Article 26 of the Saudi Private Health Institutions Law
المادة 26 من نظام المؤسسات الصحية الخاصة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 المملكة العربية السعودية قبل التعاقد معه.
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 26 explained in plain English
This article imposes on the private health institution a duty of advance explanation to anyone it wants to contract with.
What must be explained?
- The provisions of the Labor Law.
- The procedures manual.
- The job description.
- The related laws in force in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
When? Before contracting. It is not enough for the contracting party to be informed of these matters after the contract is signed or after work begins.
To whom? "Anyone it wants to contract with"; the text is general and does not limit it to doctors, so it covers anyone the institution wants to contract with, whether health practitioners or others.
The practical aim is that the contracting party enters the contract knowing his rights and duties, the procedures in force and the description of his job, which reduces later disputes, especially with people who come from outside the Kingdom and do not know its laws.
The article does not state the form of the explanation, such as whether it must be in writing, and does not mention the effect of failing to do so on the contract itself. It also refers to the Labor Law without detailing its provisions; the content of those provisions is found in that law.
It is preceded by Article 25, which regulates the committees for violations of the Law and the grievance against their decisions before the Board of Grievances, and followed by Article 27, which requires the institution to enable health practitioners to attend continuing medical education programs.
An institution may consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative or commercial cases when preparing its contracting forms and procedures.
Practical example
A private hospital in Riyadh is negotiating with a nurse from outside the Kingdom to work for it. Before signing the contract, the hospital must explain to her the provisions of the Labor Law, the procedures manual, the job description and the related laws in force in 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 26 of the Saudi Private Health Institutions Law
Must a private hospital explain the Labor Law to a doctor before contracting?
Yes, the institution must explain the provisions of the Labor Law to anyone it wants to contract with, before contracting.
What must a health practitioner know before signing the contract?
The provisions of the Labor Law, the procedures manual, the job description and the related laws in force in the Kingdom.
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 10
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.
يلتزم المستشفى بتوفير العدد اللازم من الأطباء المقيمين، والاخصائيين، والاستشاريين، والصيادلة، والفنيين، والممرضين، والعمالة الصحية المساندة، وغيرها من الخدمات ا
- 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 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.