Sick leave granted based on medical assessment, says Health Ministry
Saudi Arabia's Health Ministry clarified the rules for issuing sick leave and outlined penalties for violations, emphasizing medical necessity.
Key Takeaways
AIThe Ministry of Health has clarified the regulations for granting sick leave and the penalties imposed for related violations.
In a statement on X, the ministry said that sick leave is granted based on medical assessment and actual need, and is issued through approved healthcare channels to ensure it matches the beneficiary’s health condition.
The ministry added that the attending physician determines the case, required data, and procedures. Sick leave is issued after a medical evaluation and with the approval of the treating physician through authorized channels, and is available via the Sehaty platform.
Violations include issuing medical leave from unauthorized facilities, forgery, tampering with medical records or leave data, issuing leave without valid medical reasons, or facilitating undue benefits.
Penalties include revoking licenses, removing practitioners from the official register, or a fine of 50,000 riyals (SAR). Forgery may also result in up to one year in prison and a fine of 100,000 riyals. Legal action may extend to beneficiaries of fraudulent sick leave under the Anti-Forgery Law.
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