Article 10 of the Saudi Private Health Institutions Law
المادة 10 من نظام المؤسسات الصحية الخاصة
A hospital must provide the necessary number of resident doctors, specialists, consultants, pharmacists, technicians, nurses and supporting health staff according to its capacity and classification grade, under the Regulations' standards.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يلتزم المستشفى بتوفير العدد اللازم من الأطباء المقيمين، والاخصائيين، والاستشاريين، والصيادلة، والفنيين، والممرضين، والعمالة الصحية المساندة، وغيرها من الخدمات اللازمة، بحسب سعة المستشفى ودرجة تصنيفه، وذلك وفقًا للمعايير والضوابط التي تحددها اللائحة التنفيذية.
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 10 explained in plain English
This article deals with the staff that must be available in a private hospital.
Whom must it provide:
- Resident doctors.
- Specialists.
- Consultants.
- Pharmacists.
- Technicians.
- Nurses.
- Supporting health staff.
- Other necessary services.
How many? "The necessary number" according to two criteria:
- The hospital's capacity.
- Its classification grade.
This is done in accordance with the standards and controls set by the Implementing Regulations; the Law gives no specific ratios or figures, and none should be assumed from this text.
This article is connected to Article 9, which sets the minimum number of beds (30 beds for a general hospital, 20 for a two-specialty hospital and 10 for a single-specialty hospital): the larger the capacity, the larger the staff required. The reference to "classification grade" also means that the staff required is affected by the hospital's classification as well.
The article concerns the hospital and does not address complexes or clinics. Article 11 follows, which sets what a hospital must be equipped with, such as medical devices and equipment, a laboratory, a radiology unit, isolation rooms, intensive care beds, emergency services and an internal pharmacy.
A hospital that faces a remark about a shortage of staff can refer to the standards in the Regulations, and may consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases when objecting to an action taken against it.
Practical example
An investor plans to expand a private hospital in Khobar from 40 to 90 beds. As capacity increases, he must increase the numbers of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and technicians in proportion to the new capacity and classification grade, in accordance with the standards in the Implementing Regulations.
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 10 of the Saudi Private Health Institutions Law
How many doctors does a private hospital need?
The Law does not set a number; it requires the hospital to provide the necessary number according to its capacity and classification grade under the standards of the Implementing Regulations.
Does this obligation cover clinics and complexes?
The article addresses the hospital specifically.
More articles on Medical Staff in Private Institutions
- Article 8
A private health institution may not employ doctors, other health practitioners or pharmacists until they hold a license from the Ministry to practice the profession.
لا يجوز للمؤسسة الصحية الخاصة تشغيل الأطباء أو غيرهم من الممارسين الصحيين والصيادلة إلا بعد حصولهم على ترخيص من الوزارة بمزاولة المهنة.
- Article 14
Licensing a general or specialized medical complex requires at least a consultant in each licensed main specialty and a nurse for each clinic; in remote areas set by the Ministry the consultants may be reduced to one or specialists may suffice.
يشترط للترخيص لأي من المجمع الطبي العام والمجمع الطبي المتخصص أن يتوافر فيه- على الأقل- استشاري في كل من التخصصات الرئيسة المرخص بها، وأن يخصص ممرض أو ممرضة على
- Article 15
Laboratory, radiology center, day-surgery center and supporting health services, of any type, must be provided by licensed specialists in the profession, and the Regulations set the conditions, qualifications and work procedures.
يقدم خدمات المختبر مركز الأشعة ومركز جراحة اليوم الواحد والخدمات الصحية المساندة أيًّا كان نوعها؛ متخصصون في المهنة مرخص لهم بذلك، وتحدد اللائحة التنفيذية شروط
- Article 26
A private health institution must explain the provisions of the Labor Law, the procedures manual, the job description and related laws in force in the Kingdom to anyone it wants to contract with, before contracting.
يجب على كل مؤسسة صحية خاصة أن توضح أحكام نظام العمل والعمال لمن تريد التعاقد معه، وكذلك دليل الإجراءات والوصف الوظيفي والأنظمة ذات العلاقة المعمول بها في المملك
- Article 27
A private health institution must enable health practitioners to attend continuing medical education programs in their specialty, inside or outside the Kingdom, as the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties determines.
تلتزم المؤسسة الصحية الخاصة بتمكين الممارسين الصحيين من حضور برامج التعليم الطبي المستمر في مجال تخصصهم، سواء داخل المملكة أو خارجها، وفقًا لما تحدده الهيئة الس
- Article 28
All hospitals must have a medical library and subscribe to suitable scientific periodicals in their specialty; other health institutions must provide the basic scientific periodicals related to their specialty.
تلتزم جميع المستشفيات بإيجاد مكتبة طبية داخلها، كما تلتزم بالاشتراك في الدوريات العلمية المناسبة في مجال تخصصها. أما المؤسسات الصحية الأخرى فعليها توفير الدوريا
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.