Article 98 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
المادة 98 من نظام خدمة الضباط · الفصل الرابع: العلاج
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.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
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 والطيران بقرار من رئيس هيئة الأركان العامة ويجوز للوزير في الحالات المرضية المستعجلة أن يقرر معالجة أي ضابط خارج المملكة.
إذا رأت اللجنة الطبية العسكرية ضرورة وجود مرافق للمريض فيصرف للمرافق نفقات للسفر ونفقات الإقامة بمقدار بدل الانتداب المقرر للملازم في حالة انتدابه لذلك البلد في الداخل أو الخارج.
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 98 explained in plain English
This article regulates officers' treatment at three levels:
First: inside the Kingdom. Officers are treated in military or other hospitals inside the Kingdom.
Second: outside the Kingdom. If the military medical committee considers that his treatment is not possible inside the Kingdom, he is treated abroad:
- at the expense of the Ministry of Defense and Aviation.
- by decision of the Chief of the General Staff.
The Minister may, in urgent medical cases, decide to treat any officer outside the Kingdom.
Third: the companion. If the military medical committee considers that a companion is necessary for the patient, the following are paid for the companion:
- travel expenses.
- accommodation expenses in the amount of the secondment allowance set for a lieutenant if he were seconded to that country, inside the Kingdom or outside it.
The paragraph on the companion was added by Royal Decree No. (M/56) dated 20/9/1397 AH.
The practical meaning is that a companion's expenses are not paid automatically, but the military medical committee must consider the companion necessary. The amount for his accommodation is tied to the lieutenant's secondment allowance whatever the rank of the sick officer. An officer whose request is refused may consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases and military service matters.
Practical example
The military medical committee decided that Colonel Hamad could not be treated inside the Kingdom and that he needed a companion. The Chief of the General Staff issues the decision for his treatment abroad at the Ministry's expense, and his son who accompanies him is paid travel expenses and accommodation expenses equal to a lieutenant's secondment allowance for that country.
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 98 of the Saudi Officers Service Law
Who decides an officer's treatment outside the Kingdom?
It is by decision of the Chief of the General Staff if the military medical committee considers his treatment impossible inside the Kingdom, and the Minister may do so in urgent cases.
Are expenses paid for the companion of a sick officer?
Yes. If the military medical committee considers a companion necessary, he is paid travel expenses and accommodation expenses in the amount of a lieutenant's secondment allowance for that country.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/56 — 20/9/1397 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- يضاف الى هذه المادة الفقرة التالية: إذا رأت اللجنة الطبية العسكرية ضرورة وجود مرافق للمريض فيصرف للمرافق نفقات للسفر ونفقات الإقامة بمقدار بدل الانتداب المقرر للملازم في حالة انتدابه لذلك البلد في الداخل أو الخارج. وذلك بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/56) وتاريخ 1397/9/20هـ.
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
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 والطيران بقرار من رئيس هيئة الأركان العامة ويجوز للوزير في الحالات المرضية المستعجلة أن يقرر معالجة أي ضابط خارج المملكة.
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 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.
- Article 157
Retired officers and those they support under Sharia are treated in military hospitals inside the Kingdom.
يعالج الضباط المتقاعدون ومن يعولونهم شرعاً في المستشفيات العسكرية بالداخل.
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.