The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have launched a global awareness campaign titled ‘Safe Medicines, Safe Hajj Journey’ to promote medication safety and public health during the Hajj season across the 57 OIC Member States.
The Safe Medicines, Safe Hajj initiative, announced ahead of the annual pilgrimage, aims to strengthen medication awareness and enhance health security for millions of pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj.
The Safe Medicines, Safe Hajj focuses on safe access to medicines, proper handling of medical products, and streamlined procedures for controlled medications.
SFDA CEO HE Dr. Hisham S. Aljadhey stressed the importance of raising awareness and expanding community engagement while ensuring safe and seamless access to medicines and medical devices during Hajj. He also highlighted the significance of cooperation with the OIC to strengthen collaboration, align visions, and support capacity building for sustainable regional and global impact.
The Safe Medicines, Safe Hajj campaign is being rolled out across multilingual digital platforms and is built on three key pillars to support a safe Hajj experience. The first pillar focuses on medication integrity by educating pilgrims on protecting medicines from environmental factors and maintaining treatment efficacy during travel.
The Safe Medicines, Safe Hajj initiative also provides guidance on a standardized ‘Pilgrim Medical Kit’ and facilitates the clearance process for controlled medicines through the Electronic System for Drug Control to ensure a transparent and hassle-free arrival process for pilgrims.
HE Hissein Brahim Taha Secretary-General – OIC
“The OIC General Secretariat is proud to partner with the SFDA to deliver this essential mission. By uniting the voices of 57 Member States, we are fostering a spirit of solidarity that ensures the health and safety of the Ummah remains our highest priority during this sacred journey.”
The collaboration marks a significant step in implementing the Riyadh Declaration by strengthening coordination among National Medicines Regulatory Authorities (NMRAs) across OIC Member States.
The SFDA and OIC said the partnership aims to establish a sustainable framework for health security that will support future cross-border health initiatives in addition to enhancing safety measures during Hajj.
