Article 17 of the Saudi Private Health Institutions Law
المادة 17 من نظام المؤسسات الصحية الخاصة
Each health affairs directorate has inspection committees for private health institutions to verify they apply the Law, its Regulations and the Ministry's decisions and to monitor quality levels; the Regulations set their formation and working method.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تكون في كل مديرية للشؤون الصحية لجان للتفتيش على المؤسسات الصحية الخاصة، للتأكد من تطبيقها أحكام هذا النظام ولائحته التنفيذية والقرارات التي تصدرها الوزارة بموجبه، ومراقبة مستويات الجودة النوعية، وتحدد اللائحة التنفيذية كيفية تكوين هذه اللجان وأسلوب عملها.
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 17 explained in plain English
This article regulates oversight of private health institutions through inspection committees.
Where are the committees? In each health affairs directorate.
What are their tasks?
- Verifying that private health institutions apply the provisions of the Law.
- Verifying that they apply the Implementing Regulations.
- Verifying that they apply the decisions the Ministry issues under the Law.
- Monitoring quality levels.
The last task is notable: inspection is not limited to checking formal compliance with the texts but extends to the level of quality itself.
What the article refers to the Implementing Regulations: how the committees are formed and their working method. The Law does not set the committees' members, their procedural powers or how often inspection takes place.
Inspection covers all types of private health institutions defined in Article 1, from hospitals to eyewear shops and ambulance transport centers. The Ministry is the Ministry of Health.
It is preceded by Article 16, which requires the private health institution to provide emergency treatment to dangerous emergency cases without advance financial demand, and followed by Article 18, which provides for cancelling the license upon transfer of the institution's ownership or change of its activity or location without the Ministry's approval.
Institutions should be ready for visits by these committees.
Practical example
The inspection committee of the health affairs directorate in the Makkah region visited a medical complex in Taif, reviewed its compliance with the provisions of the Law and the Ministry's decisions, and examined the quality level of the services it provides.
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 17 of the Saudi Private Health Institutions Law
Who inspects private clinics and hospitals?
Inspection committees in each health affairs directorate.
What do the inspection committees monitor?
Application of the provisions of the Law, its Implementing Regulations and the Ministry's decisions issued under it, and quality levels.
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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.