Health Ministry moves to stop doctors’ malpractices

The Ministry of Health has submitted a proposal to amend article 7 of the Private Health Facilities System so it can approve charges of medical services.
The move aims to curb some doctors’ malpractices that exploit patients financially, including prescribing unnecessary tests and X-rays.
Authorities are currently studying the proposal, said Ali Al-Zawawi, the ministry’s undersecretary for private health care sector affairs.
The ministry has carried out a number of inspections of private health care facilities to make sure they are working in compliance with rules and regulations. The inspection committees from regional health affairs departments made unannounced visits and followed up on citizens’ complaints they received via the ministry’s online portal.
The ministry’s statistics for 2012 showed its efforts in detecting and tackling any shortcomings in the health services. The number of closures for private health facilities and pharmacological services reached 136. The number of private facilities’ violations that were followed by decisions reached 1,625. Actions taken against medical and technical staff numbered 1,030, while the Shariah Health Commission (the authority that issues verdicts in disputes between facilities and patients) issued 485 verdicts against medical and technical staff.
Al-Zawawi said the ministry took a strong step forward when it forced government and private health care establishments to have a certificate showing they are abiding by quality specifications stated by the ministry.
These specifications will be one of the requirements for renewing and issuing new licenses. This will raise the quality level of medical services.