Article 31 of the Saudi Private Health Institutions Law

This article sets a general rule for advertising health services: as a rule advertising is prohibited for a private health institution, and is permitted only within limits that do not conflict with professional ethics.

The rule covers every health institution owned by the private sector as defined in Article 1, among them the hospital, general and specialized medical complexes, the clinic, radiology center, medical laboratory, day-surgery center, supporting health service centers such as physical therapy centers and medical eyewear shops, and the ambulance transport service center.

The article itself does not say what is permitted and what is forbidden in advertising but refers to the standards set by the Implementing Regulations. So learning the detailed controls (such as the method and content of the advertisement) requires turning to the Regulations, which Article 32 provides are issued by the Minister of Health.

What this means in practice:

• Before any advertising campaign, a private health institution must make sure it is consistent with professional ethics and with the standards of the Regulations.
• Advertising that goes beyond these limits is a violation of this article.

This article follows Article 30, which requires the institution to report criminal incidents and deaths to the security authority and health affairs directorate, among the obligations the Law places on private health institutions. Anyone who needs to assess a particular advertisement would do well to consult a lawyer who specializes in health regulations and administrative cases.