JEDDAH — The Ministry of Health closed down four health institutions in the city after it found that they had been operating without meeting conditions stipulated in their permits. The ministry also found the institutions violating several regulations, which included employing unlicensed health workers. The violations were discovered during what the Jeddah Health Affairs Directorate described as "intensive investigation tours". Senior officials from the directorate led the tours, which started during the Eid holidays, and many violations were documented. Some health establishments were found to have started serving patients after obtaining a primary license and without waiting for the actual operations license to be issued. Several hospitals and polyclinics were not equipped properly and others lacked a sufficient number of staff. The Health Affairs closed down four institutions that started operations without obtaining a permanent license and their owners referred to concerned authorities for further action. The Health Affairs in a statement called on owners of all private healthcare institutions in the city to abide by the ministry's regulations and guidelines to be able to provide the best possible services to patients. The head of the private health section, Muhammad Bajubair, said his department was prepared to cooperate with all private healthcare establishments willing to correct their status and improve the operating conditions. He emphasized that the private sector is an important partner in providing healthcare to the public. However, he said his department follows orders and instructions issued by the Ministry of Health to ensure all healthcare establishments are abiding by the regulations. Head of Jeddah Health Affairs Mubarak Dhafir said the inspection tours on private sector healthcare establishments would continue. "The officials will be firm in enforcing regulations to ensure that services provided to patients conform to the best standards in the industry," Dhafir said.
