RIYADH – The Saudi Health Council approved a National System for Reporting Medical Errors.

It is being prepared by the Saudi Center for Patients’ Safety.

It will have a national database to determine the reasons for medical errors and how often they occur.

The Council urged health facilities in the Kingdom to report medical errors, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported Wednesday.

This came during the 82nd meeting of the Saudi Health Council presided over by the Minister of Health and Chairman of the Saudi Health Council Dr. Tawfiq Bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah at the headquarters of the Secretariat General of the Council.

The Council issued directives to the various health sectors to support the program and coordinate with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) via an electronic link so as to exchange reports on negative incidents related to medicines and medical equipment.

The Council approved making it compulsory for health practitioners to clean and sterilize their hands according to international standards. This will contribute to combating infection and curbing its spread in health facilities.