Article 32 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
المادة 32 من نظام مكافحة المخدرات والمؤثرات العقلية
The article requires every treatment institution to review the procedures for prescribing and dispensing narcotic and psychotropic medicines periodically, and to notify the Ministry of Health when it discovers any violation.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على كل مؤسسة علاجية أن تراجع من وقت إلى آخر إجراءات وصف الأدوية المخدرة أو المؤثرات العقلية وصرفها، للتحقق من صحة دواعي وصفها وصرفها وفق ما تقتضيه الأصول الطبية المتعارف عليها، وإبلاغ وزارة الصحة عند اكتشاف أي تجاوز في هذا الخصوص.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 32 explained in plain English
This article addresses treatment institutions such as hospitals and medical centers, and places two duties on them:
- Reviewing from time to time the procedures for prescribing and dispensing narcotic or psychotropic medicines, in order to verify that the grounds for prescribing and dispensing are sound and in line with recognized medical standards.
- Notifying the Ministry of Health when any violation is discovered in this regard.
The article is not satisfied that the prescribing comes from a doctor; it makes the institution itself responsible for internal oversight, and for making sure the medicine was prescribed and dispensed for a sound medical reason. The article does not set a particular period for the review, but uses the expression "from time to time".
This article is part of a connected system of oversight: Article 31 requires the pharmacist or the responsible pharmacy technician to record all that arrives at the pharmacy and is dispensed of these medicines in special registers as set by the Regulations, and Article 33 licenses doctors to possess these medicines and prescribe and dispense them from their private clinics, and specialized paramedics to possess some emergency medicines and administer them in emergency cases only, according to the controls of the Regulations.
The beneficiaries of this oversight are the patient and society, since it limits the prescribing of these medicines without real medical need. Anyone facing a matter concerning the responsibility of a treatment institution in this regard can consult a lawyer specialized in criminal cases and health regulations.
Practical example
During its periodic review of prescriptions for narcotic painkillers, an internal committee at a private hospital in Riyadh notices that one doctor is prescribing large quantities to patients whose files show no medical grounds for it. Under Article 32, the hospital must notify the Ministry of Health of this violation.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 32 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
Is a hospital responsible for monitoring the prescribing of narcotic medicines?
Yes. Article 32 requires every treatment institution to review the procedures for prescribing and dispensing these medicines from time to time to verify the soundness of their grounds.
What should a hospital do if it discovers a violation in dispensing narcotic medicines?
It must notify the Ministry of Health when it discovers any violation.
By what standard are prescriptions reviewed?
By recognized medical standards, to verify the soundness of the grounds for prescribing and dispensing.
More articles on Dispensing Narcotic Medicines by Prescription
- Article 29
The article bars the pharmacist from dispensing medicines specified by the Ministry of Health that contain narcotic substances except on a prescription approved by a human or veterinary doctor or dentist licensed in the Kingdom.
لا يجوز للصيدلي صرف أدوية -تحددها وزارة الصحة - تحتوي على مواد مخدرة أو مؤثرات عقلية إلا بموجب وصفة طبية معتمدة من طبيب بشري أو بيطري أو طبيب أسنان من المرخص له
- Article 30
The article requires the prescription for narcotic medicines to be kept in the pharmacy after dispensing, with the date and register entry number recorded and the pharmacy stamp applied, and refers the retention period to the Regulations.
تحفظ الوصفة الطبية الخاصة بمواد مخدرة أو مؤثرات عقلية بعد صرف محتوياتها في الصيدلية، ويسجل عليها تاريخ صرفها ورقم قيدها بسجل الوصفات الطبية، وتختم بخاتم الصيدلي
- Article 31
The article requires the pharmacist or responsible pharmacy technician to record in special registers all medicines containing narcotic or psychotropic substances received by and dispensed from the pharmacy, according to the Regulations.
يجب على الصيدلي أو فني الصيدلية المسئول تقييد جميع ما يرد إلى الصيدلية من أدوية تحتوي على مواد مخدرة أو مؤثرات عقلية، وما يصرف منها، في سجلات خاصة بذلك، وفق ما
- Article 33
The article licenses doctors to possess narcotic and psychotropic medicines and prescribe and dispense them from their private clinics, and specialized paramedics to possess some emergency medicines and administer them in emergency cases only, according to the Regulations.
1- يرخص للأطباء بحيازة الأدوية المخدرة أو المؤثرات العقلية ، ووصفها وصرفها من عياداتهم الخاصة، وفق الضوابط التي تحددها اللائحة . 2- للمسعفين المتخصصين حيازة وإع
- Article 34
The article prohibits a doctor from writing a prescription for himself or a member of his family for medicines containing narcotic or psychotropic substances, whatever the quantity.
يحظر على الطبيب أن يحرر لنفسه أو لأحد أفراد عائلته وصفة لأدوية تحتوي على مواد مخدرة أو مؤثرات عقلية بأي كمية كانت.
- Article 35
The article bars an unlicensed person from possessing narcotic or psychotropic medicines except on a licensed doctor's prescription, prohibits giving them up, and requires returning unused medicines, or those of a deceased person, to their source.
1- لا يجوز لأي شخص غير مرخص له حيازة أدوية مخدرة أو مؤثرات عقلية ما لم يصفها له طبيب مرخص له بحسب أحكام هذا النظام. ولا يجوز له التنازل عن الأدوية المخدرة أو ال
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.