19 Feb 2024

Medical devices to stay 'largely unregulated'

From Morning Report, 8:48 am on 19 February 2024

Patient safety advocates warn scrapping the new Therapeutic Products Act will leave thousands of New Zealanders exposed to harm from dodgy medical devices.

The Act, which has yet to come into force, would have made medical devices as well as cell, gene and tissue therapies subject to a similar regulatory regime as medicines.

The industry is backing the move saying the new law is heavy handed and would stop people getting access to the latest life-saving technological advances.

Ruth Hill reports.