Riyadh (UNA) - The Food and Drug Authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has clarified that there are controls and conditions related to imported products, including medicines, devices and medical supplies that are in the possession of the pilgrims affairs offices or the official government agencies coming to the Kingdom for the use of patients belonging to the mission.
The authority indicated that it must be committed to supplying medicines, medical devices and supplies through approved air ports (King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, and Prince Muhammad bin Abdulaziz Airport in Madinah) during the period from (15) Shawwal to (30) Dhu al-Qi’dah, and it will not be carried out. Agree to clear what is contained other than this period.
The official documents and data related to medicines, devices and medical supplies must also be submitted to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah via the electronic track (medical supplies request) before the arrival of the shipment by a period of not less than fifteen (15) days.
The authority said that one of the most important conditions that all Hajj affairs offices must comply with is to export the remaining quantities of medicines and medical supplies upon the mission’s departure from the Kingdom, according to a customs declaration, and it is not allowed to distribute excess or remaining quantities of medicines, devices and medical supplies to any party, It is also not allowed to keep them in residential premises after the end of the Hajj season, and it is necessary to re-export them so that they are not exposed to damage.
The conditions and requirements do not allow the supply of radiology devices or medical devices and supplies that contain radioactive materials, or medicines and pharmaceuticals containing materials that fall within the prohibited lists locally and internationally. The “System” has the right to reject any product or quantity that it deems to be more than the mission’s need. The Hajj Affairs Office is to estimate the annual consumption based on what was consumed during the previous years and not to supply large quantities that exceed the need. It is also forbidden for the Hajj Affairs offices to supply foodstuffs for the purpose of subsistence. Rather, the subsistence contractors are responsible for providing them.
With regard to the conditions and controls for products such as medicines, pharmaceuticals, or medical devices and supplies that are included with the doctors accompanying the Hajj campaigns coming through the air, sea, or land ports for emergency use by pilgrims during the period of movement to the holy sites and the impediments to the supply of foodstuffs, they must be for emergency cases only and in quantities that cover The need of the campaign personnel accompanying the doctor for their personal use during the trip and moving to the residential headquarters or holy sites and until they are associated with the Office of Pilgrims Affairs later.
It is prohibited to supply narcotic or controlled drugs with a doctor for the use of pilgrims during the period of movement to reach the holy sites, and it is prohibited to supply products that contain materials that fall within the lists of prohibited locally and internationally, and it is not allowed to supply radiology devices or medical devices and supplies that contain radioactive materials, and it is also prohibited to supply foodstuffs For Hajj campaigns and offices, there is no need to transport them with the doctor accompanying the campaign. Medicines and medical supplies must be under the responsibility of the doctor accompanying the campaign, and he must re-export the remaining quantities of them upon leaving the Kingdom.
It is noteworthy that the “authority” requires the availability of documents from the doctor accompanying the campaign to approve the clearance, including a letter from the Ministry of Health to which the doctor accompanying the campaign belongs, stating that he is assigned to accompany the campaign to provide emergency treatment services, or to attach medical prescriptions that explain the need of the accompanying patients, and that they are not disbursed except to pilgrims. The campaign only, and re-export the rest of it upon leaving the Kingdom.
(is over)
