Article 25 of the Saudi Fertility Units Law
المادة 25 من نظام وحدات الإخصاب والأجنة وعلاج العقم · الباب الثالث: شروط الترخيص لوحدات الإخصاب والأجنحة وعلاج العقم
The article restricts reproductive techniques requiring laparoscopy or general anesthesia to fertility units inside hospitals or units permitted to perform day surgery.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يسمح بإجراء تقنيات التناسل التي تتطلب تنظيرًا للبطن أو تخديرًا عامًّا إلا لوحدات إخصاب داخل مستشفى أو لوحدات لديها تصريح بجراحة اليوم الواحد.
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 25 explained in plain English
This article sets a patient-safety restriction on some infertility treatment techniques:
- The techniques concerned: reproductive techniques that require laparoscopy or general anesthesia.
- Who may perform them: only one of two kinds of unit:
- Fertility units inside a hospital.
- Units that hold a permit for day surgery.
A stand-alone unit that is not inside a hospital and does not hold a day-surgery permit is therefore not allowed to perform these techniques, even if it is licensed for infertility treatment. The test here is the nature of the procedure (laparoscopy or general anesthesia), not the name of the operation.
The article does not name the techniques; what matters is that the technique requires laparoscopy or general anesthesia.
This article follows Article 24, which bars licensing a fertility laboratory except within a licensed unit. It is followed by Article 26, which makes the medical supervisor in charge of the unit fully responsible for its work and refers to the Regulations the duties of the supervisor and of assistant physicians, technicians and technologists.
A person who underwent a procedure of this kind at an unqualified unit may consult a lawyer who specializes in health regulations.
Practical example
An independent infertility clinic in Riyadh, which is not inside a hospital and holds no day-surgery permit, wants to perform a technique requiring general anesthesia on a patient. The article does not allow this; it can be done in a unit inside a hospital or in a unit permitted to perform day surgery.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentAdministrative Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Administrative Law (Board of Grievances) lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Al-Safwa Law Office and Legal Consultancy
Frequently asked questions about Article 25 of the Saudi Fertility Units Law
Is general anesthesia allowed in an infertility clinic?
Reproductive techniques requiring general anesthesia are permitted only for fertility units inside a hospital or units holding a permit for day surgery.
Where is laparoscopy for infertility treatment performed?
In fertility units inside a hospital or units holding a permit for day surgery.
Is a fertility unit's license enough to perform these techniques?
No. The unit must also be inside a hospital or hold a permit for day surgery.
More articles on Licensing of Fertilization Units and Their Levels
- Article 19
The article bars establishing or operating a fertilization, embryo and infertility treatment unit except after obtaining the Ministry's license on the recommendation of the Supervisory Committee.
لا يجوز تأسيس وحدة للإخصاب والأجنة وعلاج العقم ولا تشغيلها، إلا بعد الحصول على ترخيص الوزارة، بناء على توصية من لجنة الإشراف .
- Article 20
The article sets three licensing levels for fertility units: ovulation induction by injection, then artificial insemination, then IVF, ICSI and micromanipulation, and refers the conditions and qualifications to the Implementing Regulations.
مع مراعاة ما يقضي به نظام ممارسة مهنة الطب البشري وطب الأسنان ونظام المؤسسات الصحية الخاصة وما صدر بشأنهما، يرخص لوحدات الإخصاب والأجنة وعلاج العقم وفقًا للمستو
- Article 21
The article requires every fertility unit to have all the equipment and facilities needed for each licensing level, according to the specifications set by the Implementing Regulations.
يجب توافر جميع التجهيزات والمرافق اللازمة لكل مستوى بحسب المواصفات التي تحددها اللائحة التنفيذية لهذا النظام، وذلك في كل وحدة من وحدات الإخصاب والأجنة وعلاج الع
- Article 22
The article provides that a fertility unit's license for a given level includes the lower levels before it.
يشمل الترخيص الممنوح لوحدات الإخصاب والأجنة وعلاج العقم لمستوى معين ما قبله من مستويات أدنى.
- Article 23
The article obliges fertility units to announce the licensed level together with the unit's name on internal and external signs and in its printed materials.
على وحدات الإخصاب والأجنة وعلاج العقم إعلان المستوى المرخص به مقرونًا باسم الوحدة في اللوحات الداخلية والخارجية ومطبوعاتها.
- Article 24
The article bars licensing a fertilization, embryo and infertility treatment laboratory unless it is within a licensed fertility unit.
لا يجوز الترخيص لمعمل الإخصاب والأجنة وعلاج العقم إلا ضمن وحدة إخصاب مرخص لها.
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.