Khaleej Times carries this piece about banning government doctors from working in private practice, including clinics and hospitals. In theory, this is a good move. In practice, it’s rather tough on the doctors as government salaries tend to be low.

The government certainly has the right to demand full service from those they pay salaries. Patients in government facilities, too, have the right to receive the best care available. But I’m not sure that disgruntled doctors, seeing their incomes greatly reduced, are going to be the best providers of medical care. If government salaries were to be pegged close to what a doctor could earn in private practice, there might be a resolution. This article, though, doesn’t contain any suggestion of that.

Saudi Arabia bans private practice by doctors working in govt hospitals
Habib Shaikh

JEDDAH — A total ban has been imposed on doctors employed in government hospitals to also have private practice. Violators will face strict punishments, including termination of contract and forfeiture of service benefits.

The decision was made at a meeting chaired by Health Minister Dr Hamad Al Manie in Riyadh recently.

“According to the new rule, companies who hire government doctors for part-time or full-time jobs will face a maximum penalty of SR100,000 for each doctor and the doctors concerned will face a minimum fine of SR10,000,” according to Health Ministry spokesman Dr Khaled Al Mirghalani. He said there would be strict enforcement of the rule and emphasised that the rule would apply to both Saudi and non-Saudi doctors.

Al Mirghalani explained that the new measure was being imposed in the interest of patients at government hospitals. He added that government doctors who have private practice tend to neglect their regular work and concentrate more on their part-time practice.
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