The terms and phrases listed below - wherever they appear in this regulation - shall have the meanings specified next to each of them:

• Regulation: The regulation of medical cities and specialized hospitals affiliated with the Ministry of Health.

• Ministry: Ministry of Health.

• Minister: Minister of Health.

• Council: Board of Directors of the medical cities and specialized hospitals affiliated with the Ministry of Health.

• President: President of the Council.

• Executive Director: Executive Director of the medical city or specialized hospital.

• Medical Cities: The medical cities affiliated with the Ministry, which are: King Fahd Medical City in Riyadh, King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Medical City serving the northern regions, King Faisal Medical City serving the southern regions, King Khalid Medical City in the Eastern Province, and any medical city affiliated with the Ministry that may be established in the future.

• Specialized Hospitals: The specialized hospitals affiliated with the Ministry, which are: King Khalid Specialized Eye Hospital, King Fahd Specialized Hospital in Dammam, and any specialized hospital affiliated with the Ministry that may be established in the future.

The medical cities and specialized hospitals aim to provide the best medical and health services at the highest levels, including the following:

• 1- Providing the highest levels of specialized medical care.

• 2- Contributing to establishing high-level standards and criteria for practicing the medical profession in medical cities and specialized hospitals.

• 3- Contributing to providing and qualifying national specialized competencies to work in medical cities and specialized hospitals.

• 4- Preparing comprehensive training programs for Saudi doctors to prepare them for participation in providing medical care at the level of resident doctors and specialized fellowships.

• 5- Conducting scientific and applied research related to the health field and collaborating with specialized medical bodies in scientific research both within the Kingdom and abroad, in order to develop and improve treatment methods and enhance medical and health care in the Kingdom in general and in specific medical specialties in particular.

• 6- Striving to attract distinguished national and international competencies in high-specialization medical fields, embracing and supporting them to join the workforce in medical cities and specialized hospitals.

• 7- Collaborating with health authorities and educational institutions in the Kingdom to raise awareness and health culture among community members.

• 8- Contributing to the issuance of medical and scientific journals, newsletters, and periodicals.

Without prejudice to the competencies of the Council of Health Services established by law, the Council is considered the dominant authority over all matters related to medical cities and specialized hospitals, managing their affairs and making all necessary decisions to achieve their objectives within the framework of the provisions of this regulation and the regulations and decisions issued based on it. It has, in particular, the following:

• 1- Formulating the general policy - whether medical or administrative - for medical cities and specialized hospitals, monitoring the workflow within them, and approving performance improvement programs and enhancing overall efficiency to maintain the desired level.

• 2- Approving the administrative and technical regulations and administrative structures for medical cities and specialized hospitals, as well as approving the financial regulations in agreement with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in accordance with the applicable regulations.

• 3- Issuing regulations governing services in medical cities and specialized hospitals, related to eligibility for treatment and the mechanism for accepting patients in clinics and inpatient departments, determining the financial compensation for treatment services, and the rules for exemption from it when it is decided to obtain financial compensation for treatment services.

• 4- General supervision over the administrative and financial arrangements for each medical city or specialized hospital, and reviewing them.

• 5- Approving the annual budget projects for medical cities and specialized hospitals and referring them to the relevant authorities for approval.

• 6- Approving programs and plans related to medical research and employment plans for administrative, technical, and medical positions in accordance with the positions approved in the budgets of medical cities and specialized hospitals.

• 7- Establishing standards for the creation of medical cities and specialized hospitals.

• 8- Recommending the establishment of medical cities or specialized hospitals or converting existing hospitals into either, and raising the matter to the Council of Ministers to take the necessary actions.

• 9- Establishing organizational arrangements that ensure effective coordination between medical cities, specialized hospitals, and health affairs directorates.

The Council may delegate some of its powers to the President or the Executive Committee as required by the interests of the work.

1- The Council shall meet at the invitation of its President at least once every two months, or whenever necessary, or if requested by at least five of its members.

2- The invitation must be sent at least seven days prior to the meeting, accompanied by the agenda.

3- The meeting of the Council is valid if attended by the majority of the members, including the President or his appointed representative.

4- The Council's decisions are made by a majority of the votes of the attending members; if the votes are equal, the side that the President of the meeting voted for shall prevail.

5- The deliberations of the Council shall be recorded in minutes signed by the President of the meeting and the attending members.

6- The Council may invite individuals whose expertise is deemed beneficial to attend its sessions without the right to vote.

7- Members of the Council shall receive a reward for attending the sessions in accordance with the regulations in force.

The Council shall have an executive committee composed of its members, whose members and chairperson shall be appointed by a decision from the President. The committee shall meet at least twice a month and shall oversee the preparation and organization of the Council's meetings, study all reports and subjects submitted to it, provide comments, and make the necessary recommendations regarding them, in preparation for presenting them to the Council.

The council shall have a Secretary-General appointed by the President, who shall be administratively linked to the President.

The Council shall have a General Secretariat called (General Secretariat of the Board of Directors of Medical Cities and Specialized Hospitals affiliated with the Ministry of Health), which shall undertake the organizational, administrative, and technical arrangements that contribute to the success of the Council's work, particularly the following:

• 1- Preparing the schedule of the Council's meetings and preparing its work, as well as the committees emanating from it, and providing the Council with the topics presented to it.

• 2- Recording the deliberations, discussions, and recommendations, documenting the decisions, and preparing the minutes of the Council's meetings and the committees emanating from it.

• 3- Following up on the implementation of the Council's decisions and recommendations, preparing the necessary periodic reports on achievements and recommendations, and submitting them to the President.

• 4- Preparing, organizing, and preserving the Council's files, such as minutes, documents, and any materials related to its work.

• 5- Providing the necessary documents and resources required by the Council and the committees emanating from it, and supplying it with correspondence and communications related to its work.

• 6- Carrying out all the Council's work related to administrative, financial, and secretarial affairs, and taking the necessary administrative and financial procedures to implement the work plan approved by the Council.

• 7- Any other work assigned to it by the Council or its President.

A special budget is approved within the general budget of the Ministry, named the budget of the (Secretariat of the Board of Directors of Medical Cities and Specialized Hospitals affiliated with the Ministry of Health), from which expenditures are made for the activities of the Council, its committees, the rewards of its members, and its secretariat in accordance with the applicable financial regulations and rules.

With due regard to the powers of the Council and the Minister, medical cities and specialized hospitals shall enjoy independence as follows:

• 1- Each medical city and specialized hospital shall have its own annual operational budget within the Ministry's budget.

• 2- The resources of each medical city and specialized hospital shall consist of the following:

  • A- The appropriations allocated to it in the state budget.

  • B- Donations, grants, endowments, and bequests that each accepts in accordance with the rules established by the Council.

  • C- Resources for the treatment of those who are not eligible for treatment based on the regulations governing treatment eligibility according to the relevant laws and regulations.

  • D- The proceeds from the properties of each medical city or specialized hospital, if any.

  • E- Any other resource that the Council decides to add.