The terms and phrases mentioned below - wherever they appear in this regulation - shall have the meanings specified next to them, unless the context requires otherwise:

• The Center: National Health Information Center.

• The Council: Health Services Council.

• The General Secretary: General Secretary of the Council.

• The Director General: Director General of the Center.

• The General Secretariat: General Secretariat of the Council.

The center is organizationally linked to the Council and is connected to an automated network for health information with the Ministry of Health and medical services in military agencies, university hospitals, and other relevant governmental and private entities. The center's headquarters is in Riyadh, and it has the authority to establish branches within the Kingdom.

The center shall have the following tasks and competencies:

• 1- To act as a contact center for organizing and exchanging health information electronically between health sector agencies and other related entities.

• 2- To identify the health data and information that need to be provided by the relevant health service authorities, and to establish the necessary rules and mechanisms for exchanging this information among the concerned parties, in accordance with technical and technological systems that enable the provision of health information to these entities and facilitate electronic data linkage among them.

• 3- To standardize the terms, names, and definitions used in all health information systems and methods of data collection.

• 4- To coordinate with the relevant authorities to create a unified electronic health record for each patient, which can be exchanged electronically through a system linking electronic medical records across various health service entities, including hospitals and private health centers. The national identity number (civil registry) - or the residence number for residents - shall serve as a unified reference for the electronic health record number(s) of the patient at the national level.

• 5- To adopt the international classification of diseases and establish working regulations for its implementation, and to supervise its application in all health service entities, in coordination with the relevant authorities.

• 6- To link telemedicine networks in the Kingdom to form a national telemedicine network and supervise it.

• 7- To prepare and publish national health statistics, and to submit periodic statistical reports on health service activities to the Council.

• 8- To develop standards for health care information technology and supporting databases, including standards for their maintenance and protection.

• 9- To raise awareness of the importance of health information, and to hold seminars and conferences, and prepare and publish research and specialized journals in health information systems.

• 10- To provide health information to beneficiary entities in accordance with the regulations, rules, and guidelines governing that.

• 11- To cooperate with national and international entities, organizations, and similar centers in the field of health information.

• 12- To establish national registries for common diseases and epidemics at the Kingdom level in coordination with the relevant specialized authorities (governmental and private).

• 13- To provide support and technical consultation to health authorities in the field of health information systems, in accordance with available capabilities.

• 14- To ensure full coordination with the e-Government Program (Yesser) to avoid duplication, ensure compatibility in specifications, plans, and shared strategies, and to benefit from the infrastructure of the e-Government Program.

• 15- Other tasks approved by the Council within its area of competence.

A scientific committee shall be formed for the center, chaired by the General Secretary, and consisting of the following members:

• 1- Director General of the center.

• 2- Directors of health information centers in the following entities:

  • A) Ministry of Health.

  • B) Medical Services at the Ministry of Defense.

  • C) Medical Services at the Ministry of Interior.

  • D) Health Affairs at the National Guard.

  • E) King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre.

  • F) Saudi Red Crescent Authority.

• 3- Representatives from the following government entities:

  • A) Ministry of Higher Education (one specialist from university hospitals chosen by the Minister of Higher Education, with rotation among hospitals).

  • B) Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Government Electronic Transactions Program (Yesser).

  • C) Council of Health Insurance.

  • D) General Authority for Statistics and Information.

  • E) Saudi Commission for Health Specialties.

  • F) Saudi Food and Drug Authority.

• 4- A representative from the private health sector nominated by the Council President in coordination with the Council of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

• 5- Three specialists nominated by the Council President.

The Council may add representatives from other entities to the membership of the scientific committee of the center.

The term of membership in the scientific committee - except for members appointed by virtue of their positions - shall be three years, renewable for one additional term.

The Scientific Committee of the Center is responsible for the following:

First: The tasks and responsibilities of a scientific nature are as follows:

• 1- Proposing plans and policies related to health information activities, and the necessary programs for their implementation and supervising their execution after they are approved by the Council.

• 2- Identifying the health data and information that need to be provided by the relevant health service authorities, and proposing the rules and mechanisms necessary for exchanging this information among the various health service authorities and obtaining the Council's approval.

• 3- Establishing the terms, names, and definitions used in data collection and the methods of collecting them.

• 4- Approving the rules and standards governing the unified electronic health file and obtaining the Council's approval.

• 5- Proposing the national health accounts system and obtaining the Council's approval.

• 6- Proposing the rules governing the national telemedicine network and obtaining the Council's approval.

• 7- Reviewing the national health statistics reports and submitting recommendations regarding them to the Council.

• 8- Any other task assigned to it by the Council.

Second: The tasks and responsibilities of an administrative nature are as follows:

• 1- Proposing the annual financial costs required by the Center, to be included in the budget of the General Secretariat of the Council, in preparation for its submission according to the applicable legal procedures.

• 2- Proposing the financial compensation for the services provided by the Center within its jurisdiction, and presenting that to the Council for approval.

• 3- Proposing the formation of specialized committees (permanent and temporary) to assist the Center in achieving its objectives, nominating their members from among the members of the Scientific Committee or others, proposing the rules and procedures for their work, and proposing the duties of their members and their rewards, in preparation for the Council's approval.

• 4- Accepting assistance, grants, and donations offered to the Center, in accordance with the regulations governing that.

• 5- Proposing amendments to the organization of the Center.

• 6- Any other task assigned to it by the Council.

The Scientific Committee meets at least once every three months, chaired by its President or a member designated by them. The President of the Committee may call for a meeting whenever necessary. A meeting is not considered valid unless a majority of the members are present. Decisions of the Scientific Committee are made by a majority of the votes of those present, and in the event of a tie, the vote of the meeting's President is decisive.

The center shall have a General Director, appointed by the Chairman of the Council, who is organizationally linked to the General Secretary of the Council.

The General Director shall manage and conduct the affairs of the Center, in accordance with the powers stipulated in this regulation, the regulations issued thereunder, and the decisions of the Council, and for this purpose, he shall have the following:

• 1- Proposing the executive regulations for this regulation.

• 2- Proposing the Center's plans, programs, and projects, and supervising their implementation after approval.

• 3- Preparing an estimate of the annual financial costs required by the Center and presenting it to the Scientific Committee.

• 4- Proposing the formation of the necessary technical and administrative committees for the Center's work and following up on them.

• 5- Preparing indicators to measure the Center's performance.

• 6- Implementing the decisions of the Scientific Committee in accordance with the regulatory procedures.

• 7- Representing the Center in its relations with other entities.

• 8- Any other authority granted to him by the Council.

A unit specialized in national health accounts shall be established within the organizational units of the center, and its mission shall be to create a system for national health accounts in the Kingdom, and to work on its implementation in a way that enables the measurement and analysis of financial flows in the health system at various levels, and to identify patterns of expenditure costs on health services.

1- The center shall have financial allocations (program) within the budget of the Council, from which expenditures for the center's activities and the technical and administrative requirements of its operations shall be made.

2- The resources of the center consist of the following:

• A- The allocations designated for it within the budget of the Council.

• B- The financial compensation that the center receives for the works and services it provides within its jurisdiction, as determined by the Council.

• C- Donations, contributions, assistance, bequests, and endowments.

• D- Any other resource approved by the Council.

3- The revenues of the center specified in paragraphs (2/ ج) and (2/ د) of this article shall be deposited in one of the local banks, and expenditures shall be made from it in accordance with the rules and procedures set by the Council.