RIYADH: The Council of Ministers yesterday standardized the salary scale for doctors and other staff working in government and specialized hospitals. It also revised the health employment bylaw and the pay scale of Saudi teaching staff at universities.
The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, approved the pay scale for health employees who come under the rules issued by the Council of Civil Service on 28/3/1412, the Saudi Press Agency said.
It also approved the pay scale for Saudi health practitioners in government and specialist hospitals. This applies to all public hospitals and health centers that are run by an operational program, including hospitals of the National Guard, Defense and Aviation Ministry, Interior Ministry, Health Ministry and King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center.
The Cabinet said doctors having rare specializations would get a 30 percent allowance, while those who have obtained professional excellence would receive the same. Training supervisors will receive a monthly allowance of SR2,000, while medical directors and heads of medical and health departments will get a monthly lump sum.
Health authorities and universities must provide accommodation to doctors by initiating housing projects, the Cabinet said. Doctors will get an annual housing allowance of SR50,000 until they receive their own housing units.
Dr. Yassir A. Bahader, deputy chairman of the oncology department at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Jeddah, thanked King Abdullah for revising the pay scale and benefits of Saudi doctors. “This will boost the morale of doctors and encourage them to work hard in providing the best health care to patients and improve their professional capabilities,” he told Arab News.
The Cabinet also endorsed a new law for car and motorbike clubs, which will be supervised by the Youth Welfare Presidency.
It said the new clubs have been introduced to help youth utilize their spare time and provide them with suitable facilities to practice their hobbies.
Another important decision taken by the Cabinet was related to the detention of young men and women involved in crimes. The new law stipulates that such young men and women be sent to the nearest juvenile homes in the absence of correction centers in areas where the crime took place. They should be sent to juvenile homes accompanied by a male guardian (in case of girls) and a representative of the vice police, possibly by plane if there is an airport nearby.
Earlier, the Cabinet reviewed the situation in the quake-hit areas of Madinah and Tabuk provinces and the evacuation efforts. King Abdullah instructed related departments to provide the quake victims all assistance.
The Cabinet also decided to form a committee to auction vehicles seized for traffic violations and crimes, if their owners could not be located. The money from sales will be used to pay fines. The state will pay the remainder of the fines if the money raised from the sale is insufficient.
The Cabinet meeting referred to resolutions adopted by a conference of foreign ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in Damascus and the Islamic affairs ministers in Jeddah. The Jeddah meeting commended the Kingdom’s efforts to achieve intellectual security and fight extremism and terrorism. It also supported King Abdullah’s call for interfaith and cultural dialogues.
