Justice Ministry Launches Head Office To Enhance Medical Malpractice Claims Resolution In Saudi Arabia

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has launched the main office for medical malpractice claims judicial panels at the Riyadh General Court. This initiative includes eight first-instance panels and two appellate panels, all operating under a unified standard identity and a new operational model for courts.

These specialized panels aim to expedite the resolution of medical disputes, saving litigants time and effort by operating electronically. They are tasked with handling all medical malpractice cases across the Kingdom and feature a dedicated section for medical experts.

This section collaborates with the Ministry of Health to supply the necessary medical expertise to the judicial panels. Earlier, the jurisdiction of medical-legal commissions was transferred from the Ministry of Health to the general judiciary.

In preparation for this transition, judges and their assistants received training to ensure competence, scholarly qualifications, and practical experience, thereby enhancing the quality of judicial outcomes. The MoJ also offers interpreting services for remote sessions catering to non-Arabic speakers through the ministry's Unified Translation Center.

Additionally, it collaborates with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties via the Khibrah platform to secure expert consultations for medical malpractice cases. The Ministry of Justice has also activated the conciliation center's activities related to medical malpractice cases.

In addition, it has enabled the "Najiz Government" account for the Ministry of Health and its branches to facilitate the filing of public interest cases. Notably, the medical malpractice claims panels at the Riyadh General Court processed over 10,000 cases during the transition of jurisdiction from health authorities to the judiciary.

This milestone underscores the effectiveness of the new judicial framework in addressing medical malpractice claims.

With inputs from SPA