Apple Watch ECG Feature Gets Approved in Australia - MacRumors
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Apple Watch ECG Feature Gets Approved in Australia

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The Australian government has approved ECG functionality on the Apple Watch, giving Apple the all-clear to launch the feature for Apple Watch users in the country, according to a regulatory document first spotted by The 8-Bit.

apple watch ecg wrist
Earlier last month, the Apple Watch's irregular heart rhythm notification received approval in Australia, although ECG did not. Irregular heart rhythm is a feature that periodically reads your heart rhythm in the background and alerts you if it detects signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Both parts work in tandem as users who receive an irregular heart rhythm notification are advised to take an ECG for a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of their heart condition.

With regulator hurdles now out of the way, it's unclear when Apple will roll the feature out for users in Australia. Apple is currently testing watchOS 7.5, and although there's been no indication thus far, the update could include support for ECG in Australia. watchOS 7.4 is expected to debut in the early spring alongside iOS 14.5, which will introduce the ability to unlock an iPhone with an Apple Watch, amongst other features.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Tags: Australia, ECG
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)

Top Rated Comments

MrMaxwell Avatar
MrMaxwell
67 months ago
Finally!!!!!!!

I am going to miss commenting on ECG announcements for other countries with 'Australia?'

šŸ˜‚
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
steve09090
67 months ago
Finally. I reckon I am so surprised that this has finally happened, I might have a heart attack!
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
E
ekwipt
67 months ago

Given the nanny state that is Australia I have no surprise this has taken this long.
You say that but we have the best medicine testing policies in the world, vitamins, fitness supplements, baby formula. Most other countries you canā€™t trust whatā€™s on the labels. Australiaā€™s not perfect but weā€™ve got good regulations on important products.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
imattel Avatar
imattel
67 months ago
We may be late to the game here but think about how far behind the rest of the world is in episodes of Home & Away...
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B
bobmans
67 months ago

So Apple didnā€™t take years to submit their paperwork? They thought ā€œletā€™s advertise a feature but not make an effort in allowing that feature to workā€.
They could submit it all they want, it wouldn't get approved.

TGA finally modified their policies last week (on February 25th) to allow devices like the AW to get approved, we're not even a week later and Apple has already submitted their paperwork and got it approved which means they literally had their paperwork ready on day 1. These TGA policy changes were supposed to be made last summer but due to COVID it got delayed.

Get informed:
https://www.tga.gov.au/regulation-software-based-medical-devices

Also, they never advertised ECG in Australia.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
khunsanook Avatar
khunsanook
67 months ago
Congrats, mates. Here in Japan it also seemed to take forever to be approved. Letā€™s hope you actually get the feature on your watches soon. It was over 4 months from approval to functional here in Japan.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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