The World Health Organization (WHO) will host the 5th Global Forum on Medical Devices (GFMD) virtually from Geneva, aiming to tackle ongoing challenges in access, safety, and affordability of medical technologies worldwide.
Medical devices—including tools for screening, diagnosis, treatment, palliation, and assistance—are essential across all levels of healthcare. Despite progress, many patients still lack access to safe and affordable devices. The Forum will gather stakeholders from around the globe to exchange insights and explore strategies to improve medical technology for enhanced patient care.
This edition of the Forum will also focus on emerging global issues that medical devices must address, such as achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, adapting to climate change, leveraging scientific and technological advances, and responding to crises and emergencies, in line with WHO’s 14th Global Program of Work.
Since the inaugural GFMD in Bangkok in 2010, followed by subsequent forums in Geneva (2013, 2017) and Visakhapatnam, India (2018), these gatherings have united participants from over 90 member states to prioritize medical devices within global health agendas.
Building on mandates from the World Health Assembly, the 5th GFMD will address critical initiatives such as expanding access to medical oxygen, strengthening diagnostic capacities, and standardizing medical device nomenclature.
The Forum’s program will feature sessions on priority device selection, medical device information systems, essential in vitro diagnostics, innovation, regulation, health technology assessment, management practices, local production and technology transfer, sustainability, national list development, workforce training, and the intersection of medical devices with communicable diseases, emergencies, and non-communicable diseases.
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