By Nader Al-Enizi

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

TABUK — The Ministry of Health has claimed that several health institutes are violating the sick leave charter the ministry put in place in cooperation with the Ministry of Civil Service.

The charter clarifies what each rank in the health sector is authorized to issue. A doctor at a health center or a health unit can only issue a sick leave for an employee for one day only with the possibility to extend it for another day. The sick leave must be stamped by the head of the center.

Doctors at a private complex of clinics may issue a sick leave for one day only, seven times a year for a single employee. The sick leave must be stamped by head of the complex. Doctors working in hospitals can issue a sick leave for three days with the extension of three more days if needed. The sick leave must be stamped by the doctor himself. A consultant and a doctor at a hospital may issue a sick leave for four days with the extension of four more days if needed. The sick leave must be stamped by head of the hospital.

Three doctors, one of which is a consultant, may issue a sick leave of eight days with the extension to 30 days if needed. The sick leave must be stamped by the head of the hospital. Issuing a sick leave of more than 30 days is at the capacity of the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, King Fahd Specialist Hospital of Military Medical Committees.

Riyadh Health Affairs Director Dr. Nasser AL-Dowsary said when confronted with their violations the health institutes claimed that they did not know of the charter.

“The charter applies to all public sector employees and it is available on the Ministry of Civil Service’s website since last year. Their negligence is unacceptable. All health institutes can consult a legal entity for clarifications on new policies of any of them were ambiguous,” said Al-Dowsary.