The Makkah Health Affairs Directorate fined 13 private health centers SR546,000 in 2011 for various violations, said Dr. Hussain Abdullah Ghannam, Deputy Director of Health Affairs in Makkah region. The violations were discovered during periodic inspections. “Thirteen private health institutions were fined for allowing staff to work with expired health professional licenses or allowing them to practice before obtaining the necessary licenses.” The amount of the fine depends on the type of violation, frequency and harm to patients' health. Ghannam pointed out that the fines were imposed in accordance with approved regulations. He said the Makkah Health Affairs Directorate wants to protect the safety and health of citizens and will penalize any institution which breaks the law. Dr. Muhammad Bin Hamid Al-Mehmadi, director of the medical licenses department, called on all private health institutions to obey the law. “Doctors, nurses and technicians who do not have professional licenses should not be allowed to practice. Fines are imposed to ensure top quality services for patients by these institutions.”