Ministry of Health working hours during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr holiday 1446
The Saudi Ministry of Health has officially announced the official working hours for all its health facilities during the holy month of Ramadan, in addition to specifying the dates for the Founder's Day and Eid al-Fitr holidays for all ministry employees. This announcement comes as part of the ministry's commitment to organizing workflow and ensuring the continued provision of high-quality medical services to citizens and residents during the holy month and holiday seasons.
Ramadan working hours details
According to the circular issued, the Ministry has set the daily working hours for categories covered by the Civil Service and Self-Employment Regulations at a single shift. This shift extends for six hours daily, with official working hours beginning at 10:00 AM and ending at 4:00 PM. This reduction in working hours aims to ease the burden on fasting employees and enable them to perform their religious duties, while maintaining the minimum necessary for the operation of administrative tasks and outpatient clinics.
Shift system exceptions to ensure continuous care
In a related context, the Ministry emphasized the exemption of staff working on a shift system from the unified work schedule (single shift). The Ministry stressed the necessity for these employees to adhere to the pre-approved work schedules at hospitals and health centers on duty. This exemption stems from the critical nature of medical work, which cannot tolerate delays, and to ensure the uninterrupted availability of healthcare and emergency services for patients around the clock. This reflects the health sector's commitment to its responsibilities towards the community at all times.
Organizational context and the importance of the decision
Organizing working hours in the healthcare sector during religious and national holidays is a routine annual procedure, yet it plays a crucial role in regulating the pace of healthcare services. Clearly scheduling appointments helps patients plan their medical visits and avoid peak times or unnecessary waiting. Furthermore, considering the spiritual needs of employees during Ramadan fosters a positive work environment, which in turn enhances the quality of service provided to patients.
Details of the Eid al-Fitr and Founding Day holidays
Regarding official holidays, the Ministry has approved the anniversary of the Founding Day as a paid holiday for all employees, in accordance with the generous royal directives. As for the Eid al-Fitr holiday, the details are as follows:
- For Saudi employees: The holiday begins at the end of the workday on Thursday, the 23rd of Ramadan, and continues until the end of Tuesday, the 5th of Shawwal, giving national staff ample opportunity to celebrate the holiday with their families.
- For non-Saudi staff: The decision stipulates that their vacations will begin on Thursday, the 30th of Ramadan, and will last for four actual working days, in accordance with the regulations and systems in place in the operating contracts.
The ministry concluded its directives by emphasizing to the directors of health facilities the need to schedule vacations in a way that does not disrupt the work, to ensure the smooth flow of services and to meet the needs of patients, especially in the emergency and intensive care departments, which experience a high volume of work during peak seasons.
