FCC, FDA unveil partnership to promote wireless medical technology

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a partnership on July 26 designed to promote wireless medical technology, a field they say will cut medical costs and improve care.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg signed a memorandum of understanding and released a joint statement of principles at the beginning of a two-day conference on wireless medical technology.Calling the partnership "unprecedented," Chairman Genachowski said that "all Americans stand to benefit from wireless-enabled health solutions." The FCC's National Broadband Plan, released in March, called on the government to streamline processes to promote wireless medical technology. The joint statement says that the FDA and the FCC should encourage investment in wireless medical technology, ensure that all devices operate safely, and streamline regulatory processes, including by clarifying the agencies' jurisdiction over wireless devices.

Here's the joint statement:

1. Innovation in broadband and wireless-enabled medical devices holds significant promise for enhancing health and reducing the costs of health care for all Americans. Examples include wireless sensors that remotely monitor heart rhythm and portable glucose monitoring systems. All Americans should be afforded the opportunity to benefit from medical technology advances with improved broadband and wireless technology.
2. Developing and integrating wireless and broadband communications technology with medical devices and applications requires agencies to assure that such devices operate in a safe, reliable and secure manner.
3. It is important for the federal government to provide leadership and encourage innovation and investment in new health care technologies that enable patients, doctors, and other health professionals to access the highest quality care.
4. The American public -- including industry, providers, patients, and other interested stakeholders -- should have clear regulatory pathways, processes, and standards to bring broadband and wireless-enabled medical devices to market. This includes clarity regarding each agency's scope of authority with respect to these devices, predictability regarding regulatory pathways, and streamlining the application process, as appropriate, to facilitate innovation while protecting patients.
5. The FDA and the FCC agree to build upon this initiative launched today to proactively serve the national interest in finding innovative solutions to America's health care challenges.