26 June saw the release finally of the UK government’s official response to the MHRA’s 2021 consultation on its post-Brexit medical devices regulatory framework. The considered response, held up by political and internal timing issues, represents an implementation plan for reform of the system. Crucially it allows industry extra compliance time.

Key changes have been agreed to the original European Commission text which would allow patients to opt out or restrict sharing of their information.

With the EU AI Act close to being finally adopted, industry is now calling for guidance and clarification to prevent the new legal text complicating the regulation of medical devices and diagnostics and putting obstacles in the way of patient access to innovation.