Latest Policy Changes in Saudi Arabia with ArabSafe Efforts
The Saudi Medical Council approved the SFDA's National DRL
January 2020
The Saudi Medical Council announces the importance of establishing diagnostic reference levels in all hospitals through 8 actions :
1. Obligating healthcare facilities to measure patient exposure doses and apply the National DRL to all adult CT scans.
2. Ensure coordination and follow up with the SFDA to benchmark with findings of the National Radiation Safety Committee.
3. Setting reference levels for all age groups in the periodic review.
4. Emphasizing the necessity to adhere to Article 15 of the national requirements for medical devices and products issued by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority.
5. Continuing efforts by the SFDA to study the suitability and effectiveness of applying the national dose level in terms of diagnostic image quality, reducing radiation doses, and protecting patients from unjustified doses.
6. The National Committee should continue to establish the national diagnostic reference levels for children in CT and that for all other imaging systems, such as mammography, general radiology, and interventional radiology.
7. Determine guidance to unify imaging protocols for a CT scan for each health facility in the Kingdom.
8. Evaluating healthcare facilities in the Kingdom by studying and reviewing the national dose for all imaging systems available annually and sharing the results of patient exposure doses with the SFDA.
The Saudi Food & Drug Authority establishes National DRLs for adult CT examinations.
The Saudi Food & Drug Authority requires that all Diagnostic Imaging facilities apply for a license within the coming 6 months to allow them to practice and expose patients to radiation.
Eurosafe Imaging at RSSA 2019
Eurosafe Imaging participated at the 12th Radiological Society of Saudi Arabia meeting in Jeddah Saudi Arabia to support ArabSafe and encourage the Arab world to promote a safer diagnostic imaging practice. The esteemed Professor Guy Frija presented two interesting talks:
1. Eurosafe Imaging: About 6 Achievements
2. Artificial Intelligence as a tool for quality and safety improvement.
ArabSafe at RSSA 2019
Professor Boujema Mansouri, Secretary-General of ArabSafe shared the initiation and updates on the ArabSafe campaign.
Dr. Eng. Sarah K Hagi Albahiti gave a talk titled Medical Imaging Ready for a makeover.
The Saudi Food & Drug Authority initiated a nation wide project and appointed a task-force that includes members from different hospital in addition to ArabSafe to establish the first National DRL in Saudi Arabia. Results from that work was shared during the conference.
ArabSafe at ECR 2019
ArabSafe-Initiation of Mammography DRLs in Saudi Arabia by Dr Sarah Hagi Albahiti and Dr Mawya Khafaji.
ArabSafe at the SFDA
SFDA Annual Conference Riyadh Saudi Arabia (November 7-9, 2017)- Global and regional Initiatives in medical devices regulation
Eng. Ali Aldalaan. SFDA Initiative: DRL Study
Dr.Sarah Hagi Albahiti. ArabSafe: Promoting Radiation Safety in the Arab World.
ArabSafe at the Saudi Patient Safety Center
Initiation of a Radiation Safety Program
Several projects will take place under the Saudi Patient Safety Center to promote the adherence to the Bonn Call for Action in Saudi Arabia to impact the current practice and ensure the highest standards for patient safety are being followed in imaging facilities.
This will include creating and promoting the use of the 5 questions and 5 steps for your safety in diagnostic imaging.
