Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — The health affairs directorate in Riyadh has shut down a dental clinic complex for a number of violations.

The violations include an attack on a member of the compliance committee and mass escape of illegal health practitioners at the time of inspection being carried out by the committee.

The health directorate sources clarified that the closed complex, which belonged to a well-known medical group, was involved in multiple transgressions, including employing doctors and nurses who did not hold professional licenses.

During inspections, these health practitioners pretended as if they were patients, and later they escaped en masse from their workplace. It was also revealed to the inspection team, led by the compliance committee, that there is no consultant doctor or first deputy director in the complex. It was also detected that there are discrepancies in the name of the complex as it is different from the name for which the license was issued.

The health directorate sources noted that the administrative director of the complex refused to cooperate with the compliance committee and claimed that he was able to write off the inspection minutes, using his clout and contacts.

The health sources explained that the closure of the complex was part of preliminary precautionary measures taken by the committee for reviewing violations of private health institutions to ensure the safety of patients and that the committee would continue to examine all aspects of the case before taking a final decision.

Meanwhile, the health directorate continued its rounds of inspections and monitoring of private institutions. The major violations discovered by the inspection teams, include failure in proper application of infection control; lack of licenses for the health practitioner or institution; lack of minimum number of staff; lack of emergency equipment and medicine, and absence of ambulance.

The health sources said that the penalties for health practitioners include a maximum of 6-month jail term and a fine of SR100,000 or both, in addition to revocation of the license of health practitioner, while the penalties of health institutions, including fine amounting up to SR300,000 or closure of the firm for a period of up to two years or cancellation of the license.