Article 7 of the Saudi Health Law
المادة 7 من النظام الصحي
The 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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تُعطى كل مُديرية عامة للشؤون الصحية الصلاحيات الإدارية والمالية التي تُمكِنُها مِن تأدية المهام المنوطة بِها بطريقة فعَّالة، وتُراعي الوزارة ضِمن ميزانيتِها الاحتياجات الخاصة بكل منطقة بحسب المرافِق الصحية فيها وأعداد سُكانِها، ويُخصص لكل مُستشفى الاعتِمادات المالية التي يحتاجُها.
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 7 explained in plain English
This article deals with administrative and financial decentralization in the health sector.
First: the directorates' powers
Each general directorate of health affairs is given the administrative and financial powers that enable it to perform the tasks entrusted to it effectively.
Second: the budget by region
The Ministry takes into account in its budget the needs specific to each region, according to:
- the health facilities in it,
- and the size of its population.
Third: hospital allocations
Each hospital is allocated the financial appropriations it needs.
The idea is that the directorates in the regions are closer to the situation on the ground, so giving them sufficient powers speeds up decision-making. Linking the budget to population and facilities also achieves balance between regions.
The article does not specify the extent of these powers or the amount of the allocations; that is determined by the Ministry's decisions and the budget. This ties in with Article 6, which has the Ministry determine needs with the regional councils, and with Article 8, which lists the responsibilities of the general directorate of health affairs in the region.
In practical terms the general directorate of health affairs in each region is an administrative body that the Law gives what enables it to perform its tasks, and each region's budget is linked to its actual needs.
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.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 7 of the Saudi Health Law
What are the powers of the general directorate of health affairs?
It is given the administrative and financial powers that enable it to perform the tasks entrusted to it effectively.
How is the health budget distributed among the regions?
The Ministry takes into account the needs of each region according to the health facilities in it and the size of its population, and each hospital is allocated the financial appropriations it needs.
More articles on Health Directorates and Health Centers
- Article 6
The 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.
تعمل الدولة من خِلال الوزارة على توفير شبكة مُتكامِلة من خدمات الرعاية الصحية تُغطي جميع مناطِق المملكة، وتشمل مُستويات الرعاية الصحية الأولية والثانوية والتخصّ
- Article 8
The 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.
تقوم المُديرية العامة للشؤون الصحية بتنفيذ الخطط والبرامِج التي تضعُها الوزارة في المنطقة، وتُناط بِها على وجه الخصوص المسؤوليات الآتية : 1 - ضمان توفُّر برامِج
- Article 9
The 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.
1- تقوم المراكز الصحية التابعة للوزارة والجهات الحكومية الأخرى والقطاع الخاص بتقديم الخدمات الوقائية والإسعافية والعلاجية والتأهيلية وتوجيه الحالات عند الحاجة إ
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.