33 medical facilities shut down

The Ministry of Health has shut down 33 health firms and pharmacies across the Kingdom for alleged irregularities during the month of Ramadan.
Speaking to Arab News yesterday, a ministry official said: “The minister has ordered the closure of these facilities based on reports submitted by the field inspection team of the Directorate General of Health Affairs in Riyadh.”
He said the team conducts regular inspection of private facilities in the region to check the quality of services offered in ambulance services, operation theaters and the professional suitability of medics and paramedics employed by these health institutions to ensure quality health care to patients.
He said the reasons for the action included working without licenses or functioning with expired licenses, lack of trained medical staff and absence of proper facilities and equipment. The closure of these medical facilities is temporary and they can reopen once the irregularities are rectified, he added.
The inspection team has found 91 irregularities in health companies, 63 in pharmacies and 76 irregularities among medical and technical personnel, resulting in the closure of 12 pharmacies and 21 health facilities.
Pointing out that the action taken against the facilities reflects the ministry’s concern for the safety and welfare of patients, he warned that negligence and recklessness on the part of health providers will not be tolerated by the government and stern action will be taken against such violators based on the seriousness of the violations.
“We treat the private sector as strategic partners in providing health services to the people and we want them to offer quality services with a 'patients first' vision in their ventures,” the official said.
In 2012, Health Minister Abdullah Al-Rabeeah launched a "patient first" program, which highlighted the care expected from health providers for patients in the Kingdom. 
The MoH closed 30 medical complexes, 15 polyclinics, 29 pharmacies, 27 optical houses and five physiotherapy centers for violations last year. During this period , the ministry also collected SR3.75 million in fines from such violators, which included SR1.98 million from pharmacies.