The Ministry of Health has temporarily closed 28 health facilities in Riyadh for various violations including working without licenses or with expired licenses, lack of trained medical staff and inadequate facilities and equipment.

The facilities include nine polyclinics, five pharmacies, five dental clinics, six optometrists, one physiotherapy center for women, a medical laboratory and a medical consultation clinic.

An official said the ministry closed the facilities based on reports from its field teams. He said the teams conduct regular inspections of private facilities in the region to check the quality of ambulance services, operating theaters and the skills of medics and paramedics.

The facilities can reopen once the owners rectify the irregularities, he said. The ministry is concerned about the safety and welfare of patients, and would punish those who fail to comply, he said.

“We treat the private sector as a strategic partner in providing health services to the people and want them to offer quality services with a ‘patients first’ vision,” the official said.

Ali Al-Zawawi, undersecretary for private sector facilities at the ministry, said his department oversees 130 hospitals, 2,000 polyclinics and 7,000 pharmacies throughout the Kingdom. “There are some 98,000 health workers at these private sector facilities,” he said.

In 2012, Health Minister Dr.Abdullah Al-Rabeeah launched the “Patients First” program, which highlighted the care expected from health providers.

Last year, the ministry closed 30 medical complexes, 15 polyclinics, 29 pharmacies, 27 optometrists and five physiotherapy centers for violations. During this period, the ministry also collected SR3.75 million in fines from violators, which included SR1.98 million from pharmacies.

The ministry has also set up a helpline for members of the public to complain about medical errors and health violations in the Kingdom.

Members of the public can file complaints online at www.moh.gov.sa or fax the details on the number 0112124196.