Article 17 of the Saudi Health Law

"The Council" in the Law is the Health Services Council under the definition in Article 1, established by Article 16 under the chairmanship of the Minister and with representatives of government and private health bodies as members. This article sets out its jurisdiction:

• (a) Preparing the health care strategy in the Kingdom in preparation for its approval by the Council of Ministers.
• (b) Setting a regulation for operating the hospitals run by the Ministry and other government bodies on the basis of economic management and performance and quality standards.
• (c) Setting and approving the policy of coordination and integration among health bodies, especially in: primary, secondary and specialized care, ambulance and medical evacuation, transfer of patients, supply of medicines and devices, education, training and employment of the workforce, research, care for pilgrims, awareness, environmental health, and exchange of expertise.
• (d) Appointing a secretary general of the Council on the Minister's nomination and in accordance with the Civil Service Law.
• (e) Setting the rules for rewarding experts in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and National Economy.
• (f) Evaluating health policies and plans and reviewing them periodically.
• (g) Studying the level of services, determining the sector's requirements, and recommending the distribution of services among the regions.
• (h) Working to carry out what is contained in the strategy and overcoming its difficulties.
• (i) Coordinating among government bodies in establishing hospitals, projects and specialized programs.
• (j) Studying the health laws and proposing their amendment.
• (k) Forming specialized committees and setting their jurisdiction and rules of work.
• (l) Issuing its organizational, administrative and financial regulations in agreement with the Ministry of Finance, and approving the organizational structure of its secretariat.

Paragraphs (f) to (l) were added by Council of Ministers Resolution No. 418 dated 29/10/1435 AH.

In practical terms the Council is a coordination and planning body at the level of the whole health sector, not a body providing services to individuals directly.

Anyone who needs an opinion on a particular situation would do well to consult a lawyer specialized in health laws or administrative cases.