Saudi drugs watchdog boosts domestic and international collaborations

RIYADH: Officials from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority are this week participating in a second event in the space of two weeks at which they will work to enhance local and international collaborations in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors.

The authority signed a memorandum of understanding with King Abdulaziz University on the opening day of the Global Health Exhibition 2024 in Riyadh, which began on Monday and continues until Wednesday.

The agreement, signed by the authority’s CEO, Hisham Aljadhey, and the university’s president, Tareef Alaama, is designed to encourage collaboration in rehabilitation services, training, consulting, studies and research, officials said. Key areas for cooperation include the designation of university labs as reference laboratories, the development of educational programs about legislation related to medical devices, and the use of artificial intelligence in the pharmaceutical industry.

The aim is to advance innovation in healthcare in the Kingdom while improving levels of medical and regulatory expertise, the agency said. It added that both organizations want to help build a healthier future for the Kingdom through empowerment of young people by providing training and jobs in the medical field.

Aljadhey also led a delegation from the Kingdom at the 19th annual meeting of the International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities in New Delhi last week. The five-day event was hosted by the Indian government in collaboration with the World Health Organization.

“The international presence of member states is a testament to the shared goals we seek to achieve in ensuring the safety, efficacy and quality of medical products worldwide,” Aljadhey said.

Emphasizing the importance of international cooperation, he added that he is confident collective efforts will help to develop innovative solutions and strengthen regulatory frameworks in the sector, thereby enhancing global healthcare outcomes.