FDA Will Strengthen The Supervision Of Used Home Medical Equipment

FDA Will Strengthen The Supervision Of Used Home Medical Equipment.
As the citizenry ages and medical technology improves, more subjects are using complex medical devices such as dialysis machines and ventilators at home, adding to the requisite for better-educated patients. To join this growing need, the US Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday that it has started a unfamiliar program to ensure that patients and their caregivers use these devices safely and effectively.

So "Medical gubbins home use is becoming an increasingly important public health issue," Dr Jeffrey Shuren, chief of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health said during an afternoon news conference. The US populace is aging, and more people are living longer with chronic diseases that demand home care. "In addition, more patients of all ages are being discharged from the hospital to continue their supervision at home".

Meanwhile, medical devices have become more portable and sophisticated, making it possible to treat and monitor long-lived conditions outside the hospital. "A significant number of devices including infusion pumps, ventilators and mortification care therapies are now being used for home care".

Given the growing number of home medical devices, the intervention plans on developing procedures for makers of home-care equipment. Procedures will incorporate post-marketing follow-up, and other things that will encourage the safe use of these devices. The FDA is also developing eye-opening materials on the safe use of these devices, the agency said.