The WHO South-East Asia Region today committed to improve equitable access to quality-assured and affordable medical devices, including in vitro diagnostics (IVDs), and assistive technologies through an integrated life-cycle approach, from planning and regulation to procurement, maintenance, replacement and safe decommissioning.
For the first time ever at a WHO Regional Committee, Member States discussed medical devices as a dedicated agenda item and adopted a resolution setting out concrete, time-bound actions to strengthen national systems for planning, regulating, procuring, managing and monitoring medical devices, IVDs and assistive technologies.
Moving from broad recommendations to implementation, Member States agreed to designate, by 2027, a national lead mechanism or focal unit for the life-cycle management of medical devices and IVDs, with clearly assigned responsibilities across relevant institutions. By 2028, countries will complete a national baseline assessment covering priority service and diagnostic gaps; essential diagnostics and medical-device lists; regulatory-system capacity; and the availability, location, functionality and maintenance status of priority equipment.
Read more at WHO SEARO