Primary health care center in Tabuk.

The Health Ministry is re-examining working hours of employees at 2,300 primary health care centers across the Kingdom to ensure best quality for patients.

According to sources quoted in the local media, the move comes in response to a statement issued earlier this month by Mohammed Al-Dosary, director of legal affairs department at the ministry, in which he challenged the legality of single shift working hours for employees at these centers. Al-Dosary argued that the current shifts violate regulations, and may cause legal and financial problems for the ministry in the long run.

After the statement was made public, a number of employees claimed they were surprised to hear Al-Dosary’s position, and questioned the timing of his statement.

Muhammad Rashid, an employee at Qassim health department, said the decision to establish single shifts for workers was taken by former Health Minister Hamad Al-Manea. “Why has the legal affairs department kept silent for 10 years?” he asked.

Abdullah Al-Basheri, another employee at the same center, said former Acting Health Minister Adel Fakeih had also supported the decision to unify the quantum of work hours for all health sector staff.

Other health care workers, such as Umm Muhammad, a health care employee in Qunfuda, called on officials to listen to the demands of the sector’s employees and take the appropriate decision according to their requests.

Al-Dosary argued that his office has clarified the legal aspects regarding the issue, and stressed that his department’s role is to provide legal advice and recommendations to the ministry regarding all decisions.

Fakeih had already tackled the issue during his term at the Health Ministry, approving a resolution to amend working hours at health care centers throughout the Kingdom. Shifts were changed from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sunday to Thursday, effective Safar 1, 1436.

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