Article 3 of the Saudi Health Law
المادة 3 من النظام الصحي
The 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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تعمل الدولة على توفير الرعاية الصحية، كما تُعنى بالصحة العامة للمُجتمع بما يكفل العيش في بيئة صحية سليمة، ويشمل ذلك على وجه الخصوص ما يأتي :
1 - سلامة مياه الشُّرب وصلاحيتها.
2 - سلامة الصرف الصحي وتنقيته.
3 - سلامة الأغذية المُتداولة.
4 - سلامة الأدوية والعقاقير والمُستلزمات الطبية المُتداولة ومُراقبة استعمالِها.
5 - حماية المُجتمع من آثار أخطار المُخدرات والمُسكِرات.
6 - حماية البلاد من الأوبئة.
7 - حماية البيئة من أخطار التلوث بأنواعِه.
8 - وضع الاشتِراطات الصحية لاستِعمال الأماكِن العامة.
9 - نشر التوعية الصحية بين السكان.
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 3 explained in plain English
This article defines the State's role in two fields:
- Providing health care.
- Caring for the public health of the community so as to ensure living in a sound healthy environment.
Fields mentioned in particular:
- Safety and fitness of drinking water.
- Safety and purification of sewage.
- Safety of food in circulation.
- Safety of medicines, drugs and medical supplies in circulation and monitoring their use.
- Protecting society from the effects of the dangers of drugs and intoxicants.
- Protecting the country from epidemics.
- Protecting the environment from the dangers of pollution of all kinds.
- Setting health requirements for the use of public places.
- Spreading health awareness among the population.
The phrase "in particular" means this list consists of prominent examples, and is not an exhaustive list of everything that caring for public health includes.
"Public health" under Article 1 is an integrated view of the health of the individual, the family and the community and the environmental, social, economic and genetic influences on it, which explains why the article covers fields such as water, the environment and public places.
In practical terms the State is responsible for these fields in general, but the article does not specify the government body that carries out each field or the procedures; it sets a general framework for the State's role. Article 2 gives the Law's general aim, and then Article 4 deals with the services the State provides to citizens.
Anyone who needs an opinion on a particular situation would do well to consult a lawyer specialized in health laws or administrative cases.
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 3 of the Saudi Health Law
What is the State's responsibility for public health?
It works on providing health care and cares for public health so as to ensure living in a sound healthy environment, including the safety of water, sewage, food and medicines and protection from epidemics and pollution.
Is the list in the article exhaustive?
The text mentions it "in particular", meaning it contains the most prominent things the State's role includes.
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.