WHO creates medical device database to encourage data consistency across borders
The World Health Organization (WHO) this week announced a new database of medical devices that can be used by a wide range of stakeholders worldwide, including industry and regulatory agencies, to understand the characteristics of various products and where they are authorized for sale.On 8 July, WHO published an online platform called MeDevIS (Medical Devices Information System), which lists 2,301 medical devices covering various treatments and diagnoses, including neonatal care, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. The global health agency noted that more than 10,000 types of medical devices are sold worldwide but no central repository where stakeholders can get information for their decision-making.
“The number of medical technologies used in health care is growing, as is their complexity, which can make it challenging for health care practitioners and patients to navigate,” said Yukiko Nakatani, WHO assistant director-general for access to medicines and health products. “We aim to provide a one stop shop of international information, which can be invaluable for those making decisions on life-saving medical technologies, especially in resource-limited settings, and to improve access”.
WHO said this is the first global database of medical devices of its kind and was built based on its experience managing the WHO Priority Medical Devices List (MDL), which itself is based on the WHO Essential Medicines List (EML).
WHO noted that while there are separate sources of medical devices managed by major international organizations, regulatory bodies, and donor agencies, it’s difficult for stakeholders to rely on them because they are disconnected from each other. It added that with MeDevIs, stakeholders have a central location to look up information such as the type of device, level of health care systems to support the device, scope of the device, and the infrastructure required to maintain it. Since the database is available online, it also negates the need to search for information across multiple paper-based publications with non-standard device names.
Another key feature of MeDevIs is that it incorporates the European Medical Device Nomenclature (EMDN) naming convention mostly used in Europe, and the Global Medical Device Nomenclature (GMDN), which is used by regulatory agencies in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the US, and others.
“The MeDevIS platform can be useful for national policy-makers to develop or update their own national lists for procurement of health technologies and devices and can contribute to the progress towards universal health coverage,” said Deus Mubangizi, WHO director for health products policy and standards in the Access to Medicines and Health Products Division. “It can also help agencies in health insurance and reimbursement policies for patients.”
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