SFDA hosts first meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines

Riyadh, The Gulf Observer: Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) hosted the first meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines.

The objective of the meeting was to enhance Arab integration in the field of medicines control and legislation and to promote the exchange of expertise and best practices among Arab medicines control bodies and authorities, Saudi News Agency reported.

The meeting discussed topics included the registration procedures for pharmaceutical preparations, monitoring procedures for their safety, efficacy, and quality after marketing, and the role of medicines control laboratories in Arab countries.

SFDA CEO Dr. Hisham bin Saad Aljadhey emphasized that coordination and alignment with legal and regulatory requirements for medicines are key to facilitating the registration and availability of pharmaceutical products and lowering their cost, which in turn promotes access to these products for patients.

During the Kingdom’s presidency of the meeting, Dr. Aljadhey highlighted the importance of Arab integration in the field of medicines and encouraged Arab countries to hold such meetings regularly at the level of Arab bodies and authorities concerned with medicines control and registration, as well as specialized workshops to promote communication and coordination from the supervisory side.

The Technical Committee for Arab Medicines held a meeting on the sidelines of this event to monitor the implementation of Resolution No. (17) issued by the regular session (58) of the Council of Arab Ministers of Health in March 2023.

Representatives from the League of Arab States, Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Tunisia, UAE, and Yemen participated in the meeting.