1.1 The Commission shall update the health professions, issue a list of health practitioners whenever needed, and submit its recommendations to the Minister of Health for approval, in preparation for coordination with the Minister of Civil Service to agree thereon, taking into account the Commission’s competence to approve the health specialties that are branches of any health profession.

1-2 The License is granted to the healthcare practitioner by the Ministry or the Directorates of Health Affairs in the regions and governorates, and the License for alternative medicine practitioners is granted by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

2-2 A time-limited License may be granted and the necessary requirements completed with the Commission for the following categories, provided that their qualifications are approved:

• A- Visiting healthcare practitioners or those equivalent to them.

• B- Practitioners who are contracted during the classification procedures.

3-2 Alternative medicine may not be practiced except under a License from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and in accordance with the specified regulations and conditions. In this case, the alternative medicine practitioner is subject to the professional responsibilities stated in this Law, and those who are unlicensed shall be referred to the competent authority according to criminal responsibility.

4-2 The mandatory training required for the practitioner must have been conducted under the direct supervision of a licensed practitioner in the same professional field.

5-2 The Commission shall notify the relevant health authority in case of the invalidity of the certificates and documents under which the contract was made, to be included in the list of non-contracting and non-licensing. The relevant health authority must exclude them and complete the deportation procedures for non-Saudis, and in case of a claim for private rights, it shall be referred to the competent authority.

6-2 The obtaining of registration and classification by consultants who are faculty members in universities from the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties and the approval from the Minister of Education to work in the private health institution is considered as a License to practice the profession in the private health sector.

7-2 Healthcare practitioners contracted by medical operating companies to work in government health facilities may only be appointed after being classified and registered by the Commission, and their appointment is considered as a License for them to practice the profession.

8-2 The conditions of experience for healthcare practitioners working in government entities are determined according to regulations and rules that are consistent with the health jobs list and the Civil Service Law.

9-2 The relevant statutory texts related to practicing the profession stated in the Private Health Institutions Law, the Pharmaceutical Facilities and Products Law, the Fertility and Embryo Units and Infertility Treatment Law, and their executive regulations shall be considered when licensing healthcare practitioners to work in any of these institutions or facilities, and the conditions of qualification and experience shall be determined according to the Commission's regulations and the guides it issues that specify the acceptance criteria for qualifications and experience by the Commission.

10-2 A License to practice the health profession shall not be granted or renewed for anyone who has previously been convicted of a crime that undermines honor or trust except after a decision from the competent authority to restore their status.

1-3 The license for employees in government entities is considered valid as long as the healthcare practitioner is actively engaged in medical work, provided that the professional registration with the authority is renewed upon its expiration.

2-3 The duration of the license for employees in private healthcare institutions is equivalent to the duration of professional registration with the authority, and in the event of a change in the workplace during the period of professional registration without a change in specialization, the registration remains valid.

3-3 The renewal of the license is issued in accordance with the conditions mentioned in Articles Two and Three of this law.

4-3 The license is considered void in the following cases:

• 1- If six months have passed from the date of issuance of the license without it being utilized.

• 2- If the license for the private healthcare institution where the practitioner works is revoked or the operating contract for the company that employed him has ended, unless he transfers to a licensed healthcare institution, or the duration of the visit for the licensed physician has expired.

• 3- If the healthcare practitioner changes his specialization without the approval of the Ministry of Health.

• 4- If a decision is issued by the competent authority to suspend or revoke the license.

• 5- The death of the licensee.

5-3 The healthcare practitioner must submit a request for the renewal of the license granted to him at least one month before its expiration.

6-3 The healthcare practitioner is subject to the disciplinary responsibilities stated in this law if he continues to work after the expiration of the license granted to him.

7-3 The recruitment of visiting healthcare practitioners is subject to the following rules:

• 1- The visiting healthcare practitioner must have a valid license to practice the profession in the country from which he is recruited.

• 2- The recruitment of the visiting healthcare practitioner is limited to hospitals and medical complexes that are equipped for his specialization and the capabilities of the visiting healthcare practitioner.

