Jeddah — The Ministry of Health reiterated that no private health institution has the right to detain patients, newborns, or dead bodies of patients treated at the institute.
The organization can not keep the patient’s original identification papers in custody over the non-payment of medical bills.
The ministry sources stressed that the health institutions must make the legal procedures to collect their financial dues through the official channels.
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The ministry said this while citing the provisions of Article 30 of the Private Health Institutions Law and its executive regulations.
According to the article, the private healthcare institutions must immediately report to the nearest competent security authority. Or the Directorate of Health Affairs in the region of any criminal incident or death.
The private healthcare institutions must report any criminal incident where an injured requires an ambulance or treatment. They must also record all traffic accidents and injuries treated at their premises.
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Article 16 of the Private Healthcare Institutions Law states that it is mandatory for private healthcare institutions to provide emergency treatment for all severe emergency cases. The institute can not make a financial claim before giving treatment.
