Many people have been penalized for physical or verbal assault on health practitioners in several Ministry of Health facilities in various regions of the Kingdom.

The penalties include jail terms, fines and flogging of the culprit in front of the health facility where the assault took place.

The Legal Affairs Administration in the Ministry of Health pursued these cases until the issuance of verdicts against the culprits.

The Ministry of Health had earlier stressed its concern for the safety of its health practitioners. It said that it will not accept any infringement on their rights and verbal or physical assault on them.

The ministry reassured the protection of the rights of victims and said that any verbal or physical assault on health practitioners is a crime punishable by law.

The penalties may reach 10-year imprisonment and fines up to SR1 million.

The ministry appealed to victims to contact the authorities concerned through official channels or call 937.

Verbal and physical assaults on health practitioners have increased in recent months, raising the concern of authorities as well as health workers.

The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) said it received 130 complaints related to such attacks in June.

Victims include doctors, nurses, technicians and administrators, Al-Madina Arabic daily said in a report.

In a statement following a knife attack on a nurse in Madinah recently, Health Minister Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah emphasized his ministry’s desire to protect the rights of health practitioners.

The law governing medical practice in the Kingdom, which was issued in January 2006, stresses the need to monitor doctors while practicing their profession.

SOURCE : SAUDIGAZETTE