Article 28 of the Saudi Private Health Institutions Law
المادة 28 من نظام المؤسسات الصحية الخاصة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تلتزم جميع المستشفيات بإيجاد مكتبة طبية داخلها، كما تلتزم بالاشتراك في الدوريات العلمية المناسبة في مجال تخصصها. أما المؤسسات الصحية الأخرى فعليها توفير الدوريات العلمية الأساسية ذات العلاقة بتخصصها.
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 28 explained in plain English
This article imposes knowledge requirements on private health institutions, and it distinguishes between two kinds:
First: hospitals (all of them), which are bound to two things:
- Have a medical library within them.
- Subscribe to suitable scientific periodicals in their specialty.
Second: other health institutions, which are bound to:
- Provide the basic scientific periodicals related to their specialty.
The obligation is graded by the size of the institution: a hospital needs a full library and suitable subscriptions, while clinics, complexes, laboratories, radiology centers and the other types in Article 1 need only provide the basic periodicals, with no library required.
The phrase "all hospitals" means the obligation does not depend on the hospital's size or number of beds. The article does not specify the number of periodicals or their form, nor whether an electronic subscription is enough or a paper one is needed, and it does not define what counts as "suitable" or "basic", so that remains according to the institution's specialty.
It is preceded by Article 27, which requires the institution to enable health practitioners to attend continuing medical education programs as the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties determines, so the two articles complement each other in supporting professional development. It is followed by Article 29, which allows the Minister, in emergency circumstances, to order the use of any private health institution or part of it in return for fair costs.
Practical example
An ophthalmology clinic in Riyadh is not a hospital, so the article does not require it to set up a medical library, but it must provide the basic scientific periodicals related to ophthalmology.
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 28 of the Saudi Private Health Institutions Law
Must a private hospital have a medical library?
Yes, all hospitals must have a medical library within them and subscribe to scientific periodicals suitable for their specialty.
Are clinics required to have a medical library?
The article requires health institutions other than hospitals to provide the basic scientific periodicals related to their specialty, without requiring a library.
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 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
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.