RIYADH, 6 September 2007 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has agreed to the redistribution of a two-month salary bonus to all medical personnel who deal directly with patients in government hospitals, health centers and polyclinics, Health Minister Dr. Hamad Al-Manie announced yesterday.
The minister said that a telegram was sent to the Health Ministry from the head of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers informing him of the approval to redistribute the two-month annual salary bonus which was stopped in 1996.
According to the Health Ministry, the annual bonus will include government medical personnel who work in ER departments as well as in-patient wards in hospitals and health centers. The bonus will also be given to medical personnel who treat patients who work in mental hospitals, all branches of Al-Amal hospitals and rehabilitation centers.
The minister said that the “patient service bonus” was first approved by Council of Ministers Resolution 601 in 1976, followed by Resolution 52 of the Council of Civil Service and continued to be distributed until 1996.
The minister noted that the distribution of the annual bonus would be according to the following conditions:
1. That the person is a government medical employee who deals directly with patients according to a written statement from the health institution in which he/she works.
2. That the work practiced by the medical employee is not related to nursing.
3. That the person is an official employee of a government medical institution.
“The ministry will begin distributing the annual bonus this year,” Al-Manie said. In addition, he said his ministry was collaborating with the Ministry of Finance to request a fund of SR50 million to be given to those who deserve the bonus to compensate for the 12 years in which the bonus was not distributed.
“We have contacted the Ministry of Finance and have also asked concerned departments in the ministry and health areas to gather information on those eligible to receive the bonus,” he added.
