In force Last amended 24/2/1444 AH
Saudi Health Law
النظام الصحي
Covers the definitions of terms, the aim of the law, the State's commitment to health care and public health, the health care services it provides, the Ministry's responsibilities, the financial and administrative powers of each General Directorate of Health Affairs, funding of health services, and the Health Services Council and its jurisdiction.
- Articles
- 19
- In force
- 19
- Amended
- 4
- Issued
- 23/3/1423 AH
Issued by: مرسوم ملكي رقم م/11 بتاريخ 23 / 3 / 1423 هـ · قرار مجلس الوزراء رقم 76 بتاريخ 22 / 3 / 1423 هـ
Each article shows the official Arabic text, which is the only legally binding version, followed by our plain-English explanation.
Browse Health Law by topic
Definitions and Objectives of the Health Law5 articlesPublic Health and Environmental Safety1 articleDuties of the Ministry of Health4 articlesHealth Directorates and Health Centers4 articlesFinancing Health Care2 articlesHealth Care for Non-Saudis and Pilgrims2 articlesSaudi Health Council1 article
Articles of the Saudi Health Law
- Article 1The article defines the terms used in the Health Law, including public health, primary, secondary and tertiary health care, providing health care, and the Minister, the Ministry and the Council.
- Article 2The article states the Health Law's aim: to ensure the provision of comprehensive, integrated health care for all residents in a fair and accessible manner, and to regulate it.
- Article 3The article requires the State to work on providing health care and to care for public health so as to ensure a sound healthy environment, in areas such as water, food and medicine safety and protection against epidemics and pollution.
- Article 4توفر الدولة خدمات الرعاية الصحية الموضحة أدناه للمواطنين بالطريقة التي تُنظمُها : 1- رعاية الأمومة والطفولة. 2- برامج التحصين. 3- الرعاية…Amended M/52
- Article 5The article makes the Ministry of Health the body responsible for providing health care and lists its tasks, including primary care, hospitals, the health strategy, controlling infectious diseases, regulating medicines and licensing private health institutions.Amended M/52
- Article 6The article requires the State, through the Ministry, to provide an integrated network of health care services covering all regions at the three levels, with the Ministry and regional councils determining needs and locations by geography, population and disease patterns.
- Article 7The article gives each general directorate of health affairs the administrative and financial powers it needs to perform its tasks effectively, and requires the Ministry to take each region's needs into account in its budget and allocate each hospital the funds it needs.
- Article 8The article requires the general directorate of health affairs to carry out the Ministry's plans in the region, with responsibilities including running the Ministry's facilities, licensing private facilities and monitoring their quality, statistics, training and awareness.
- Article 9The article provides that health centers belonging to the Ministry, other government bodies and the private sector provide preventive, emergency, curative and rehabilitative services and direct cases to hospitals, with details left to the Implementing Regulations.
- Article 10The article sets the ways health care is funded: the State budget, cooperative health insurance revenues, and endowments, gifts, donations and bequests, with the Council of Ministers setting the criteria for choosing among them.
- Article 11The article allows the Council of Ministers, on the Minister's proposal, to decide to transfer ownership of some Ministry hospitals to the private sector.
- Article 12The article requires the Ministry to provide education and training to the health team working for it and to verify the recognized level of education and training of license applicants, with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties setting the standards.
- Article 13The article provides that health care for non-Saudis is provided in accordance with the Cooperative Health Insurance Law and its Implementing Regulations.
- Article 14The article provides that health care for pilgrims during the Hajj period is provided in accordance with Regulations issued by the Minister.
- Article 15The article makes the Ministry of Health the body responsible for applying the Law in what does not fall within the jurisdiction of another body.
- Article 16أ- ينشأ مجلس يسمى مجلس الخدمات الصحية برئاسة الوزير وعضوية كل من : 1- ممثل من الوزارة يرشحه الوزير. 2- ممثلين من الخدمات الصحية في كل من…
- Article 17The article sets the Health Services Council's jurisdiction, including preparing the health care strategy, regulating government hospital operation, a policy of coordination among health bodies, evaluating policies and services, forming committees and issuing regulations.
- Article 18The article requires the Minister to issue the Health Law's Implementing Regulations within a year of its publication.
- Article 19The article provides that the Health Law is published in the Official Gazette, takes effect ninety days after publication, and repeals all provisions that conflict with it.