Article 157 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
المادة 157 من نظام خدمة الضباط · الباب الثاني: عشر أحكام عامة
Retired officers and those they support under Sharia are treated in military hospitals inside the Kingdom.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعالج الضباط المتقاعدون ومن يعولونهم شرعاً في المستشفيات العسكرية بالداخل.
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 157 explained in plain English
This article establishes a health right that continues after service ends, providing that retired officers and those they support under Sharia are treated in military hospitals inside the Kingdom.
The text contains three elements:
- Beneficiaries: retired officers.
- Who is covered with them: those they support under Sharia, that is, the persons whom the retired officer is responsible for supporting under Sharia.
- Place of treatment: military hospitals inside the Kingdom.
Note that the text limits treatment to military hospitals inside the Kingdom, so it does not address treatment abroad. It also does not specify types of treatment or additional conditions, or explain how Sharia-based dependency is proven.
The officer, under Article 2, is the holder of a military rank under the provisions of this law, and this article extends the effect of that status beyond retirement in the matter of treatment.
This article is connected with Article 158, which allows the Minister to grant some of the powers vested in him under the law to the Deputy Minister and the Chief of Staff.
To assess the position of a particular officer, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases.
Practical example
Colonel Ibrahim retires after years of service and supports his wife and children. Under this article, he and those he supports under Sharia are treated in military hospitals inside the Kingdom.
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 157 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
Is a retired officer treated in military hospitals?
Yes. Retired officers are treated in military hospitals inside the Kingdom.
Does the article cover the retired officer's family?
It covers those whom the retired officer supports under Sharia.
Does the provision cover treatment outside the Kingdom?
The text limits treatment to military hospitals inside the Kingdom.
More articles on Medical Treatment for Officers and Their Families
- Article 97Amended by M/28
The article provides that an officer who cannot be treated inside the Kingdom is treated abroad at government expense, with his travel and treatment costs paid within the period set by the reports of the Supreme Military Medical Committee.
في حالة تعذر علاج الضباط داخل المملكة يعالج خارجها على نفقة الحكومة وتصرف له نفقات سفره وعلاجه في حدود المدة المقررة بموجب التقارير الطبية الصادرة من اللجنة الط
- Article 98Amended (1397 AH)
The article provides that officers are treated in military or other hospitals inside the Kingdom, abroad at the Ministry of Defense's expense when impossible, by decision of the Chief of the General Staff or the Minister in urgent cases, with a companion's expenses.
يعالج الضباط في المستشفيات العسكرية أو غيرها داخل المملكة وإذا رأت اللجنة الطبية العسكرية أن علاجه متعذر داخل المملكة فيعالج خارجها على نفقة وزارة الدفاع والطير
- Article 99
The article provides that officers seconded on official missions or sent abroad to study are treated at the Ministry of Defense's expense, provided the treatment is supported by certified medical reports endorsed by a military attache or the Kingdom's representative office.
يعالج الضباط المنتدبون في مهام رسمية أو المبتعثون للدراسة في الخارج على نفقة وزارة الدفاع والطيران على أن تؤيد المعالجة بتقارير طبية تصادق عليها مراجع طبية وتقت
- Article 100
The article gives an officer the right to have the family members he legally supports treated in military hospitals inside the Kingdom.
للضابط الحق في معالجة أفراد أسرته الذين يعولهم شرعاً في المستشفيات العسكرية في داخل المملكة.
- Article 101
The article provides that the Supreme Military Medical Committee is formed by decision of the Minister on the recommendation of the Chief of the General Staff, from at least three doctors, and the decision sets the committee's term.
تشكل اللجنة الطبية العسكرية العليا بقرار من الوزير بناءً على توصية رئيس هيئة الأركان العامة من ثلاثة أطباء على الأقل ويحدد القرار مدة عمل اللجنة.
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.