The Department of Health Licenses of Jeddah Health Affairs shut down illegal medical centers in Al-Bawadi district Wednesday after discovering several violations of the rules governing health establishments. “We closed these centers because they did not follow the regulations of the Ministry of Health regarding the examination of foreign workers, and because of the poor supervision of technical and administrative staff which led to the issuing of incorrect examination results,” said Dr. Sami Badawood, Director of Health Affairs Management. The official added that one center, which was closed, provided foreign workers with health certificates and full medical reports without submitting them to any medical examinations. Authorities have also closed down a number of centers for not having licenses, and a children's clinic was shut after the discovery of an unlicensed doctor on the staff, with Health Affairs officials saying that stringent punishments will be applied. Inspections are carried out by Jeddah Health Affairs on a regular basis with the aim of improving the performance of private centers and eliminating violations. “Such inspections are considered very important in countering the proliferation of illegal medical centers, which has occurred in certain parts of the city,” said Dr. Mohammed Abduljawad, Director of Health Affairs Management of the Private Sector.
