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In a milestone achievement that reflects the evolution of regulatory frameworks and the strategic integration between the aviation and healthcare sectors, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announced that it has granted King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre the Dangerous Goods Preparation Certificate (DGPC). With this, the hospital becomes the first in the Kingdom to be officially licensed to prepare and transport radiopharmaceuticals by air, supported by its specialized facilities for producing radiopharmaceuticals in accordance with the highest approved standards.

The certificate was issued in accordance with the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (Part 109), following the hospital's successful fulfilment of all global technical and logistical requirements. This ensures the highest levels of safety and compliance with both local and international regulations governing the transport of such sensitive materials.

This license carries significant importance due to the nature of radiopharmaceuticals used in nuclear medicine and PET imaging departments. The initiative aims to achieve several goals, including overcoming time constraints by accelerating the air transport of radiopharmaceuticals from Riyadh to various regions of the Kingdom, given their limited shelf life (due to short radioactive half‑life). This ensures timely delivery to patients, supports the nuclear medicine ecosystem by meeting the growing needs of hospitals across the Kingdom, and guarantees continuity of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic services with the highest efficiency. It also enhances the healthcare system by reducing reliance on long-distance land transport and increasing the use of air networks to ensure the quality and effectiveness of these vital medical materials.

Captain Suliman bin Saleh Al‑Muhaimeedi, Executive Vice President for Aviation Safety and Environmental Sustainability, affirmed that the issuance of this license reflects the Authority’s commitment to enabling national institutions by providing a regulatory and legislative environment that supports the safe transport of hazardous and medical materials in line with global safety standards. He noted that this collaboration with King Faisal Specialist Hospital represents a model of integrated efforts that contribute to the realisation of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives in both the healthcare and logistics sectors.

For her part, Dr. Jackie Ying, Executive Director of Research and Innovation at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, stated that obtaining this license underscores the hospital’s readiness and its technical and human capabilities to handle highly sensitive medical substances. She highlighted that the Cyclotron and Radiopharmaceuticals Department has produced more than thirty radiopharmaceutical products and delivered over 800,000 doses to date.