Emergency Medical Treatment Rights in Saudi Arabia
Reviewed by the Commoner Law Editorial Team. Sourced from Saudi royal decrees, regulations, and ministerial decisions. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
Everyone in Saudi Arabia has the right to emergency medical care — no hospital can turn you away regardless of insurance, nationality, or visa status:
- No refusal: Hospitals and emergency rooms cannot refuse emergency treatment based on insurance status, nationality, documentation, or ability to pay.
- Stabilisation first: Emergency departments must stabilise the patient before any discussion of payment or insurance verification.
- Government hospitals: MOH public hospitals provide emergency care to all residents, including uninsured expatriates and undocumented individuals.
- Private hospitals: Private emergency rooms must also treat emergencies first — the insurer or patient is billed afterward through NPHIES.
- Emergency numbers: Call 911 for all emergencies (police, ambulance, fire). The Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA) ambulance service can also be reached at 997.
- 937 hotline: The MOH 937 hotline provides medical advice, appointment scheduling, and can direct you to the nearest appropriate facility.
Medical professionals who refuse emergency treatment face disciplinary action, licence suspension, and potential criminal liability.
When does it apply?
- You are experiencing a medical emergency — heart attack, severe injury, stroke, or any life-threatening condition.
- A hospital is refusing to treat you because of insurance, documentation, or payment issues.
- You need ambulance transport to a hospital.
What to Do If a Hospital in Saudi Arabia Refuses to Treat Your Emergency
- Call 911 for all emergencies — this is the unified emergency number that dispatches police, ambulance, and fire services.
- Go to the nearest emergency room — they must treat you. Government hospitals are available in every major city and most towns.
- If a hospital refuses emergency treatment, call the MOH 937 hotline immediately — they can intervene in real time and escalate the complaint.
- Keep all medical records and bills — you will need them for insurance claims through NPHIES or for filing complaints.
What should you NOT do?
- Do not delay seeking emergency care because of insurance concerns — treatment cannot be refused and billing is handled after stabilisation.
- Do not leave the hospital against medical advice if you are in serious condition.
- Do not accept being turned away from any emergency room — report refusals to 937 immediately.
Common Questions
When does it apply — emergency medical treatment rights?
You are experiencing a medical emergency — heart attack, severe injury, stroke, or any life-threatening condition.A hospital is refusing to treat you because of insurance, documentation, or payment issues.You need ambulance transport to a hospital.
What should I do if a hospital in Saudi Arabia turned me away during a medical emergency?
Call 911 for all emergencies — this is the unified emergency number that dispatches police, ambulance, and fire services.Go to the nearest emergency room — they must treat you. Government hospitals are available in every major city and most towns.If a hospital refuses emergency treatment, call the MOH 937 hotline immediately — they can intervene in real time and escalate the complaint.Keep all medical records and bills — you will need them for insurance claims through NPHIES or for filing complaints.
What should you NOT do — emergency medical treatment rights?
Do not delay seeking emergency care because of insurance concerns — treatment cannot be refused and billing is handled after stabilisation.Do not leave the hospital against medical advice if you are in serious condition.Do not accept being turned away from any emergency room — report refusals to 937 immediately.