Article 25 of the Saudi Private Health Institutions Law

This is the procedural article on penalties, and it defines who imposes them and how they are challenged.

1- The committees:

• They are formed by decision of the Minister in the health affairs directorates.
• Each committee has at least three members, one a consultant in the medical professions and the second a legal adviser.
• They are competent to consider violations of the Law and impose the penalties it provides for.
• Their decisions are not carried out until approved by the Minister or his delegate.

2- Grievance: those concerned may file a grievance against these decisions before the Board of Grievances within 60 days of the date of notification. It is important not to miss this period.

3- Publication: the text of the final decision imposing the penalty is published at the violator's expense in three local newspapers, at least one of which is issued in his place of residence; if there is no newspaper in his region, then in the newspaper issued in the nearest region. Note that publication is of the final decision.

4- What it refers to the Implementing Regulations: the membership term on the committees, the procedures they follow in their work, and the notification of their decisions.

The Minister, under Article 1, is the Minister of Health.

It is preceded by Article 24, which requires the Ministry to ensure patients' treatment continues if closing the institution would harm them, and followed by Article 26, which requires the institution to explain the provisions of the Labor Law, the procedures manual and the job description to whomever it wants to contract with.

Because the grievance period is fixed at sixty days from notification, an institution against which a decision has been issued would do well to consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases (Board of Grievances) without delay.