In this Statute, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings assigned thereto, unless the context requires otherwise:
Statute: Statute of the Saudi Central Board for Accreditation of Healthcare Institutions.
CBAHI: Saudi Central Board for Accreditation of Healthcare Institutions.
Council: Saudi Health Council.
Director General: CBAHI’s director general.
Healthcare Institutions: Public or private healthcare facilities that provide healthcare services, including hospitals, primary healthcare centers, general medical complexes, specialized medical complexes, clinics, radiology centers, medical laboratories, outpatient surgery centers, ancillary medical service centers, and ambulance service centers.

The CBAHI shall report to the Chairman of the Council. It shall be headquartered in the city of Riyadh, and it may establish branches and offices within the Kingdom.

• 1- The Center aims to raise the quality and safety level of health services to ensure patient safety and develop professional health and administrative performance in health facilities. To achieve this, without limitation, it shall undertake the following tasks and competencies:

  • A- Approving unified national standards for all health facilities in the Kingdom in the fields of health practices, including (medical, pharmaceutical, facility safety, quality and patient safety, administrative leadership, laboratory services, and other technical departments).

  • B- Periodically reviewing the approved standards - whenever necessary or at least every four years - and ensuring their suitability for the health work environment in the Kingdom.

  • C- Contributing to preparing health facilities to implement quality standards through the following:

    • • Holding seminars and workshops to spread the culture of quality and increase awareness among employees and officials about quality concepts and the importance of their application.
    • • Sending teams of specialists in the fields of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, laboratories, radiology, administration, infection control, and safety procedures to explain and teach the standards to employees in health facilities.
    • • Implementing training programs prepared for employees in health facilities by trained specialists, and supporting these facilities with the necessary scientific materials.
    • D- Monitoring the performance of health facilities to ensure their compliance with the approved standards and overseeing the quality of performance.
    • E- Establishing appropriate mechanisms to evaluate the performance of health facilities by monitoring and assessing the achievement of recognized performance indicators.
    • F- Training candidates for accreditation tasks and preparing them as evaluators from the Center.
    • G- Conducting studies and research in the field of the Center’s work.
    • H- Establishing a comprehensive database for health facilities.
    • I- Cooperating and exchanging expertise with international accreditation bodies, organizations, and authorities related to the Center’s work.
    • J- Coordinating efforts between governmental and other entities to achieve the Center’s objectives.
    • K- Enhancing cooperation and coordination between competent authorities inside and outside the Kingdom to achieve the Center’s objectives, in accordance with applicable rules and instructions.
    • L- Organizing and participating in local and international conferences and seminars in the field of the Center’s work.
    • M- Accrediting all health facilities in the Kingdom.
    • N- Performing any other task assigned by the Council within the Center’s jurisdiction.

• 2- The competencies and tasks assigned to the Center as stated in paragraph (1) of this article shall not prejudice the jurisdiction of the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties related to the recognition of health institutions designated for training purposes, as stated in paragraph (3) of article (2) of the Law of the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties issued by Royal Decree No. (M/2) dated 6/2/1413 AH.

• 3- The Center may provide accreditation services for health facilities located outside the Kingdom, according to regulations approved by the Council.

The CBAHI shall have a full-time director general whose rank shall not be lower than Grade 14, or its equivalent; he shall report to the Chairman of the Council.

The Director General shall oversee the management of the CBAHI and the conduct of its affairs according to the powers and duties assigned thereto pursuant to a decision issued by the Council. He shall, in particular, assume the following:
1. Preparing for meetings of the administrative committee and following up on the implementation of its recommendations following the Council’s approval.
2. Preparing the CBAHI’s projected annual financial costs for approval in accordance with applicable statutory procedures.
3. Overseeing the CBAHI and its employees according to the powers granted thereto and in accordance with the regulations.
4. Issuing the CBAHI’s payment orders without exceeding the approved annual financial allocations.
5. Submitting to the Council periodic reports on the CBAHI’s activities and achievements along with his recommendations within 90 days from the
beginning of each fiscal year.
6. Proposing the CBAHI’s plans and programs and monitoring the implementation thereof following the Council’s approval.
7. Submitting the implementing regulations of this Statute to the Council for approval.
8. Forming ad hoc technical and administrative committees to carry out certain tasks.
9. Setting indicators to monitor the CBAHI’s performance.
10. Representing the CBAHI before other entities and before the judiciary.
11. Assuming any other power or task assigned thereto pursuant to a decision issued by the Council.
The Director General may delegate some of the powers provided for in this Article to any CBAHI official.

• The Chairman of the Council shall form an "Administrative Committee" for the Center consisting of experts and specialists representing the governmental and private health sectors in the Kingdom in the fields of quality, patient safety, and health facility safety, chaired by the General Manager. Its members shall be nominated by the Council, and it shall undertake the following:

  • 1- Propose the general objectives and policies that the Center shall follow to achieve its goals, and the necessary programs for that purpose, in preparation for approval by the Council.
  • 2- Propose the administrative and financial regulations governing the Center— in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Civil Service— and other internal regulations, in preparation for their adoption by the Council.
  • 3- Supervise the preparation and approval of unified standards for health facilities.
  • 4- Approve the evaluation results of all health facilities.
  • 5- Coordinate with the relevant competent authorities to take appropriate regulatory measures and penalties against negligent or incapable health facilities in applying the standards.
  • 6- Coordinate with the relevant authorities to link the licensing and renewal of health facilities, as well as the provision of health insurance services, to obtaining accreditation.
  • 7- Propose the establishment of branches or offices of the Center in the regions of the Kingdom in preparation for their approval by the Council.
  • 8- Determine the financial fees for the works and services provided by the Center within its scope, in preparation for approval by the Council.
  • 9- Propose the formation of permanent technical committees and submit this to the Council for approval, including determining the powers it deems appropriate for them.
  • 10- Accept assistance, grants, and donations offered to the Center, in accordance with the applicable regulations.
  • 11- Propose regulations for providing accreditation services to health facilities located outside the Kingdom, provided that these regulations include coordination procedures with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and any other relevant authorities deemed necessary by the Committee, in preparation for approval by the Council.

The administrative committee shall convene at least twice a year upon a call by its Chairman. The Chairman shall also call for a meeting if requested by at least half of the members. The call shall include the meeting agenda. Committee meetings shall be deemed valid only if attended by the majority of members, including the Chairman or his designee. Recommendations shall be issued by the majority vote of attending members. In case of a tie, the chairman of the meeting shall have the casting vote.
The administrative committee may invite non-members to attend its meetings in a non-voting capacity. Meeting deliberations and recommendations shall be entered into minutes signed by the chairman of the meeting and attending members; such minutes shall be approved by the Council.

1. The CBAHI shall have an allocation in the Council’s budget, and shall have financial and administrative flexibility to benefit from local and international expertise.
2. The CBAHI’s resources shall be as follows:
a) Allocations in the Council’s budget.
b) Fees for services rendered by the CBAHI, as determined by the Council.
c) Gifts, donations, aid, endowments, and bequests.
d) Any other resources approved by the Council.
3. The CBAHI’s revenues provided for in Article 8(2)(b, c, and d) shall be deposited in an account with a local bank. Disbursement from such account shall be made in accordance with rules and procedures approved by the Council.
4. The CBAHI shall be subject to the same financial oversight procedures as the Council.

The Council shall issue the decisions necessary for implementing this Statute.

This Statute shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall enter into force on the day following the date of its publication.