In simple terms, each hospital or health facility will need to:
- Track patient complaints — especially complaints from people who cannot easily find clinics, departments or other services.
- Identify commonly asked locations — staff should note which places patients and visitors most often ask about, showing where signs may still be unclear or missing.
- Collect staff feedback — reception, security and public relations employees can report where patients regularly become confused or need directions.
- Check appointment delays — the facility should look at whether patients are arriving late to appointments because they had difficulty finding the correct location inside the facility.
The Ministry of Health is introducing a unified system for directional signs in hospitals and specialized centers to make it easier for patients, visitors and others to find services and move around health facilities.
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health Sheikh Dr Salman Al-Sabah has issued an administrative decision to regulate and standardize directional signs, with the aim of improving access, patient care and safety inside health facilities.
The decision calls for a clear and integrated signage system, including standardized names, organized routes, properly placed signs and the removal of old or conflicting signs. It applies to all Ministry of Health facilities.
The new system will cover hospital entrances, parking areas, corridors, elevators, stairs, reception areas, outpatient clinics, emergency rooms, laboratories, radiology departments, pharmacies, wards and other essential services. Implementation will be overseen by the Engineering and Projects Affairs Sector in coordination with hospital directors and heads of specialized centers.
A working group may include representatives from engineering, public and hotel services, quality and accreditation, public relations, security and safety, professional practice and information systems. Health facilities must submit requests for directional signs to the Engineering and Projects Affairs Sector to ensure they comply with the approved standards.
Each facility must also prepare a plan to improve its directional signs within 60 days of the decision. The plan must assess the existing signs, identify areas where signs are missing or unclear, list old or unapproved signs, set priorities and include an implementation timetable.
Priority will be given to heavily used routes, including parking areas, main entrances, reception areas, corridors, outpatient clinics, emergency rooms, laboratories, radiology, pharmacies and wards. Routes for people with disabilities and the elderly will also receive priority.
The decision bans the use of ordinary printed papers or unsuitable paper signs as directional signs. Temporary signs may be used for maintenance, changes in service locations or operational emergencies, but they must be professionally presented, placed in a suitable holder and normally used for no more than 30 days, unless an extension is approved for justified reasons.
Health facilities must monitor the results of the improvements, including patient complaints, frequently requested locations, feedback from reception, security and public relations staff, and appointment delays caused by difficulty finding services. A progress report covering completed work, remaining stages and obstacles must be submitted within 90 days of the decision. Implementation begins from the date of its issuance.
