Saudi Gazette report AL-BAHA – Assistant Undersecretary for Private Sector Affairs in the Ministry of Health Ali Hussein Al-Zawawi said the ministry has stopped accepting applications for polyclinics since the issuance of new regulations for private health institutions, Al-Madinah Arabic daily reported Saturday. He said licenses will be issued for general and specialist modern medical complexes instead. Asked about the ministry's efforts in combating makeshift hospitals often run from private apartments, Al-Zawawi said the ministry earlier published several official warnings in several media outlets on the dangers of believing deceptive and fake medical advertisements. “These advertisements are for unlicensed and unqualified people who offer services from their homes. If the ministry receives any report on such practices, measures will be taken according to the regulations in cooperation with the authorities concerned,” he said. In response to criticism that the ministry issues licenses to private hospitals and polyclinics that are often poorly equipped and staffed, Al-Zawawi said private health institutions were issued licenses when investment in this sector was very weak but the situation is different now and the ministry has made it harder for private hospitals to obtain licenses. “Currently, there is clear competition to provide distinctive health services. As to polyclinics, licenses for new ones have been stopped since the issuance of the regulation for private health institutions in 2002. The alternative for these is the general and specialist modern medical complexes. There are inspection tours of these facilities to monitor their equipment and any shortcomings,” said the official.
