The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched an online platform named MeDevIS (Medical Devices Information System) to help health officials as well as caregivers make informed decisions.
According to a WHO release dated July 8, the online platform will help caregivers, governments, regulators, and users make informed decisions about the procurement, selection, and use of medical devices for testing, diagnostics, and treatment of various health conditions.
The WHO statement disclosed that the MeDevIS encompasses 2,301 types of medical devices that are used to address an array of health issues, from reproductive and maternal health to non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cancer, as well as infectious diseases such as COVID-19.
“The number of medical technologies used in health care is growing, and complex which can make it challenging for health care practitioners and patients to navigate,” said Dr. Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director General for Access to Medicines and Health Products.
He added, “We aim to provide a one-stop shop of international information, which can be invaluable for those making decisions on lifesaving medical technologies, especially in resourced limited settings, and to improve access.”
The release also disclosed that over 10 thousand different types of medical devices are used for the prevention, protection, diagnostics, treatment, or rehabilitation of health issues globally, stating that these range from simple technologies like pulse oximeters and digital thermometers to complex equipment such as hemodialysis units, defibrillators, and radiotherapy machines.
“Currently, multiple and separate sources of information from international organizations, regulatory bodies, and donor agencies can make it difficult for users to find reliable data, adding that MeDevIS aims to streamline the process by providing a single, comprehensive platform, where users can search for devices by type, level of healthcare system support, scope, and required infrastructure, among other categories,” the released explained.
The release further revealed that the platform also strives to standardize the naming of medical devices, referencing two international naming systems: the European Medical Device Nomenclature (EMDN) and the Global Medical Device Nomenclature (GMDN).
“These systems are used by regulatory agencies in countries like Australia, Canada, the UK, and the USA, and can facilitate device registration, procurement, and inventory management,” the statement noted.
The release added that the MeDevIS replaces the cumbersome process of paper-based literature searches across multiple publications with nonstandard device names, simplifying the task for users.
WHO Director for Health Products Policy and Standards in the Access to Medicines and Health Products Division, Deus Mubangizi indicated that the MeDevIS platform can be useful for national policymakers to develop or update their national lists for the procurement of health technologies and devices.
The WHO official added that the utilization of the platform can contribute to the progress toward universal health coverage and help agencies with health insurance and reimbursement policies for patients.
The MeDevIS platform became operational in March 2024 for consultation with WHO Member States.
