The Ministry of Health has opened a help line for members of the public to submit complaints about medical errors and health violations in the Kingdom.

“Members of the public can make their complaints online or they can directly fax details of their grievances,” said Ali Az-Zawawi, undersecretary at the Ministry of Health (MoH).

Members of the public can submit an online complaint on www.moh.gov.sa or on 0112124196 for the ministry’s immediate attention.

Az-Zawawi stressed the high value the Minister of Health places on strategic partnership between the public and private sectors in taking health care services to new heights.

The Ministry of Health shut down 34 clinics and 11 pharmacies across the Kingdom for alleged irregularities during the last two months, including the holy month of Ramadan, the undersecretary pointed out.

“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 the respective regions,” the official said.

The inspection team has found 172 irregularities in health companies, 156 in pharmacies and 130 irregularities among medical and technical personnel, resulting in the closure of the health facilities.

Az-Zawawi said some of the clinics performed surgery without licenses or expired licenses and, in other cases, lacked trained medical staff and facilities. The closure of some of these medical facilities is temporary and they can be reopened once the irregularities are rectified, he added.

He said the team conducts regular inspection of private facilities in the region to ensure the quality of services offered in ambulances, operation theaters and assess the professional suitability of medics and paramedics employed by these health institutions to ensure quality health care to patients.