JEDDAH: Makkah’s health department has set up a committee to verify the sick leave certificates of employees.
The department stated it would apply government regulations on sick leave, which includes people providing the address of the facilities where they received their certificates.
If employees do not abide by these rules their leave would not be approved and the days deducted from their salaries, a source was quoted as saying by a local publication recently.
The source said doctors in private practice and in government facilities must stick to the rules about periods granted off from work. This includes that sick leave should be granted for only three days, and extended to six if surgery is involved.
He said that if leave is granted for seven days, the certificate should be signed by the facility’s director, and can be extended for seven more days. If a person has to take off 30 days, then this has to be approved by the general medical commission.
He said government rules stipulate that failure to comply would result in the sick leave certificates declared invalid, the days deducted from the violator’s salary, and disciplinary action.
Directors of health facilities must report to the ministry any violations of the rules. If reports issued are not correct, then those responsible would face charges of forgery.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has revealed that it has treated 3,443 patients in the first 10 days of Ramadan under its Ihalati (My Referral) electronic program.
Suleiman Al-Sharei’, supervisor of the program, said out of the referred cases, 2,023 or 58.8 percent, were approved. A further 1,114 or 32.4 percent were identified as serious cases, 214 or 6.2 percent were treated at the hospital where treatment was sought, and 92 or 2.7 percent were on the waiting list.
Al-Sharei’ said 99 or 2.88 percent of cases involved life-saving treatment, 82 or 23.82 percent were emergency cases, 855 or 24.83 percent were hospitalized, and 1,669 or 48.48 percent were treated as outpatients.
The Ihalati program allows medical professionals at various health facilities to study the cases of patients without the initial need to transfer them. In addition, it allows hospitals to coordinate their actions if transfers do occur. It also provides an accurate archiving and statistical system, which contains information on all patients referred in this manner in the Kingdom.
Panel to verify sick leave certificates in Makkah
Panel to verify sick leave certificates in Makkah
![Panel to verify sick leave certificates in Makkah Panel to verify sick leave certificates in Makkah](https://www.arabnews.com/sites/default/files/styles/n_670_395/public/2015/06/30/file-30-Sick-leave.jpg?itok=IpCrqgyW)