These investigations uncovered serious violations of occupational and environmental safety standards, laboratory operation regulations, and rules governing the dispensing of medicines and health-related advertising, hence, the need to take firm action within the legal framework.

The ministry indicated that the findings of the joint inspection committee revealed grave breaches of laboratory safety protocols, pharmaceutical oversight, and environmental compliance standards. These violations were classified into five categories: breaches directly impacting patient safety, major technical and operational violations within the laboratory, environmental violations concerning safety and security requirements, pharmaceutical and regulatory infractions, and a complaint related to patient rights.

The ministry announced a series of measures, specifically the closure of the laboratory at the branch of the center in Hawally, immediate suspension of equipment and destruction of expired materials, dismissal of laboratory technicians found to have committed serious violations, and imposition of financial penalties exceeding KD12,000. These sanctions include fines imposed on the medical director, several physicians, and laboratory technicians. Official warnings were also issued to healthcare personnel, the laboratory supervisor and a number of technicians. The ministry added that the committee’s work brought to light significant violations. It affirmed its continuous oversight of the private healthcare sector through routine and surprise inspections, while emphasizing the need to enforce the law on all parties.

This approach reinforces the principle of justice and ensures the protection of public health, environmental safety, and the quality and integrity of medical practice. In other developments, Al-Awadhi issued several decisions appointing administrative officials in the service, financial and health sectors. These appointments, aimed at enhancing performance quality and aligning with current operational requirements, are in line with the vision of the ministry to modernize the work environment, strengthen leadership competencies, and empower national talents to assume key positions that contribute to higher efficiency, improved interdepartmental coordination, and the promotion of a culture of accountability and professionalism throughout the ministry.

The decisions included the appointment of Dr. Mona Abdul Samad as Director of the Citizen Service Department, Dr. Waleed Al-Basiri as Director of the Department of Persons with Disabilities Affairs, Dr. Afrah Al-Sarraf as Director of the Healthy Cities Department, Mughair Munawer Faisal as Director of Financial Accounting at the General Directorate of Financial Affairs, Aisha Al-Sharrah as Director of the Stores Department, and Abdulaziz Al-Hadheen as Director of the Budget and Control Department.