QCC Sets Up Laboratory to Vet Accuracy of Medical Measuring Devices

• Strengthens Collaboration with HAAD to Step-up Monitoring of Medical and Laboratory Measuring Devices across Abu Dhabi’s Medical Facilities
• EMI Experts Train HAAD Auditors on Monitoring Mechanism

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 15 June, 2015 – Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC), the entity responsible for developing the Quality infrastructure and raising awareness on quality standards in Abu Dhabi, has launched a new laboratory to verify the accuracy of medical measuring devices in the emirate. The laboratory will support the quality of medical devices sold in the markets, used at medical facilities, and imported to the emirate.

The laboratory has been established as part of QCC’s priority to advance the accuracy of medical measuring instruments traded in Abu Dhabi markets including blood pressure monitoring devices, medical syringes, and thermometers. As part of this initiative, QCC will ensure that the readings of these devices meet the regulatory and technical requirements set by Emirates Authority for Standardization & Metrology (ESMA).

Mohamed Helal Al Balooshi, Director of Marketing and Communications at QCC, said: "The launch of our new lab and its services comes in line with QCC’s objectives to improve the quality and efficiency of services provided in the emirate and enhance quality infrastructure in Abu Dhabi. At QCC, we seek to achieve this goal through supporting our stakeholders and empowering them to fulfil the regulatory and technical requirements set by the Abu Dhabi Government. We are confident that the laboratory will contribute to the improvement of technical services provided in the medical sector, while elevating the overall safety standards for the well-being of society."

Al Balooshi added: "We are working towards ensuring the continued conformity of products traded in Abu Dhabi to the highest international safety regulations, while improving performance efficiency. All products that meet the stipulated safety requirements will be validated through the promotion of QCC’s trust mark."

To ensure the conformity, QCC has formed a technical committee that comprises representatives from HAAD. The committee is tasked with unifying the efforts of all relevant parties involved in medical and laboratory measuring devices. Additionally, QCC has inked a cooperation agreement with the Abu Dhabi Customs Administration under the Department of Finance. Activated during 2015, the agreement aims to control and monitor all medical measuring instruments imported to Abu Dhabi via its borders.

QCC has conducted a workshop in collaboration with HAAD to introduce medical facilities across the emirate to ESMA requirements and legislations regarding medical laboratory measuring devices. The Council has also developed and adopted a list that outlines the auditing mechanisms approved for such devices. Furthermore, QCC collaborated with leading experts from the Emirates Metrology Institute (EMI) on May 17 and 18 to train HAAD auditors on monitoring mechanisms and achieve the objectives of its medical devices measuring scheme.

The Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council was established in 2009 to raise the quality of Abu Dhabi’s exports and products traded locally. QCC sets guidelines and benchmarks to identify and verify that products manufactured and traded in the emirate conform to the highest quality standards. In addition to protecting the interests of Abu Dhabi’s consumers, QCC is mandated to support its competitive economy and integration into the global marketplace. This is achieved through enabling regulators to establish and implement product safety, legal metrology and conformity schemes.