Riyadh chemical factory fined, shut

(MENAFN-Arab News) The Ministry of Health slapped a ban and imposed a fine of SR100,000 on a factory producing pharmaceuticals, detergents and disinfectants for not complying with health regulations. According to a senior official of the MoH, the Riyadh-based factory committed a number of violations, including establishing the facility without a license, commissioning production and distributing pharmaceutical products without the approval of Saudi Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) and not obtaining a proper license for the plant’s operation.An official from the ministry said the factory would remain closed for 60 days and the facility would be allowed to reopen following remedial measures taken in accordance with Saudi health regulations.In a related development, the ministry closed a pharmacy and imposed a fine of SR50,000 for various violations.The department of private sector facilities at the MoH ordered the closure of these facilities based on reports submitted by a field inspection team of the Directorate General of Health Affairs in the respective regions.The official said the team conducts regular inspection of private facilities in the region to check the quality of services offered in ambulance services, operation theaters and the professional suitability of medics and paramedics employed by these health institutions.The MoH closed 42 clinics for 356 health violations during the month of Safar.Ali Az-Zawawi, undersecretary to private sector facilities at the ministry, said that health personnel committed 86 violations during that period.He said that his department oversees 130 hospitals, 2,000 polyclinics and 7,000 pharmacies throughout the Kingdom. “There are around 98,000 health personnel working in these private sector facilities,” he noted. He said the ministry had taken punitive measures against these medical establishments for several reasons including working without licenses, operating with expired licenses, lack of trained medical staff and absence of proper facilities.The closure of some of these medical facilities is temporary and they can be reopened once the irregularities are rectified, he added.