The World Health Organization (WHO) has introduced an online platform called MeDevIS (Medical Devices Information System), the first global open access clearing house for information on medical devices.
It is designed to support governments, regulators, and users in their decision making on selection, and use of medical devices for diagnostics, testing, and treatment of the full range of diseases and health conditions.
“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 Dr 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.”
The MeDevIS platform currently includes 2,301 types of medical devices used for a broad-range of health issues and will be expanded over time.
The MeDevIS platform currently includes 2,301 types of medical devices used for a broad-range of health issues and will be expanded over time.
The devices represented in MeDevIS include multiple simple and complex medical technologies ranging from digital thermometers, single-use syringes, and medical masks to various diagnostic laboratory tests and other medical equipment including electrocardiograms, endoscopes, all imaging radiology technologies, and technologies used for treatments such as hemodialysis units and defibrillators, implantable prothesis, cardiac stents, and complex radiotherapy equipment.
MeDevIS replaces paper-based literature search across multiple publications with non-standard device names, which can add to the complexity.
In MeDevIS, users can check devices they require, including type, level of health care systems to support the device (such as community or specialised hospitals), scope of the device, and infrastructure required
Along with providing a single platform, MedevIS also aims to help make the naming of the medical devices simpler.
MeDevIS references two international naming systems for medical devices – the European Medical Device Nomenclature mostly used in European countries for registration in the European database, and the Global Medical Device Nomenclature, used in regulatory agencies in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The naming systems include coding and definitions and can be used in every country to facilitate registration for regulatory approval, procurement and supply, inventories in health facilities, tracking and pricing.
