MOH Prohibits Private Hospitals from Holding Patients or Corpses for Unpaid Bills
The Saudi Ministry of Health clarified that no private health firms in Saudi Arabia have the authority to detain patients, newborns, or dead bodies of patients treated in the firm or to keep their original identification papers in custody due to non-payment of medical bills.
The ministry made it clear that health institutions must follow legal procedures to collect their financial obligations through official channels.
The Ministry of Health stated this while citing Article 30 of the Private Health Institutions Law and its implementing regulations. According to the article, private health institutions must immediately report any criminal incident or death involving outpatients or inpatients to the nearest competent security authority and the Regional Directorate of Health Affairs.
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Aside from keeping a complete record of traffic accidents and injuries, private medical facilities are required to report any criminal incident in which the injured sought medical attention or an ambulance.
According to Article 16 of the Private Health Institutions Law, private health institutions must provide emergency care for all serious emergency cases brought to them without making any financial demands beforehand.
