Article 22 of the Saudi Mental Health Law

This Article addresses a recurring practical problem: a mental patient whose condition calls for admission to the facility, but no bed is available for him.

The Article sets a clear chain of notification:

1. The treating physician: must notify the management of the mental treatment facility that no bed is available. Under Article 1, the treating physician is the physician responsible for examining the patient and following up his treatment.
2. The facility's management: notifies the director general of health affairs in the region.
3. The director general of health affairs: provides what that patient needs.

The practical meaning is that the lack of a bed does not justify leaving the patient without a response to his situation: the Law makes notification a duty of the physician and moves the responsibility to a higher administrative level in the region to find a solution. The Article does not say specifically what must be provided or by when; it says "what is needed", so no period or particular procedure should be assumed.

This Article sits between Article 21 on the patients' rights committee and Article 23 on referring a patient with no shelter to convalescent homes.

If you have a specific case, it is best to consult a lawyer who specializes in health regulations and patients' rights.