In a significant regulatory step aimed at raising the quality of healthcare services and ensuring patient safety, the Saudi Ministry of Health issued a strict circular to all healthcare facilities in the Kingdom, prohibiting the assignment of nursing and midwifery personnel to any duties outside the scope of their approved professional practices. The circular also emphasized the prohibition of dual healthcare professions, preventing any healthcare practitioner from practicing more than one healthcare profession.
The decision is framed within the context of the health transformation in Vision 2030
This decision comes as part of the broader efforts undertaken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to develop the healthcare sector, a key pillar of Vision 2030. The Vision aims to build an effective and sustainable healthcare system based on the highest international standards, where precise specialization and clearly defined responsibilities are crucial to achieving this goal. Historically, some healthcare facilities, particularly under pressure or staffing shortages, have resorted to assigning nurses administrative or technical tasks outside their core expertise, which can negatively impact their professional focus and the quality of patient care. Therefore, this directive represents a significant step towards institutionalizing professional practice and clearly defining roles, leaving no room for ambiguity.
The importance of specialization and its impact on patient safety
The commitment of healthcare practitioners to their area of specialization is a universal principle in healthcare. Assigning a nurse or midwife tasks outside their training and expertise not only endangers the patient but also exposes the practitioner to legal and ethical liability. The Ministry based its directives on Article Twelve of the Health Professions Practice Law, which prohibits dual practice to ensure professional focus and the safety of medical procedures. This measure aims to reduce medical errors, improve treatment outcomes, and enhance patient confidence in the healthcare system. It also contributes to increasing the operational efficiency of hospitals and health centers through optimal investment in specialized personnel.
Details of the circular and the resulting penalties
The Ministry emphasized that practicing any healthcare activity without a license, or exceeding the scope of their authority except in cases of extreme necessity, constitutes a clear violation warranting disciplinary action. This measure aims to empower healthcare professionals to perform their roles according to their approved job descriptions, thereby enhancing the quality and safety of services provided to patients. The circular clearly defined the permissible scope of nursing duties in clinical departments, such as inpatient wards, outpatient clinics, and emergency departments, in addition to their responsibilities in endoscopy and interventional radiology clinics, and nursing and quality management departments. Regarding midwifery, duties were limited to monitoring pregnant women, providing postpartum care, and supporting breastfeeding. The Ministry deemed any assignment of administrative or technical tasks outside these specified lists a violation of regulations, obligating departments to rectify the situations of their staff immediately to ensure full compliance with the regulations.
