The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched an innovative online platform called MeDevIS (Medical Devices Information System), marking a significant step forward in the global management and accessibility of medical devices. This platform serves as the first global open access clearinghouse for information on medical devices, aiming to support governments, regulators, and healthcare providers in making informed decisions regarding the selection, procurement, and usage of medical devices for diagnostics, testing, and treatment of various health conditions.
MeDevIS encompasses a comprehensive catalog of 2,301 types of medical devices, addressing a wide spectrum of health issues. These range from reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health to noncommunicable diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, as well as infectious diseases like COVID-19. This extensive repository is designed to streamline the process for healthcare practitioners and patients, who often face challenges due to the growing number and complexity of medical technologies.
Dr. Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Access to Medicines and Health Products, highlighted the platform’s objective: “The number of medical technologies used in health care is growing, as is their complexity, which can make it challenging for healthcare practitioners and patients to navigate. 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.”
Globally, over 10,000 different medical devices are in use for protection, prevention, diagnostics, treatment, or rehabilitation of health issues. These range from simple items like pulse oximeters, digital thermometers, single-use syringes, and medical masks to more complex diagnostic laboratory tests and medical equipment, including electrocardiograms, endoscopes, imaging radiology technologies, hemodialysis units, defibrillators, implantable prostheses, cardiac stents, and radiotherapy equipment.
Currently, information on these devices is scattered across various sources produced by international organizations, regulatory bodies, and donor agencies, which complicates the process of identifying and utilizing reliable data. MeDevIS addresses this by allowing users to easily check the devices they need, including details about the type, level of healthcare system support, scope, and infrastructure requirements.
One of the significant advantages of MeDevIS is its ability to replace paper-based literature searches across multiple publications with non-standard device names, simplifying the naming process for medical devices. The platform references two major international naming systems: the European Medical Device Nomenclature (EMDN) and the Global Medical Device Nomenclature (GMDN). These systems include coding and definitions that facilitate registration for regulatory approval, procurement and supply, inventory management in health facilities, tracking, and pricing.
Dr. Deus Mubangizi, WHO Director for Health Products Policy and Standards in the Access to Medicines and Health Products Division, emphasized the platform’s utility: “The MeDevIS platform can be useful for national policymakers 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. It can also help agencies in health insurance and reimbursement policies for patients.”
This platform is a groundbreaking effort by WHO to create a global repository on medical devices, building on its experience with the WHO Priority Medical Devices List (MDL) and the WHO Essential Medicines List (EML). The EML, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025, is regarded as a cornerstone of public health in many countries, supporting health advancements and impacting billions of lives.
Looking ahead, WHO plans to continuously improve the MeDevIS platform by engaging multiple stakeholders and partners and expanding it with additional technologies and devices used in various health areas, including pandemic and emergency settings. This ongoing development ensures that MeDevIS will remain a vital resource in the ever-evolving landscape of global health technology.
