THE WHAT? The UK Medicines and Healthcare products regulatory Agency has announced that it intends to reform medical devices regulation to improve patient health and encourage innovation.

THE DETAILS The package of reforms will apply to medical devices such as hearing aids, x-ray machines and insulin pumps, new technologies such as smartphone apps and Artificial Intelligence as well as certain cosmetic products like dermal fillers.

The MHRA will see its powers boosted and the scope and extent of regulation will be increased to better protect users of certain cosmetic products.

THE WHY? Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid, explained, “Now we have left the EU, these new changes will allow innovation to thrive and ensure UK patients are among the first to benefit from technological breakthroughs.

“We are now able to introduce some of the most robust safety measures in the world for medical devices to ensure patients are protected.”