Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health has reiterated that sick leave must be issued only following a proper medical assessment, warning that practitioners and healthcare facilities involved in fraudulent or unjustified certificates could face fines, imprisonment and professional sanctions.
The ministry said sick leave is granted in accordance with established regulations and procedures, based on a physician’s assessment of the patient’s medical condition and its impact on their ability to work or perform daily activities. It stressed that leave cannot be issued simply at a patient’s request or preference.
The duration of sick leave must correspond to the patient's diagnosis and actual health needs, within the authority granted to the attending physician and healthcare facility. Requests exceeding a physician’s authorised limits require approval from other physicians, specialised medical committees or relevant medical bodies, in line with approved procedures and timeframes.
The ministry also urged the public to obtain sick leave only through authorised healthcare providers and verify electronically issued certificates through official channels. Patients can access their sick leave records through the Sehhaty application and check their authenticity using the inquiry service on the Seha platform.
It cautioned users against relying solely on document copies or QR codes, which could redirect them to fraudulent websites, and advised checking that they are accessing official platforms and that the certificate details are accurate.
Prohibited practices include issuing sick leave without valid medical justification, altering medical records to support unjustified requests, obtaining certificates through unauthorised individuals or entities, facilitating undeserved benefits and forging medical documents or their contents.
Under Saudi Arabia’s Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions, helping a patient obtain an undeserved or unlawful benefit can attract a fine of up to SR50,000. Violations may also result in the revocation of a healthcare practitioner's licence and removal from the register of licensed practitioners.
The Anti-Forgery Law provides for imprisonment of up to one year and fines of up to SR100,000 for individuals who knowingly forge or issue false medical reports or certificates within their professional authority. Article 23 of the law also extends liability to healthcare facilities involved in forging sick leave certificates.
The ministry said its regulatory oversight includes reviewing medical procedures, conducting field inspections of healthcare facilities, analysing sick leave data and monitoring compliance among healthcare providers and practitioners.
Healthcare professionals are required to conduct proper medical assessments, accurately document patients' conditions and issue leave within their authorised scope and approved duration limits. The ministry said these measures are intended to protect patients' rights, uphold professional integrity and prevent misuse of medical certificates.
It urged the public to report suspected violations through its unified call centre at 937, reaffirming its commitment to monitoring compliance and taking legal action against those responsible.