More than 20 doctors filed a complaint at the Labor Office in Jeddah against a private hospital in the city, demanding the owner of the facility pay salaries and delayed compensations worth SR2 million, sources told local media.

The sources confirmed the owner of the hospital has left the premises and shut down the business. But the issue is not recent, the sources claimed, as salaries have been delayed for a year for the whole staff, as well as other benefits entitled to doctors, such as vacation allowances, air fares and other reimbursements.

Physicians filed official complaints at the governorate, the Health Affairs Department and the Labor Office in Jeddah claiming they did not receive their salaries, and cited other violations committed by the hospital.

The hospital’s administration in turn accused the doctors of not doing the jobs entrusted to them.

A fact-finding committee was formed by the Health Affairs Department in the city to investigate the complaints and the alleged violations, said Rami Al-Mutairi, a lawyer close to the case.

“If the alleged infractions prove to be correct, the facility will face fines up to SR100,000 and authorities might even withdraw the establishment’s license,” explained the lawyer, adding that the owner will not be able to apply for a new license until two years later.

According to Al-Mutairi, doctors should refer their claims to the Primary Commission at the Labor Office, and file for a labor lawsuit against the administration of the hospital.

The executive charter for private health institutions stipulates a number of provisions for such cases and grants the owners of such establishments the right to complain to the Court of Grievances. It also imposes defamation sanctions for health care establishments as a deterrent against any malpractice from the institution’s part that can endanger patients’ health.