Saudi Arabia Joins WHO’s Global Drug Safety Hub

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has signed a landmark agreement with Sweden’s Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC), connecting Saudi Arabia’s national pharmacovigilance database to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global Individual Case Safety Reports (ICSR) system- the central worldwide hub for monitoring adverse drug reactions.​

This integration was formalized during an official visit by H.E. Mr. Fahad bin Abdulrahman AlJalajel, Minister of Health and SFDA Board Chairman, along with his delegation. The connection provides Saudi Arabia with earlier detection of potential drug safety signals, improving regulatory decisions and elevating the national system’s performance to international standards.​

By linking to WHO’s platform, SFDA enhances its ability to monitor drug safety in real-time, aligning with global best practices. This step strengthens collaboration with international partners, ensuring safer, higher-quality medicines reach patients while protecting public health.​

The agreement positions Saudi Arabia as a key global partner in drug safety, supporting WHO’s efforts and demonstrating commitment to patient protection through advanced pharmacovigilance.

Learn more: SFDA Connects National Pharmacovigilance Database to WHO Global Platform, Strengthening Drug Safety