Tackling bias in medical devices: the Equity in Medical Devices Independent Review is welcome, but could have gone further

“All medical equipment and devices should be assessed for suitability of use with ethnic minority patients, as well as with the majority population. This should be sufficiently evidenced by manufacturers before devices receive market approval.” This was the key recommendation in the NHS Race and Health Observatory’s report “Pulse Oximetry and Racial Bias,” published in March 20211 that led Sajid Javid, then secretary of state for health and social care, to announce an independent review into medical devices.The announcement of the independent review, in February 2022, formed part of wider plans to level up the country and reduce existing inequalities through the Health Disparities White Paper.2 The paper was eventually dropped and replaced by the Major Conditions Strategy,3 which included review of medical devices, although the focus shifted from “racial bias” to “equity ” in medical devices.There has long been evidence of the stark health inequalities faced by ethnic minority…
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