BEIJING: Drug regulators have urged the exploration of regulatory practices targeting artificial intelligence-powered and other innovative medical devices, as well as the promotion of international cooperation in drug regulation, in order to advance global health.
Xu Jinghe, deputy commissioner of the National Medical Products Administration, said that technological advances in recent years have spurred the development of medical devices that largely rely on innovative tools such as AI, biomaterials and 3D printing.
Regulatory authorities across the world are expected to experiment with new tools and methods, rather than sticking to conventional frameworks, in order to ensure the safety and efficacy of innovative medical devices while guiding further development of the industry, he said. Xu made the comments during the 27th annual meeting of the Global Harmonization Working Party, an international organization comprising regulatory bodies and industry representatives, which is committed to stepping up the harmonization of medical device regulatory requirements. Xu was elected the organization’s chairman in February.
Over 600 participants from 25 countries and regions attended the meeting, which was held in Shanghai from Nov 27 to 30.
Quan Tran, head of the working party’s capacity building team, said that new technologies are playing crucial roles in a wide range of medical fields. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
