The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has been working tirelessly in solving problems pertaining to medical appliances for the safety of patients and medical staff.

The National Center for Medical Devices Reporting (NCMDR), an arm of the SFDA, received 642 complaints about malfunctioning of medical devices between 2008 and end-March 2015. The center inspected the devices and took necessary steps to ensure safety of patients and professionals.

The NCMDR receives reports on medical products and devices that pose a threat to patients and professionals. Majority of these reports were submitted by firms (556), while those reported by health care providers were 59, citizens (16), and the center’s team (11).

According to a statement issued by the SFDA recently, reports submitted to it from inside the Kingdom stood at 178, against 464 filed from outside.

To ensure the safety of users, the center collaborates with specialized agencies in other countries to exchange warnings and reports on field safety, which is affiliated with the International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF).

The forum members include the US, Canada, Japan, Australia, EU, China and Brazil. The center is also a member of the group to exchange warnings and reports on medical devices which is affiliated with the Asian Harmonization Working Party, comprising 23 member states.

The NCMDR works toward enhancing the protection, health and safety of patients and users, exchanging information on accidents of medical devices to limit recurrence as much as possible, encouraging manufacturers and health care providers to become familiar with the problems involving medical devices and products, and to take necessary measures.