• 3- The visiting healthcare practitioner should be from rare specialties or new techniques required in the Kingdom.

• 4- He should not have been sentenced to a legal penalty or a criminal judgment or due to medical malpractice or expelled from the Kingdom for reasons related to healthcare professions.

• 5- Sufficient time should be considered in determining the duration of the visit to evaluate the medical procedures that take place during the visit.

• 6- The healthcare facility guarantees the payment of compensations that are issued by a final judgment in the case of medical malpractice committed by the visiting healthcare practitioner if there is no insurance coverage or if it is insufficient.

• 7- The private healthcare facility shall assign one of its consulting or specialist physicians to accompany the visiting physician or healthcare practitioner, provided that he is from the same specialization or the medical director of the hospital in the absence of physicians or practitioners from the same specialization, and he shall be responsible for the following tasks:

  • A- Receiving and preparing patients.

  • B- Participating with the visiting healthcare practitioner in diagnosis, treatment plan, and surgical procedure.

  • C- Following up on the medical cases after the departure of the visiting healthcare practitioner and taking necessary actions to address complications that may arise from the treatment method or surgical procedure.

• 8- The request of the visiting healthcare practitioner is submitted to the Directorate of Health Affairs to which the healthcare facility belongs, accompanied by the following:

  • A- A copy of the certificates and the curriculum vitae of the visiting healthcare practitioner.

  • B- The visit program including the lectures and workshops that will be presented by the visiting healthcare practitioner.

  • C- A declaration from the visiting healthcare practitioner to work in accordance with the applicable regulations in the Kingdom and to respect Islamic principles.

  • D- A declaration from the accompanying healthcare practitioner agreeing to be assigned to accompany the visiting healthcare practitioner and also agreeing to follow up on medical cases and address their complications and to testify before investigation committees and the competent judicial authorities regarding medical malpractice resulting from diagnosis, treatment, or surgery.

• 9- A copy of the certificates and the curriculum vitae of the visiting healthcare practitioner is sent to the authority for evaluation.

• 10- After the authority's approval for the recruitment of the visiting healthcare practitioner is issued, the following occurs:

  • A- Approval for the recruitment of the visiting healthcare practitioner is granted by the ministry or the competent Directorate of Health Affairs.

  • B- A temporary license is issued in the name of the visiting healthcare practitioner to work at the private healthcare facility after his arrival and after completing all the procedures stipulated in this regulation, and the license expires at the end of the visit duration.

4.1. The licensing to practice the profession may be restricted to the Saudis practicing any of the health professions mentioned in Article (1) of this Law if there is a sufficient number of them in the Kingdom or in one of the regions or for reasons approved by the Minister.

1-5 The healthcare practitioner must respect the patient's rights in accordance with Sharia principles and the approved medical standards.

2-5 The Code of Ethics for the Practice of Health Professions and other guidelines adopted by the Authority apply to healthcare practitioners.

3-5 It is prohibited for the healthcare practitioner to photograph or publish surgical operations or therapeutic procedures unless the following conditions are met:

•  A- Written consent from the patient.

•  B- Consent from the healthcare facility.

• C- It must be for approved scientific purposes.

• D- It must not violate public morals and the ethics of the profession.

7.1. Information shall be developed by attending the scientific and training conferences and seminars, lectures, participating in research, and providing sources of information to the health practitioners; and this shall be taken into account when considering promotions, re-registration, or renewal of the license to practice the profession.

7.2. The Commission shall develop controls for information development for the health practitioners and health facility departments, provided that they include the continuous health education hours, accredited hours for training, and the type of courses required, provided that this is in the field of professional specialization of the health practitioners. These controls shall be published in an appropriate media means, and the health facility shall enable the health practitioners to complete the prescribed continuing education hours in a manner that does not contradict their commitment towards patients.

1-8 The healthcare practitioner is required to provide urgent medical care to the patient in need of such care according to their available capabilities without requesting their fees in advance. If the patient's condition requires further medical attention that the healthcare practitioner cannot provide, they must communicate with the relevant authorities to find a means to transfer the patient to the nearest appropriate healthcare facility for treatment.