SFDA CEO Launches “RASID” Smart Service for Verifying Controlled Medications Carried by Visitors to Saudi Arabia

The CEO of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), H.E. Dr. Hisham S. Aljadhey, launched the Regulatory AI System for Incoming Drugs (RASID) smart service, which utilizes artificial intelligence technologies to regulate and control the entry of controlled medications carried by travelers. The launch took place during the Global Health Exhibition, held from October 27 to 30 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center in Malham.

This pioneering service was developed by Saudi nationals at the SFDA Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (SAIL), representing a qualitative shift from traditional monitoring to proactive, data-driven protection.

The service aims to facilitate the monitoring of controlled medications carried by travelers. It also aims to address previous challenges such as slow procedures, the multilingual nature of medications, and the difficulty of reading handwritten prescriptions, thereby improving the experience of visitors to Saudi Arabia.

RASID automates the process of matching the components of controlled medications with the patient's condition (via medical report) or the permitted dosage (via prescription). It supports more than 50 different languages to complete the matching process with high accuracy and speed.

RASID is one of the most prominent outputs of the SAIL, which the Authority launched last February. SAIL is a dedicated platform for developing and adopting AI-based technological solutions, fostering innovation, and improving the efficiency of the SFDA's regulatory and operational processes. This initiative contributes to expanding partnerships with government entities and specialized technology companies to exchange knowledge and develop capabilities, aligning with the objectives of the Health Sector Transformation Program, a key initiative of Saudi Vision 2030.