Healthcare Professions Policies in Saudi Arabia PDF

The policies for practicing the healthcare professions in Saudi Arabia Lecture # 10, Tuesday, 31.10.2023 Dr. Yousef Alqarni, PharmD., MS., Ph.D. Assistant Professor at Pharmacy Practice Depar...

The policies for practicing the healthcare professions in Saudi Arabia Lecture # 10, Tuesday, 31.10.2023 Dr. Yousef Alqarni, PharmD., MS., Ph.D. Assistant Professor at Pharmacy Practice Department, College of Clinical Pharmacy, IAU 1  Health Practitioner Any person licensed to practice the health professions including the following categories: physicians, dentists, pharmacists, health technicians in radiology, nursing, anesthesiology, laboratory, pharmacy, optics, epidemiology, artificial limbs, physiotherapy, dental care and prosthodontics, computed tomography (CT), nuclear medicine, laser devices and operations, and psychiatrists, social workers, dietitians and specialists of public health, gynecology, first aid, speech and hearing therapy, vocational rehabilitation, occupational therapy, medical physics and other health professions agreed upon between the minister of health, minister of civil service and Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions https://www.moh.gov.sa 2 Profession Practice License 3  Regulation : The commission shall update the health professions and issue the list of health practitioner whenever necessary. It shall submit its recommendations to Minister of Health for approval in order to coordinate with Minister of Civil Service to agree on the same. Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions https://www.moh.gov.sa 4  The Regulation : 1. The health practitioner shall be granted the license by the Ministry of health affairs directorates in regions and governorates, and the practitioner of alternative medicine is granted the license by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2. The alternative medicine may only be exercised under a license from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and according to the specific controls and conditions. In this case, the practitioner of alternative medicine shall be subject to the professional responsibilities set out in this Law, Unauthorized persons shall be referred to the competent authority in accordance with criminal responsibility. 3. A compulsory training for the practitioner must have been undertaken under the direct supervision of a licensed practitioner in the same professional field. Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions https://www.moh.gov.sa 5  The Regulation : 4. The health practitioners contracted by the medical operating companies to work in government health facilities shall not be appointed until they have been classified and registered by the commission, and their appointment shall be deemed a license to practice the profession. 5. A practitioner who has been convicted of any crime against honor or trust shall not be granted a license to exercise the health profession nor shall be renewed unless rehabilitated under a decision of the competent authority. Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions https://www.moh.gov.sa 6  Article (1) 1. The healthcare profession’s practicing license term shall be determined by the Implementing Regulations of this Law. Any practitioner who has been suspended from practicing the profession for two consecutive years– for purposes other than studying or training in the profession– may resume practice only after renewal of the relevant license. 2. Provisions for recruitment, registration and licensing of visiting physicians shall be provided for in the implementing regulations. Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions https://www.moh.gov.sa 7  The Regulation : 1. The license for employees in government authorities shall be valid as long as the health practitioner is on the medical work. 2. The private health institutions employees’ license term shall be equivalent to the professional registration term with the commission. If there is any change in the workplace during the period of professional registration without changing the specialty, the registration shall remain in force. 3. The license shall be deemed cancelled in the following cases: A. If a period of six months has been elapsed from the date of the license issuance without actual practice. B. If the license of the private health institution in which he works is cancelled or the employment contract of the company by which he was recruited is terminated unless he has been transferred to a licensed health institution, or the licensed physician period of visit is elapsed. C. If the health practitioner changes his specialty without the approval of the Ministry of Health. D. If a decision is issued by the competent authority to suspend or cancel the license. E. Death of the licensee. Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions https://www.moh.gov.sa 8  The Regulation : 4. Health practitioner must apply for renewal of a license granted before the expiry of at least one month. 5. The health practitioner shall be subject to the disciplinary responsibilities set forth in this Law if he continues to work after the end of the license granted to him. 6. Visiting health practitioners are recruited in accordance with the following rules: A. The visiting health practitioner must have a license to practice the profession in the country of origin. B. The recruitment of the visiting health practitioner shall be limited the hospitals and polyclinics set up for the visiting health practitioner’s area of specialty and potentials. C. The visiting health practitioner should have rare disciplines or new techniques required in the Kingdom. D. The visiting health practitioner should not be sentenced by a legal limit, criminal judgment, because of medical error or was deported from the Kingdom for reasons related to health professions. Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions https://www.moh.gov.sa 9  Article (2) The minister may, as dictated by the public interest, limit granting license to practice any of the professions provided for in this Law to Saudis only. Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions https://www.moh.gov.sa 10  The Regulation : The license to practice the profession may be restricted to Saudi practitioners for any of the health professions mentioned in Article 2 of this Law, provided that sufficient number thereof is available in the Kingdom, in a region or for reasons approved by the Minister. Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions https://www.moh.gov.sa 11 Health Practitioner’s Duties 12  Article (3) Health practitioner practices his profession in the interest of the individual and the society within the scope of respecting the human right to life, safety and dignity, taking into consideration the customs and traditions prevailing in the Kingdom, refraining from exploitation. Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions https://www.moh.gov.sa 13  The Regulation : 1. The patient’s right should be health practitioner respected in accordance with the Sharia’s principles and the approved medical criteria. 2. Health professions practicing code of ethics and other guides approved by the commission apply to health practitioners. 3. Health practitioner shall be prohibited to photograph or publish surgeries or remedial procedures unless the following controls are available: A-Written consent of the patient. B-Approval of the health facility. C- For approved scientific purposes. D-Not to violate public morals and profession ethics. Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions https://www.moh.gov.sa 14  Article (4) A- The health practitioner shall work to develop his knowledge, follow up scientific evolutions and new discoveries in his area of specialty, and the managements of health establishments shall facilitate his attendance at seminars and courses in accordance with the controls assigned by the Commission. B- The health practitioner should not practice the methods of diagnosis and treatment that are scientifically unrecognized or prohibited in the Kingdom. Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions https://www.moh.gov.sa 15  The Regulation : Knowledge shall be developed by attending conferences, scientific and training seminars, lectures, research participation and providing sources of information for health practitioners. This shall be taken into consideration when considering promotions, re-registration or renewal of the license to practice the profession. Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions https://www.moh.gov.sa 16  Article (5) A health practitioner may not practice more than one healthcare profession, nor may he practice any other profession the practice that conflicts with healthcare professions. He is prohibited to request, accept or take a commission or reward, and also, he is strictly forbidden to receive any benefit in return for promoting or strictly prescribing certain medications, or equipment or directing patients to a particular pharmacy, hospital, laboratory or the like. Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions https://www.moh.gov.sa 17  The Regulation : 1. A health practitioner may not exercise more than one health profession even if he has qualified to do so. 2. A health practitioner is prohibited to obtain any material or in-kind benefit from pharmaceutical or medical equipment companies for the purpose of promotion or marketing, and to force the patient towards a specific product or service against the patient. Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions https://www.moh.gov.sa 18  Article (6) A health practitioner is prohibited from: A- Employ unlicensed healthcare professionals or provide assistance to any person illegally practicing a healthcare profession. B- Retain drugs and vaccinations in the workplace contrary to instructions issued by the Ministry, except for pharmaceutical facilities. C- Sell drugs to patients, except in pharmaceutical facilities, or sell medication samples under any circumstances. D- Facilitate a patient’s access to any undue or unlawful privilege or benefit, whether material or otherwise. E- Accommodate patients in places other than those designated for this purpose, except in emergencies. Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions https://www.moh.gov.sa 19  The Regulation : 1. A health practitioner is prohibited from issuing incorrect or exaggerated reports in order to give the patient sick leave, health certificate or any other benefit. 2. A health practitioner may retain unexpired drugs which are not assigned for sale, or first aid provided to be properly maintained and stored in his workplace to be dispensed free of charge in emergency cases. 3. A health practitioner is prohibited from using unauthorized diagnosis or treatment equipment. Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions https://www.moh.gov.sa 20  Article (7) A health practitioner, upon examination of a patient suspected to have incurred a crime related injury or to have an infectious disease, shall immediately notify the competent security and health authorities. Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions https://www.moh.gov.sa 21  The Regulation : 1. A health practitioner, upon examination of a patient suspected of being criminally injured, shall prepare a detailed report covering the expected length of recovery and a precise injury description signed by two physicians accredited by the health establishment. 2. The health practitioner shall comply with the decisions and instructions governing the reporting of infectious diseases and notification shall be reported to the competent authorities directly or through the facility employing the health practitioner. Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions https://www.moh.gov.sa 22 Thank You! 23