The Council shall assume the powers stipulated in Article Seventeen of the Health System issued by Royal Decree No. (M/11) dated 03/23/1423 AH and Article (17 L) of its Executive Regulations, which stipulates that the Council shall have the following powers:
a) Preparation of the health care strategy in the Kingdom.
b) Issuing appropriate regulations to ensure that hospitals run by the Ministry of Health and other government agencies are operated in adherence to the principles of economic management as well as performance and quality standards.
c) Development and approval of policies for the coordination and integration between all healthcare providing authorities regarding the following:
- Primary, secondary, and specialized healthcare services.
- Ambulance and medical evacuation services.
- Transferring of patients among different healthcare providers.
- Ensuring the provision of pharmaceutical and medical supplies and their optimal use.
- Education, training, and recruitment of workforce in the fields of healthcare.
- Conducting research and studies in the fields of health.
- Providing healthcare for pilgrims.
- Spreading health awareness among the population.
- Promotion of environmental health.
- Exchange of expertise among healthcare authorities.
Cabinet Resolution No. 418 dated 10/29/1435 AH added the following powers to the Council:
d) Conducting periodic evaluations and revisions of health policies and plans.
e) Studying and assessing the quality of health services, determining the demands of the health sector, making the necessary recommendations on the country-wide distribution of all types of health services, and advancing the overall quality of health services.
f) Implementing the policies, plans, programs, and projects contained in the national healthcare strategy and working in coordination with the relevant authorities to overcome any challenges.
g) Coordinating with all government agencies that provide health services on the establishment of hospitals and specialized health projects and programs.
h) Studying health regulations and proposing appropriate amendments and developments.
i) Forming specialized committees at the Secretariat of the Council or in specific regions to aid the Council in the fulfillment of its duties, specifying their functions, setting rules governing their operation, and defining the rights and responsibilities of their members.
j) Issuing the necessary regulatory, administrative, and financial charters (in coordination with the Ministry of Finance) and adopting the organizational structure of the Secretariat of the Council (in coordination with the Secretariat of the Higher Committee for Administrative Organization).
