round monitoring and awareness program, focusing on areas most closely associated with patient safety, including hair transplant services and cosmetic laser procedures. The inspections involved verifying the validity of licenses for healthcare practitioners and facilities, assessing compliance with infection control standards and medical procedure safety requirements, monitoring practitioners’ clinical privileges, ensuring the safety and regular maintenance of laser equipment, and confirming that services are provided within licensed facilities by qualified healthcare professionals.
The ministry confirmed the allocation of the unified number 937 to support beneficiaries who had previously received services at the closed facilities. The service provides necessary medical guidance and facilitates referrals to accredited healthcare facilities when required. It also noted that legal procedures against the violating facilities are being finalized in accordance with the applicable regulations and bylaws.
The ministry clarified that the prescribed penalties include fines of up to SR100,000, closure of the violating facility and suspension of its operations, as well as imprisonment for up to six months for unlicensed practitioners, in accordance with the relevant regulations.
The ministry urged beneficiaries to verify the licensing status of health facilities and the professional classification of practitioners before receiving services. It also stressed the importance of ensuring that cosmetic procedures are performed under the supervision of a specialist physician, that infection control standards are strictly observed, and that approved medical equipment is available.
The ministry further noted that beneficiaries may verify information and report violations through the unified number 937, reaffirming the continuation of its efforts under the slogan “Supportive Oversight” to ensure a safe healthcare environment and strengthen public confidence in the provided health services.
Source: Saudi Gazette