Okaz/Saudi Gazette MAKKAH — The Ministry of Health (MOH) will reduce the payment of bonuses and overtime, cut travel expenses and pharmaceutical purchases and bids for projects should not exceed the budget as part of its austerity measures. The ministry announced that all establishments working under it are to only employ doctors with expertise in rare fields. The ministry also announced that contracts must only require doctors to work for 90 days a year, said a source. All establishments were also told to review their pharmaceutical purchases, asking them to find cheaper replacements. The ministry also ordered its establishments to cut the payment of bonuses and overtime and travel expenses, said the source. The ministry will also not meet the expenses for conferences abroad. It will only fund 30-day-long domestic and foreign deputations for each employee. The ministry will also limit extra working hours for its employees and doctors, said the source. Employees can work extra hours for a maximum of four months in a year and for a maximum of two hours a day. The ministry also put stricter regulations on what is insured and what is not under medical insurance policies. The source also said the ministry ordered its establishments to transfer patients to private hospitals or hospitals abroad only if it is really required. The ministry urged all of its establishments to stick to the budget allocated without appealing for any financial aid or extra funds.
