KFSHRC secures ISO certification for its 3D Printing Services department

Tucked inside the bustling heart of Saudi Arabia's medical elite, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSHRC) has pulled off a feat that's got the world talking. It just bagged the ISO 13485:2016 certification for its 3D Printing Services Department — a global gold standard for medical device quality. But this isn't just a pat on the back. It's proof that KFSHRC's strides in custom-made, precision healthcare are built on rock-solid foundations.

How does it work?

KFSHRC's 3D Printing Services Department is no regular hospital wing. Think of it more like a high-tech studio where science meets craftsmanship. They're not mass-producing gadgets here — they're crafting one-of-a-kind tools tailor-made for each patient.

Here's what they do, plain and simple:

• Print patient-specific anatomical models for doctors to study before cutting skin.
• Create surgical guides to make procedures safer and faster.
• Produce prosthetics and implants customized down to the last millimeter.

In 2023 alone, they printed more than 1,100 physical models and cranked out over 5,000 digital simulations. That translated into:

• A 30% drop in surgery time
• 85% fewer complications
• A huge boost in patient satisfaction

"We're integrating innovative technologies into medical practice, from 3D printing to AI and robotics, to push the boundaries of care," said one hospital representative.

Why does it matter?

Simple: this isn't just cool tech. It's life-changing. When surgeries are faster and safer, patients heal quicker, suffer less, and get back to their lives sooner.

And it's not just about what's happening inside the operating room. It's about turning science fiction into everyday medicine. This is the kind of work that sets global benchmarks and inspires others to follow suit.

KFSHRC's ISO certification is like a stamp of trust. It tells patients and professionals alike: you're in good hands here.

The context

The hospital's not just making waves locally. It's turning heads around the world. KFSHRC has landed itself:

• A spot in the top 20 Saudi government bodies for tech-readiness (2025 Emerging Technology Adoption Readiness Index)
• The 2024 Global Excellence Award in Technology Project Management from GPMF
• A repeated position as the #1 academic medical center in the Middle East and Africa and #15 globally
• A mention in Newsweek's World's Best Smart Hospitals 2025 list
• The title of most valuable healthcare brand in the region, per Brand Finance's 2025 rankings

And the journey's far from over. "We're working toward spinning off a 3D printing medical tech company that will drive broad healthtech and socioeconomic impact," the hospital shared, tipping its hand toward the bigger vision — Saudi's Vision 2030.