MoH to increase number of beds in private hospitals

JEDDAH: Health Minister Dr. Khaled Al-Falih is set to increase the number of beds in all private sector hospitals, as per new implementation regulations adopted this year.
The move will help address the problem of delays in public sector projects, as well as meet medical needs in highly populated areas.
The regulations also stipulate that private sector organizations are not permitted to employee doctors, pharmacists or other health professions until they have obtained the necessary license from the Ministry of Health to practice the profession and have met the requirements for each specialty issued by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties.
It also lists three conditions under which the validity of medical licenses of private sector doctors to practice the profession expire, which are if the private health organization’s permits are not renewed, the contract of employment is not renewed, or if the doctor is medically unfit.
As for the assignment of medical or technical staff to another health establishment in the case of a temporary shortage of certain expertise or specialties, the regulations state that this process is permitted and applies to all health specialties with the approval of health affairs directorates in the regions and provinces.
All procedures must be completed before the professional may proceed to work for the requesting establishment, and the period will not exceed 120 consecutive or non-consecutive days within the Hijri calendar year.
Hours of employment are to be agreed upon between both health establishments, provided that the employee’s medical license is valid during the employment period.Both establishments must also have valid permits, and the assignment of employees must be in accordance with a written agreement that determines all the conditions of procedures and rights of the employee in question. The private health establishments involved can be both within or outside the health affairs directorate that issued the license of the medical professional.