The Saudi Council for Health Specialists is seeking help from security authorities to arrest doctors with fake degrees, said Director of Public Relations Abdullah Al-Zahyan. He declined to reveal the latest statistics showing the number of medical workers and those banned from working in the Kingdom because they have counterfeit credentials. He said the information will be released at a set date. Al-Zahyan said the ministry has asked national security authorities and security forces at embassies to arrest a large number of fake doctors who have confessed that their degrees are not legitimate. He said that when authorities discover doctors with fake credentials, they inform the hospitals where they work, the general directorates of health affairs and their sponsors. “The council takes an action against them in coordination with security authorities and immigration since the council is a legislative body and not an executive one,” Al-Zahyan said. As per an agreement with the Council of Gulf Health Ministers, the Saudi Council for Health Specialists circulates the names of fake doctors to health directorates in the Kingdom and to the Gulf-wide council in an effort to ensure that the people are not employed in other Gulf countries. Al-Zahyan said his organization, which employs people who are trained in discovering fake certificates, also works with international companies. “These companies have a database with the names of 180 million people who have a record of involvement in counterfeiting professional certificates,” he said. “They have also 3,000 branches around the world.” “If the council suspects that someone has fake credentials, it immediately contacts the companies to verify the matter. In turn, the company informs the council in less than a month,” he added. Al-Zahyan said action has been taken to ensure that blacklisted doctors cannot work in hospitals. “The council has realized this possibility and a royal decision was issued last year linking the granting or renewal of resident permits to medical staff to their registration at the council,” he said. This measure, he said, prevents the renewal or issuance of a residence permit without the proper registration. Regarding the measure's application to Saudis, he said the process is linked to their employment and promotion, which makes it easy for authorities to discover if someone has fake credentials and ensure that they are not given a job.
