The Ministry of Health (MoH) has slapped a pharmacy with a fine of SR 40,000 for violating health regulations.
According to an official from the MoH, the penalized pharmacy belonged to a renowned medical group in the Kingdom.
Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah ordered the imposition of the fine after a health committee found a number of irregularities at the pharmacy during an inspection. The violations included pharmacists working in the outlet without valid licenses and others working with expired licenses.
In addition to the penalty, the Ministry of Health has reported the the pharmacists concerned to the Medical Practitioners Committee for violating the Kingdom’s health establishment code.
According to the official, the pharmacists have practiced in the country without obtaining licenses from the local authorities and are subject to a penalty for not abiding by the ministry’s regulations.
Last month, the MoH withdrew the license of a dental clinic in Turaif in the Northern Border Region, 1,459 km from the capital, for repeatedly committing medical errors.
The owner of the center was prohibited to apply for a new license for the duration of two years from the date the license was withdrawn.
In November last year, the ministry shut down nine private medical facilities in the capital.
The official remarked that the ministry took these decisions to safeguard the public’s health and safety and in an effort to upgrade health care services in the private sector.
In a statement, the MoH affirmed that it would not compromise with the quality of health services rendered to citizens and residents in the Kingdom. It pointed out that it would continue to apply severe penalties for irregular procedures adopted by medical clinics.
As a strategic partner in the development of the Kingdom’s health sector, the MoH stressed that the private sector should provide beneficiaries with quality health services.
During 2012, the ministry shut down three hospitals, 30 medical complexes, 15 clinics, 29 pharmacies, 27 optical centers and five physiotherapy clinics. It was reported that during this period, the total fines for irregularities reached SR 3.75 million. The pharmaceutical sector topped the list, accumulating fines close to SR 2 million.