Saudi Arabia Launches National Medical Referral Center to Oversee Domestic and International Healthcare Transfers
Riyadh, The Gulf Observer: Saudi Arabia has officially launched a new Medical Referral Center under the Ministry of Health to streamline and regulate all medical referral processes within the Kingdom and abroad. The initiative, approved by the Council of Ministers and announced through the official gazette Umm Al-Qura on Friday, establishes a structured and comprehensive mechanism for managing healthcare referrals.
The center has been entrusted with 15 core responsibilities, including oversight of medical evacuations, setting procedural and operational protocols for air transfers, and coordinating with relevant government agencies on referral requests both domestically and internationally.
One of the center’s key mandates is to review medical leave reports for civil service employees exceeding 30 days within the Kingdom, along with all foreign-issued sick leave documents. It will also assess requests for medical disability and health-based prisoner releases, ensuring full legal compliance.
Additionally, the center will implement decisions issued by the High Medical Commission, post-approval from the Minister of Health. It will supervise health attachés posted abroad, monitor hospital bed capacity, operational efficiency, and occupancy rates, ensuring optimal resource use.
Among its other functions, the center will manage the movement of medical referrals between healthcare facilities inside and outside Saudi Arabia, evaluate the technical capacity of hospitals, and offer support where necessary. It will also collaborate with relevant institutions to confirm patient eligibility for specialized treatments.
Administratively, the center is embedded within the Health Ministry’s organizational structure and reports directly to the Minister of Health. Strategic and operational oversight will be provided by a specialized committee chaired by the Minister and comprised of high-level representatives from key national institutions, including:
- Ministry of Defense
- Ministry of Interior
- Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs
- King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center
- Saudi Health Holding Company
- Saudi Chambers Council
- Council of Saudi Universities
- Saudi Health Council
- National Health Insurance Center
The oversight committee will convene at the center’s headquarters or other locations within the Kingdom. Meetings require a majority attendance, including the chair or deputy, with decisions adopted by a majority vote.
This strategic move marks a significant step toward enhancing healthcare governance and ensuring quality and timely medical care for all Saudi citizens and residents, both at home and abroad.
