SAFE PRACTICE GUIDELINES & STANDARDS

1️⃣ Patient Safety & Clinical Governance

Overview

Patient safety frameworks and clinical governance systems ensure high-quality care delivery through standardized protocols, incident reporting, quality improvement, and risk management strategies.

Organization / Guideline	Focus Area / Key Notes
Ministry of Health (MOH) – Rules and Regulations Visit Website	The Ministry of Health (MOH) Rules and Regulations provide the official regulatory framework governing healthcare practice in Saudi Arabia, including professional standards, licensing requirements, patient rights, and institutional compliance obligations. Healthcare Laws and Executive Regulations Professional Licensing and Practice Standards Patient Rights and Responsibilities Policy Private and Public Healthcare Facility Governance
The Saudi Central Board for Accreditation of Healthcare Institutions (CBAHI) Visit Website	CBAHI establishes national accreditation standards to ensure quality, safety, and continuous improvement across healthcare facilities in Saudi Arabia, aligning institutions with internationally recognized patient safety and performance standards. National Healthcare Accreditation Standards Hospital and Day Surgery Center Accreditation Patient Safety and Risk Management Requirements Quality Improvement and Compliance Monitoring
American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) – Patient Safety Visit Website	The ASPS patient safety content emphasizes the importance of making informed choices about plastic surgery and selecting a board-certified plastic surgeon, as well as understanding risks and facility accreditation standards. ASPS Member Surgeon Qualifications Accredited Facilities Requirement Preoperative Health and Safety Guidance Patient Safety Resources for Clinicians
Joint Commission International (JCI) Visit Website	International hospital accreditation, clinical governance frameworks, quality and patient safety standards Hospital accreditation standards International Patient Safety Goals (IPSG) Quality improvement and patient safety programs Clinical care certification programs

2️⃣ Infection Prevention & Control

Overview

Infection prevention and control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections through standard precautions, hand hygiene, sterilization protocols, and antimicrobial stewardship.

Organization / Guideline	Focus Area / Key Notes
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Visit Website	Standard precautions guidelines, hand hygiene protocols, sterilization standards, PPE guidelines Guideline for Isolation Precautions Hand Hygiene Guidelines for Healthcare Settings Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC)
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) Visit Website	Infection control strategies, antimicrobial stewardship programs, surveillance systems, outbreak management European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (EARS-Net) Healthcare-associated infections surveillance Infection prevention and control assessment framework Seasonal influenza vaccination guidance
WHO – Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) Guidelines Visit Website	Healthcare-associated infection prevention, global IPC standards, outbreak response protocols Minimum requirements for infection prevention and control IPC implementation at national and facility level Core components of IPC programs Guidelines for surgical site infection prevention

3️⃣ Surgical & Procedural Safety

Overview

Standards and checklists for safe surgical and procedural practices including preoperative verification, intraoperative safety measures, and postoperative care protocols.

Organization / Guideline	Focus Area / Key Notes
WHO – Surgical Safety Checklist Visit Website	Preoperative verification protocols, surgical site marking, time-out procedures, postoperative debriefing Implementation manual and toolkit Modified checklists for different settings Team training resources Monitoring and evaluation tools
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Visit Website	Anesthesia safety standards, perioperative monitoring, patient assessment guidelines Basic Anesthetic Monitoring Standards Practice guidelines for preoperative fasting Anesthesia machine checklist Difficult airway management algorithms
International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) Visit Website	Cosmetic surgery safety protocols, patient selection criteria, postoperative care standards Global aesthetic surgery safety initiatives Patient safety education programs Practice advisory on patient safety Complication management guidelines

4️⃣ Medication & Therapy Safety

Overview

Comprehensive guidelines for safe medication practices including prescribing, dispensing, administration, monitoring, and adverse event reporting systems.

Organization / Guideline	Focus Area / Key Notes
Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) Visit Website	The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) regulates and oversees the safety, quality, and effectiveness of food, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and cosmetics in Saudi Arabia. It sets regulatory standards and enforces compliance to ensure public health protection. Food Safety Standards and Enforcement Pharmaceutical Regulation and Licensing Medical Device Approval and Oversight Public Health Risk Monitoring and Alerts
ISMP – Medication Safety Visit Website	Medication safety alerts, error prevention strategies, high-risk medication protocols Medication Safety Alert! newsletters Guidelines for safe use of high-alert medications Error reporting and learning systems Medication safety self-assessment tools
FDA (US Food & Drug Administration) Visit Website	Drug safety monitoring, adverse event reporting systems, medication risk evaluation FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) Medication Guides for patients Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) Drug safety communications and alerts