
Smart medical wristband launched to monitor field officers' health during Hajj
Saudi Gazette report MAKKAH — For the first time during the Hajj season, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior has introduced a smart medical wristband powered by artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT) technology to enhance the health and safety of security personnel serving pilgrims in the field. The wearable device continuously monitors the vital signs of officers deployed across the holy sites and sends real-time alerts to the Command and Control Center at the Security Forces Hospital in Makkah. In advanced or emergency cases, medical intervention is immediately dispatched. The Command and Control Center is equipped with electronic screens directly connected to the wristbands. A specialized medical team monitors the incoming data, classifies cases by urgency, and generates heatmaps to track health risks among personnel. The system enables proactive medical response based on real-time health indicators. The wristband is also capable of sending SOS alerts directly to the center, facilitating instant communication between the medical team and the officer, and allowing field units to provide immediate assistance. The system is fully compliant with national cybersecurity standards and data privacy regulations established by the National Cybersecurity Authority and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA).

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Leaders
2 days ago
- Leaders
Health Ministry Unveils 'Biotech Accelerator' to Drive Innovation at BIO 2025
Vice Minister of Health for Planning and Development, Abdulaziz Al-Rumaih, announced at the 2025 BIO International Convention in Boston, USA, the launch of the Ministry of Health's new 'Biotech Accelerator' program for biotechnology startups. This initiative, developed in partnership with BioLabs, is designed to stimulate innovation, enhance international collaboration, and empower Saudi biotech companies to elevate healthcare services. This pioneering program—the first of its kind in the Kingdom and the first BioLabs partnership in the Middle East—supports the objectives of both the Health Sector Transformation Program and the National Biotechnology Strategy, key pillars of Saudi Vision 2030. These initiatives seek to cultivate a thriving society and dynamic economy while positioning Saudi Arabia as a global leader in health innovation. Running over seven months, the Biotech Accelerator will provide startups with comprehensive training, structured support tracks, and access to cutting-edge research laboratories. Related Topics : SFDA Boosts Cooperation with European Institute of Innovation and Technology Health Minister Inspects Arafat Field Hospital Ahead of Hajj Rituals Stride into Health: Saudi Launches 'Walk 30' Public Fitness Drive Makkah Municipality Issues Health Certificate Guidelines for Hajj Season 1446 Short link : Post Views: 5 Related Stories


Saudi Gazette
2 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
AI-powered system to monitor emergency lane violations in real time
Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — King Abdulaziz University has completed an innovative research project that uses AI to monitor violations of emergency lanes on highways in real time. The system uses the 'Raspberry Pi' device, which employs advanced computer vision techniques. The project utilizes the 'YOLO' algorithm to detect vehicles encroaching on designated emergency lanes, with the model trained on a customized dataset of images. It is a low-cost, highly efficient solution ideal for integration into smart city infrastructure, traffic management agencies, and government authorities. By supporting unobstructed emergency lanes, the project aims to improve response times during emergencies and ultimately save lives.


Saudi Gazette
3 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
SFDA suspends medical device imports from erring international firm
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has suspended imports from an international medical device and supplies factory, as part of its ongoing regulatory efforts to verify the safety of products under its supervision circulating in the Saudi market. This import suspension decision followed an SFDA inspection tour that uncovered serious violations, according to a press statement from the authority on Thursday. These issues primarily centered on the factory's quality management system, manufacturing processes, factory work environment and deficiencies that could potentially lead to the contamination of medical devices. Violations related to quality management systems accounted for approximately 10 percent of all recorded violations at medical device factories in 2024. Meanwhile, violations concerning manufacturing processes and the work environment represented a significant 49 percent of the total. According to the statement, this action is one of several measures the SFDA takes when serious violations are found during inspections of facilities exporting medical devices to Saudi Arabia. The import suspension rate reached approximately 30 percent of all factories inspected in 2024. The factory is also registered with several international regulatory authorities, including the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Union, and its products are marketed globally. This demonstrates the efficiency and precision of the SFDA's regulatory system, highlighting its strong capabilities in detecting significant violations and implementing necessary measures based on an inspection methodology that aligns with international best practices. The SFDA is committed to rigorous oversight of the imported medical device sector, ensuring that all products in circulation are safe and effective to protect public health and prevent the distribution of potentially harmful devices. It reaffirmed its dedication to implementing all necessary measures to uphold safety and quality standards in this vital sector.