In a significant stride towards enhancing global healthcare standards, the World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled a pioneering online platform named MeDevIS (Medical Devices Information System). This platform, which went live on July 8, 2024, marks a crucial advancement in the realm of medical devices, aiming to streamline information dissemination, improve regulatory processes, and ultimately ensure safer healthcare practices worldwide.
With well over 10,000 medical device types distributed globally, the database is able to be used by a wide range of stakeholders worldwide, including industry and regulatory agencies, as a way to gather critical decision-making information. Where previously, there was no central repository for such information, the database offers relief from constrained resources and easier navigation than paper-based systems. While there are other global information systems in use by international organizations, there is a lack of connectivity amongst them.
In addition to key aspects such as the type and scope of devices, and the infrastructure required to maintain them, the system also incorporates both the European Medical Device Nomenclature (EMDN) and the Global Medical Device Nomenclature (GMDN), which are important conventions used by major international jurisdictions.
Find out more about MeDevIS here.
