• The following words and phrases, wherever mentioned in this Regulations of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, shall have the meanings assigned thereto unless the context requires otherwise.

  • Ministry: Ministry of Health

  • Minister: Minister of Health

  • National Center: The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

  • Chief Executive Officer: The Chief Executive Officer of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

  • Regulations: Regulations of Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

  • Practitioner: Anyone hat is licensed by the National Center to perform any Complementary and Alternative Medicine practices.

  • Facility: Any Facility that is licensed to practice Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

  • Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A set of therapeutic, preventive, or diagnostic practices that are not followed in the modern medical method which may be used in addition to the modern medicine.

  • Practices of Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine that are licensed to be practiced in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including phlebotomy, acupuncture, orthopedics, chiropractic, physical therapy, and other practices that the National Center will add in the future.

  • Professional Classification: A set of procedures to ensure the availability of requirements and experiences and their relationship to work in the field of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and the professional evaluation of the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practitioner to be granted the appropriate professional degree.

  • Professional Registration: Preparing a register of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practitioner in the database of the National Center to facilitate the professional follow-up on Practitioner while introducing them to the standards and ethics of the health professions in the Kingdom.

  • Facility License: A license that is granted to a Facility by the National Center authorizing it to provide one or more Complementary and Alternative Medicine practices.

  • License to Practice the Profession: A license that is granted to a Practitioner by the National Center authorizing them to perform one or more Complementary and Alternative Medicine practices.

  • Training Center: A health Facility or specialized center approved by the National Training Center.

• In addition to the Practices of Complementary and Alternative Medicine that are currently licensed, the National Center may add, cancel, or suspend any Complementary and Alternative Medicine practices in line with the Manual on the Standards of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practices.

• 1- The Professional Registration and Classification Manual issued by the National Center and the procedures it adopts shall apply to the Practitioner.

• 2- It is prohibited to practice any type of Complementary and Alternative Medicine except after obtaining a license to do so from the National Center.

• 3- The following conditions are required for licensing to practice Complementary and Alternative Medicine:

  • A. The category of the Practitioner shall be among those mentioned in the Professional Registration and Classification Manual for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practitioners issued by the National Center, who hold certificates recognized by the National Center in the specialties of phlebotomy, acupuncture, orthopedics, chiropractic, physical therapy, and other practices that the National Center will add in the future (otherwise, they shall obtain a classification from the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties and meet the requirements of the National Center).

  • B. The Practitioner shall complete the training period required for the profession in a Training Center recognized by the National Center, or obtain one of the recognized certificates in accordance with the conditions mentioned in the Professional Registration and Classification Manual.

  • C. Pass the tests required by the National Center as per the controls it adopts.

  • D. Register with the National Center, according to the Professional Registration and Classification Manual.

• 4- Based on the exigencies of public interest, The Minister may limit the granting of a license to practice one of the types of alternative and complementary medicine to the Saudis if there is a sufficient number of them in the Kingdom or in one of the regions or as per to the Saudization- related decisions of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.

• 5- A temporary license may be granted to the visiting Practitioners or the like, provided that their qualifications are approved, under the conditions and controls established by the National Center.

• 1- The National Center shall inform the health authorities and other competent authorities of fraudulent certificates or any tampering therewith.

• 2- The “Manual for the Ethics of Practicing Health Profession” and other relevant manuals approved by the National Center shall apply to the Practitioner.

1- The Training and Scientific Activities Guide issued and approved by the National Center shall apply to the practitioner.

2- The practitioner must obtain the required number of continuing professional development hours according to the category to which the practitioner belongs, in accordance with the Professional Classification and Registration Guide issued by the National Center.

3- The National Center shall have the right to organize or approve training courses or training centers, whether governmental or private, or to undertake any other activities in the field of training on various complementary and alternative medicine practices, while complying with the regulations and standards established by the National Center and approved by the Executive Director General.

4- The National Center may establish an indicative list of the prices of services provided by complementary and alternative medicine facilities.

• The Practitioner or Facility shall be prohibited from advertising except after obtaining approval for the advertising form from the National Center in line with the controls and conditions issued thereby.

1- No facility may engage in any activity relating to complementary and alternative medicine before obtaining a license in the specialties of complementary and alternative medicine.

2- The facility building must meet the health and technical requirements in accordance with the Law of Private Health Institutions and its Implementing Regulations.

• The facility shall, after obtaining the license, comply with the following:
• 1- Adhere to practicing the complementary and alternative medicine activity specified in the license, comply with the conditions set forth therein, and refrain from practicing any other activities not stated in the license unless it has fulfilled the requirements necessary for such practice and obtained the required license from the National Center.
• 2- Open an electronic medical record for each patient, record all medical information therein, and maintain the record securely in a manner that ensures the privacy of the information.
• 3- Refrain from receiving critical and emergency cases, childbirth cases, and surgical cases, and immediately refer them to hospitals.
• 4- Comply with transferring all patients to hospitals and treatment centers if their health condition so requires during examination or receipt of treatment.
• 5- Notify the competent authorities at the Ministry and the National Center of any cases of communicable or epidemic diseases.
• 6- Notify the security authorities of criminal cases.
• 7- Provide the National Center with a periodic report every three months containing the data and numbers of the facility’s patients.
• 8- Display the original license in a prominent place within the facility where it can be seen by patients and representatives of the competent authorities.
• 9- The facility license shall be valid for five years, and the facility shall renew it three months before its expiry date.
• 10- Comply with the regulations, manuals, and procedures applicable to complementary and alternative medicine facilities, as well as any updates subsequently introduced by the National Center.

• The practitioner or facility is prohibited from the following:
• 1- Employing unlicensed persons from among health professions or providing assistance to any person who unlawfully practices any type of complementary and alternative medicine.
• 2- Keeping medicines and herbs at the workplace contrary to the instructions of the Ministry, the National Center, and the relevant authorities.
• 3- Using detection or treatment devices prohibited in the Kingdom or not conforming to the specifications and standards.
• 4- Conducting examinations or providing treatment, whether for compensation or free of charge, in unlicensed places not designated for such purposes.
• 5- The practitioner may not perform any work exceeding his specialization, scope of practice, or capabilities.

• The Practitioner of Complementary and Alternative Medicine shall be subject to the professional, criminal, and disciplinary liability of the Law of Practicing Health Professions and the Implementing Regulations thereof.