Saudi Arabia issues warning over fake sick leave, announces $26,670 fine and jail for violators

SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health has declared fake sick leave reports as a criminal offence punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of SR100,000 ($26,600).

The crackdown comes amid a rise in social media accounts promoting unauthorized medical leave services. The ministry urged the public to avoid such platforms, emphasizing that only the Sehhaty platform is authorized to issue official sick leave reports.
To combat abuse, health authorities have rolled out a digital monitoring system that cross-checks medical leave reports against patients’ health records in real time. The move aims to prevent fraudulent claims and reinforce compliance across the healthcare sector.
The ministry also warned doctors and healthcare professionals that those who issue unjustified sick leave certificates could face legal and disciplinary action.