Article 7 of the Saudi Healthcare Professions Practice Law
المادة 7 من نظام مزاولة المهن الصحية
The article requires the healthcare practitioner to develop their knowledge and follow developments in their specialty, requires facilities to facilitate their attendance at courses, and prohibits unrecognized or prohibited diagnosis and treatment methods.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
أ - يجب على الممارس الصحي أن يعمل على تنمية معلوماته، وأن يتابع التطورات العلمية والاكتشافات الحديثة في مجال تخصصه، وعلى إدارات المنشآت الصحية تسهيل حضوره للندوات والدورات وفقًا للضوابط التي تحددها الهيئة.
ب - يجب على الممارس الصحي ألا يمارس طرق التشخيص والعلاج غير المعترف بها عمليًّا، أو المحظورة في المملكة.
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 places two duties on the healthcare practitioner and one duty on healthcare facilities.
Paragraph (a): continuous development. The healthcare practitioner must work to develop their knowledge and follow scientific developments and recent discoveries in their field of specialty. In return, the management of healthcare facilities must facilitate their attendance at seminars and courses, according to the controls set by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. The text does not specify the number or length of courses, but leaves that to the Authority's controls.
Paragraph (b): unrecognized methods. The healthcare practitioner is prohibited from using diagnosis or treatment methods that are:
- not recognized in practice (as the text puts it), or
- prohibited in the Kingdom.
The aim is to protect the patient from methods whose effectiveness has not been established or that have been officially banned, even if the practitioner considers them beneficial.
The article is connected to Article 6, which requires the practitioner to assist the authorities in protecting public health, and to Article 8, which requires them to give possible assistance to anyone they know to be in a critical condition or to make sure they receive the necessary care. Anyone who underwent treatment by a method whose lawfulness they doubt may consult a lawyer specialized in healthcare practice and medical malpractice cases.
Practical example
Khaled works as a physical therapy specialist in a private hospital in Riyadh and wants to attend a scientific course in his specialty. The hospital management must facilitate his attendance according to the Authority's controls. In return, Khaled may not use with his patients a treatment method that is prohibited in the Kingdom, even if the patient requests it.
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 Healthcare Professions Practice Law
Is a healthcare practitioner required to pursue continuing education?
Yes. They must work to develop their knowledge and follow scientific developments and recent discoveries in their field of specialty.
Must the hospital allow an employee to attend courses?
The management of healthcare facilities must facilitate the practitioner's attendance at seminars and courses according to the controls set by the Authority.
May a physician use unrecognized treatment methods?
No. The practitioner is prohibited from using diagnosis and treatment methods that are not recognized or are prohibited in the Kingdom.
More articles on Duties of the Healthcare Practitioner
- Article 5
The article requires the healthcare practitioner to practice for the benefit of the individual and society, respecting human life, safety and dignity, observing prevailing customs, and avoiding exploitation.
يزاول الممارس الصحي مهنته لمصلحة الفرد والمجتمع في نطاق احترام حق الإنسان في الحياة وسلامته وكرامته، مراعيًا في عمله العادات والتقاليد السائدة في المملكة مبتعدً
- Article 6
The article requires the healthcare practitioner to assist the competent authorities in protecting public health and warding off the dangers that threaten it in peace and in war.
يلتزم الممارس الصحي بمعاونة السلطات المختصة في أداء واجبها نحو حماية الصحة العامة، ودرء الأخطار التي تهددها في السلم والحرب.
- Article 8
The article requires a healthcare practitioner who witnesses or knows that a patient or injured person is in a critical condition to give possible assistance or make sure the person receives the necessary care.
يجب على الممارس الصحي الذي يشهد أو يعلم أن مريضًا أو جريحًا في حالة خطرة أن يقدم له المساعدة الممكنة، أو أن يتأكد من أنه يتلقى العناية الضرورية.
- Article 9
The article requires medical work to aim always at the patient's interest, and prevents the healthcare practitioner from doing work beyond their specialty or means except in a case of necessity.
أ - يجب أن يستهدف العمل الطبي دائمًا مصلحة المريض، وعلى الممارس الصحي أن يبذل جهده لكل مريض. ب - لا يجوز للممارس الصحي- في غيرحالة الضرورة- القيام بعمل يجاوز اخ
- Article 11
The article requires the healthcare practitioner, immediately on examining a patient suspected of being injured by a crime or of having an infectious disease, to notify the competent security and health authorities; the Minister sets the diseases, the authority and the procedures.
يجب على الممارس الصحي فور معاينته لمريض مشتبه في إصابته جنائيًّا، أو إصابته بمرض معد؛ أن يبلغ الجهات الأمنية والصحية المختصة، ويصدر الوزير قرارًا بتحديد الأمراض
- Article 15
The article requires the healthcare practitioner to carry out diagnosis with the necessary care using suitable technical means and those the case calls for, and to give the patient what they request about their condition and test results, accurately and objectively.
يجب على الممارس الصحي أن يجري التشخيص بالعناية اللازمة مستعينًا بالوسائل الفنية الملائمة، وبمن تستدعي ظروف الحالة الاستعانة بهم من الأخصائيين أو المساعدين، وأن
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.