Apple Confirms ECG Functionality is Coming to Canada 'as Quickly as Possible'

[MacRumors]

Apple today told The Canadian Press that it is aiming to bring ECG functionality to Apple Watch Series 4 devices in Canada "as quickly as possible."

The news comes after Health Canada this month approved the ECG app and irregular heart rhythm notifications on the Apple Watch Series 4, clearing the way for the features to be released in the country.

Health Canada classified the Apple Watch Series 4 as a Class II medical device, which places it in the "low-to-medium risk" category alongside other products like contact lenses.

Apple launched the ECG app in the United States in December as part of watchOS 5.1.2. It expanded to 19 European countries and Hong Kong in March 2019, and five additional European countries last week.

The ECG app is designed to allow Apple Watch Series 4 readers to place a finger on the Digital Crown to get a single-lead ECG reading, which can detect atrial fibrillation, a condition that can be indicative of major health problems. Irregular heart rhythm notifications are a separate feature, meant to let users know if an unusual heart rhythm is detected so medical attention can be sought.

Apple did not provide specific timing on when we can expect ECG and irregular heart rate notifications to be available in Canada, but it could perhaps come in the watchOS 5.3 update, which is being beta tested right now, or it could be incorporated into watchOS 6, which will be announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference on June 3.

Article Link: Apple Confirms ECG Functionality is Coming to Canada 'as Quickly as Possible'

 

[martyjmclean]

I get Apple has to be certified by different countries' health regulators... but with their money and influence you'd have thought they would at least have Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand approved before launch.

 

[ipedro]

Most importantly, having the entire Apple Watch classified as a Class II medical device, and not just the specific ECG sensor, makes it much easier to add additional medical sensors to it. Future sensors should be available at launch in Canada going forward.

 

[amssullivan28]

As for Australia, nothing still on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) yet (part of the TGA, our medical devices regulator).

Guessing we’ll still be months away from the ECG functionality coming to Australia.

Have of course submitted feedback to Apple regarding this.

Great to see the ECG feature coming soon to Canada.

 

[HiVolt]

Hope we don't have to wait until WatchOS 6.

 

[scrapesleon]

I mean it was the only feature that made us want to get it in the first place

 

[JuanDorfling]

Where do we stand with devices sold in the UAE?

 

[Rodney Dangerfield]

Apple, my credit card is on standby!

 

[TVreporter]

Finally! Now I may purchase my first watch - my wife has a Fitbit and has been curious about AW but I said hold off until the ECG got sorted out.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

I get Apple has to be certified by different countries' health regulators... but with their money and influence you'd have thought they would at least have Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand approved before launch.

I don’t know why Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand should get special treatment. They aren’t even Apple’s largest market. Besides, it looks like they were tweaking the software right until the launch.i would much rather have a staggered release than no release for another year for a feature like this.

 

[entropys]

I don’t know why Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand should get special treatment. They aren’t even Apple’s largest market. Besides, it looks like they were tweaking the software right until the launch.i would much rather have a staggered release than no release for another year for a feature like this.

Because our regulatory, political and institutional systems are most similar. You know, the Anglosphere.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

Because our regulatory, political and institutional systems are most similar. You know, the Anglosphere.

Not doubting that, but I think the EU would have been prioritized if it came to launching with the largest customer base with the least regulatory hurdle for Apple.

 

[WatchFromAfar]

I get Apple has to be certified by different countries' health regulators... but with their money and influence you'd have thought they would at least have Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand approved before launch.

Because the UK has a National Health service it won't approve any nonsense a watch says with out a Doctors approval. The watch is a dumb toy

 

[nitramluap]

I just wish they'd hurry up and approve it in Australia... now that it has CE certification it should be automatically accepted and not require additional TGA approval. The cynic in me thinks that the TGA will insist on special approval so they can take a chunk of Apple's cash, when it's absolutely unnecessary.

 

[Objectivist]

Not doubting that, but I think the EU would have been prioritized if it came to launching with the largest customer base with the least regulatory hurdle for Apple.

The EU is a sinking ship, it is never going to be a priority for anyone.

 

[WatchFromAfar]

The EU is a sinking ship, it is never going to be a priority for anyone.

Apart from a market share of:
512.6 million people
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_European_Union

Yeah you can ignore that
s/

 

[Objectivist]

Apart from a market share of:
512.6 million people
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_European_Union

Yeah you can ignore that
s/

The continent of Africa has 1.25 billion people
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Africa

Can you ignore them? What is your point?

 

[Pragati55]

Any news for india ??

 

[mannyvel]

The odd thing about "regulatory approval" is that the AW is better than nothing. That's the thing that people like the "Healthcare Professional" seem to not understand. You shouldn't be comparing the Apple Watch vs an 10-lead EKG, you should be comparing it against no information at all.

Only the bottom of the barrel healthcare professional would believe that no data is better than OK data.

 

[Pragati55]

Plss can any one give the info regarding ECG app for india ????

 

[Tech198]

I can almost see Tim starting a fast sprint to Canada with tongue hanging out "gotta get it done"

 

[martyjmclean]

Because the UK has a National Health service it won't approve any nonsense a watch says with out a Doctors approval. The watch is a dumb toy

And Australia, NZ and CA don't have a national health service? Sorry, I must've been paying thousands of dollars for my GP + hospital visits without realising.

 

[rmoliv]

The EU is a sinking ship, it is never going to be a priority for anyone.

The ECG got approved pretty quickly in most EU countries because it only takes the European Medicines Agency approval to allow the app to work in several countries all at once.

 

[IIGS User]

As far as certification in different countries, and how that is obtained, I think it's hubris to assume a bunch of Macrumor postabouts have all the information as to the how, why and when all of that happens. I can see EU being a challenge due to language, or other regulations. Every country is a little different (We will assume EU as a country, given its political structure) Canada, Australia, US. One would assume the US would be first as Apple is a US company. Canada makes sense, about as similar to the US as you can get without being the US. But, vastly different in their approach to health care, and a bi lingual society by law. I'm sure there are regulatory and business restrictions none of us here fully understand. That's lawyer territory.

In the end, if you think it's a dopey toy, don't buy it. It's your money....

 

[realtuner]

Because the UK has a National Health service it won't approve any nonsense a watch says with out a Doctors approval. The watch is a dumb toy

A dumb toy that has already saved numerous lives.

When the Apple Watch gets UK approval (and it will based on comments made by the NHS), I’ll make sure to remind you of this post.