DhulUm: The authorities here will soon announce that the Kingdom is free of unqualified and illegal medical workers, according to Dr. Abdullah Al-Dhahyan, Director of Public Relations at the Saudi Council for Health Specialties. He said the announcement will be made on the completion of the registration and classification of medical staff working in five government sectors in addition to the private sector. He said the announcement will also indicate the minimum professional requirements needed for practicing different medical professions in the public and private health sectors in the Kingdom. He said the Ministry of Health has currently no statistics on the number of unqualified medical staff and those working with forged credentials. However, on completion of the registration and classification procedures over the few next months, the Kingdom will be able to celebrate the clearance of these workers. He lauded the cabinet decision, which the ministry started implementing on Oct. 3, 2009, which linked the renewal of the residence permits of foreign medical staff practicing in the Kingdom, to their registration and classification by the Saudi Council of Health Specialties. He said no one will be allowed to sign a contract or take a medical job in any medical institution in the Kingdom unless certified and registered with the council. He also welcomed the inspection program which will be carried out by the Control and Investigation Bureau on all medical facilities functioning in the Kingdom. He stressed that the Ministry of Health supports any measure aimed at tightening control of the sector.
