Article 33 of the Saudi Healthcare Professions Practice Law
المادة 33 من نظام مزاولة المهن الصحية
The article establishes the Health Sharia Authority, chaired by a judge, with legal, medical and pharmacy members, limits the two pharmacy members to pharmacy cases, and seats it at the Ministry of Health in Riyadh with possible regional bodies.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
أ - تكون هيئة تسمى (الهيئة الصحية الشرعية) على النحو الآتي :
1 - قاضٍ لا تقل درجته عن قاضي (أ)، يعينه وزير العدل رئيسًا.
2 - مستشار نظامي يعينه الوزير.
3 - عضو هيئة تدريس من إحدى كليات الطب، يعينه وزير التعليم العالي، وفي المنطقة التي ليس فيها كلية طب يعين الوزير بدلًا منه عضوًا من المرافق الصحية المتوافرة في تلك المنطقة.
4 - عضو هيئة تدريس في إحدى كليات الصيدلة، يعينه وزير التعليم العالي، وفي المنطقة التي ليس فيها كلية صيدلة يعين الوزير بدلًا منه عضوًا من المرافق الصحية المتوافرة في تلك المنطقة.
5 - طبيبان من ذوي الخبرة والكفاية، يختارهما الوزير.
6 - صيدلي من ذوي الخبرة والكفاية، يختاره الوزير.
ب - تقتصر مشاركة العضوين المشار إليهما في الفقرتين (4 ، 6) في القضايا ذات العلاقة بالصيدلة.
ج - يعين الوزير المختص عضوًا احتياطيًّا يحل محل العضو عند غيابه.
د - يكون لهذه الهيئة أمين سر، يعينه الوزير.
هـ - تجوز الاستعانة بخبير أو أكثر في موضوع القضية المعروضة.
و- يكون مقر هذه الهيئة وزارة الصحة بالرياض، ويجوز إنشاء هيئات أخرى في المناطق التي يصدر بتحديدها قرار من الوزير.
ز- تحدد اللائحة التنفيذية مدة العضوية في هذه الهيئة وكيفية العمل فيها.
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 33 explained in plain English
This article establishes the Health Sharia Authority, the body competent under the Law to hear the professional healthcare error cases specified in Article 34. It is made up of:
- A judge of a rank not lower than Judge (A), appointed by the Minister of Justice as chair.
- A legal adviser appointed by the Minister of Health.
- A faculty member from a medical college appointed by the Minister of Higher Education; in a region with no medical college, the Minister of Health appoints in their place a member from the health facilities available there.
- A faculty member from a pharmacy college in the same way.
- Two physicians of experience and competence chosen by the Minister of Health.
- A pharmacist of experience and competence chosen by the Minister of Health.
Other provisions in the article:
- The participation of the two members in items 4 and 6 (the pharmacy college member and the pharmacist) is limited to pharmacy-related cases.
- The competent Minister appoints an alternate member to replace a member in their absence, and the Authority has a secretary appointed by the Minister.
- One or more experts may be used on the subject of the case.
- Its seat is the Ministry of Health in Riyadh, and other bodies may be established in the regions specified by a decision of the Minister.
- The Implementing Regulations set the term of membership and how it works.
It is followed by Article 34, which sets its jurisdiction, and preceded by Article 32, which sets the disciplinary penalties. Anyone with a case before the Authority may consult a lawyer specialized in healthcare practice and medical malpractice 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 33 of the Saudi Healthcare Professions Practice Law
Who chairs the Health Sharia Authority?
It is chaired by a judge of a rank not lower than Judge (A), appointed by the Minister of Justice.
Do pharmacists take part in all cases of the Health Sharia Authority?
No. The participation of the pharmacy college faculty member and the pharmacist is limited to pharmacy-related cases.
Where is the seat of the Health Sharia Authority?
Its seat is the Ministry of Health in Riyadh, and other bodies may be established in the regions specified by a decision of the Minister.
More articles on Medical Sharia Authority
- Article 34
The article gives the Health Sharia Authority jurisdiction over professional healthcare errors for which a private-right claim is made, and over errors causing death or loss of an organ or its function, even without a private claim.
تختص الهيئة الصحية الشرعية بالآتي : 1 - النظر في الأخطاء المهنية الصحية التي ترفع بها المطالبة بالحق الخاص (دية - تعويض - أرش). 2 - النظر في الأخطاء المهنية الص
- Article 35
The article provides that the Health Sharia Authority convenes with all its members present, decides by majority including the judge, and that a grievance may be filed with the Board of Grievances within sixty days of notification.
تنعقد (الهيئة الصحية الشرعية) بحضور جميع الأعضاء، وتصدر قراراتها بالأغلبية على أن يكون من بينهم القاضي، ويجوز التظلم من اللجنة أمام ديوان المظالم خلال ستين يومً
- Article 36
The article provides that the public prosecution before the Health Sharia Authority is represented by employees designated by a decision of the Minister of Health.
يمثل الإدعاء العام أمام (الهيئة الصحية الشرعية) الموظفون الذين يصدر بتحديدهم قرار من الوزير.
- Article 37
The article provides that a public-right claim is not heard after one year from the date of knowledge of the professional healthcare error, and refers the rules of knowledge to the Implementing Regulations.
لا تسمع الدعوى في الحق العام بعد مضي سنة من تاريخ العلم بالخطأ المهني الصحي، وتحدد اللائحة التنفيذية ضوابط العلم بالخطأ المهني الصحي.
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.