Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH – The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and the National Committee for Combating Drugs have signed a memorandum of cooperation aiming to monitor sale of addictive drugs and carry out awareness campaigns and programs on their safe use, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported Friday.

During the signing of the memorandum of cooperation in Riyadh, the SFDA was represented by its CEO Dr. Hisham Bin Saad Al-Jadh’i while the National Committee for Combating Drugs was represented by its Secretary General Maj. Gen. Khalifa Bin Ali Al-Khalifa.

According to the agreement, the fields of cooperation include monitoring the dispensing of medicines with an addictive dimension so as to tighten control on them, exchange of statistical data related to the fields of addiction and restricted medicines with an addiction dimension; coordination, planning and jointly carrying out of awareness campaigns and programs on the safe use of such medications and the harms of their abuse.

The agreement includes cooperation in supporting related joint research and studies including research on the magnitude of the problem of misuse of restricted medicines and exchange of scientific consultations to meet each party’s needs.

The SFDA and the National Committee for Combating Drugs will participate in exhibitions, conferences and workshops that will be organized by the two parties jointly.