Saudi FDA chief highlights Kingdom’s support for medical innovation at Singapore forum

Hisham bin Saad Aljadhey, CEO of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, participated in the 30th annual meeting of the International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF), held in Singapore from September 14 to 18 and chaired by Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority.

Aljadhey, alongside the heads of the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority, discussed ways to understand regulatory differences and promote convergence in medical device regulation during a panel session at the forum.

He explained that Saudi Arabia is developing an integrated system to enable emerging medical technologies by building digital platforms, data governance frameworks, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity standards, as well as regulatory sandboxes and pathways that support innovation and transform medical breakthroughs into safe, effective, and scalable solutions.

Aljadhey noted that the Saudi Food and Drug Authority adopts a proactive approach based on risk assessment, data analysis, and consideration of the product lifecycle, while enhancing pathways for emerging technologies, including innovative medical devices and AI applications.

Strengthening international cooperation in medical device regulation

Aljadhey stressed the importance of global regulatory collaboration to support innovation and ensure safety and efficacy standards. He emphasized that the IMDRF serves as a key platform for sharing best practices, developing joint regulatory frameworks, and clarifying requirements for innovators, which helps reduce regulatory duplication and protect communities.

The International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF) is one of the leading global platforms focused on regulatory convergence in the medical device sector, bringing together regulators twice a year to exchange expertise and develop regulatory guidelines.