Apple Watch: ECG In Australia

Apple hasn't made an application to Therapeutics Goods Association in Australia.

They have mislead Aussies in Keynote presentation on Series 4. That was swiftly taken off Aussies websites.

It is clear Apple doesn't value Aussies health. Nearly 2 years since release no applications have been sent. Apple watch 6 for Aussies probably will have no added benefits. Please Apple went is beef with Australia.

Government regulations for medical device approvals is TGA in Australia. As recent as July 2020 no application has been made by Apple to have ECG function registered for use. Considering Australia has heart disease as a leading cause of death. I doubt anything that could give an early warning wouldn't be approved. New Zealand approved it within months of an application. Apple doesn't seem to care about aussies 💕

As noted above, Apple is powerless to move the Australian government. You, on the other hand, have that power. Write to your Representatives in Canberra. Tell them that you want their help getting TGA and Apple to reach an agreement. If enough Aussies ask for help moving this forward, some help might be forthcoming. Good luck.

Thanks for asking about the new ECG feature.

Check here for availability in your region: ECG

ECG requires the current non-beta version of iOS and watchOS. For additional help with the ECG feature on your Apple Watch, take a look at these articles.

Heart rate notifications on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Taking an ECG with the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later - Apple Support

If you have any other questions please reach out to our team here: https://apple.co/HeartFeatures. If you believe that you are experiencing a medical emergency, please dial your local emergency services.

Take care 

Blugle wrote:

My only hope is the App developers actually read these blogs and stop listening to the Marketing wankers, stop listening to the legal wankers, stop listening to the accounting wankers and start listening to the users who need this technology.

1) This is not a blog. It's a user-to-user support forum.

2) No, Apple developers and engineers are not reading here for feedback. You can send your feedback to them here:

Product Feedback - Apple

SamoAt18 wrote:

Thanks StanlyG.

What do you feel will get Apple to speed up making ECG available in Australia?

Product Feedback - Apple <<< here

AND contact your representative to change the TGA regulations. <<< Most Important.

OR somehow get widespread media attention.

miloks wrote:

Apple doesn’t get off scot free- their staff are telling Australian customers that these features are available here. The website has information that suggests the irregular heartbeat function works here. They call their staff “Specialists”, which suggests they specialise in Apple Products, and it denotes a sense of authority/ability to provide accurate information. People have purchased an Apple Watch largely to access these features. There are plenty of other choices out there that do similar things and cost a lot less - like older model Apple watches or fitness trackers, so if someone knew those features weren’t available, they may just make other choices.

Which staff? The in-store workers in Australia or the online help support? Their own australian website doesn't even advertise ECG https://www.apple.com/au/watch/

If you actually find some staff that mislead you in store, feel free to tell on them to the supervisor.

Note that Australian support goes here - https://support.apple.com/en-au/

But since many people search "Apple Support" in English on google even in Australia, you'll be leaded to US website. https://support.apple.com/

Australia also doesn't have their own support communities, they go automatically to the US-EN. Which is where you are right now. People may assume that you are from the United States but this is practically an international community for all English speakers.

[Edited by Moderator]

It seems that people aren't willing to read 16 pages of forums. This is quite frustrating as you know that people keep asking over and over why ECG is not available to Australia. In fact, all of us, deggie, Dahveed, Idris, have tried to get this point across multiple replies that have said the same thing. The other option for us is to just drop this thread all together, leading to it trailing the thread going into false interpretation and terrible answers (Example - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251818267). Now, we don't want that to happen, do we now. I agree that Dahveed's reply may have not been as aesthetically pleasing as his first answer but please note that we are trying hard to point y'all in the correct direction and your criticism of what apple should and shouldn't do is completely useless in these forums.

Paulfcdx wrote:

It’s bad for your brand when you disappoint customers, but it’s fatal when you make them angry.

While I supposed it's possible that people here have brands, it's not Apple. And, while we may disappoint your or make you angry, it wouldn't be because of any failure on our part to file anything with an Australian government agency. Apple doesn't read here for suggestions. If you want them to know your thoughts, use the appropriate channel:

Product Feedback - Apple

Mystic Cheese wrote:

All of the current heart rate and fitness functions provide a pragmatic outcome for me and I don’t believe we need to carry on with any negative remarks.

The Hosts will remove or edit any posts that do not conform to the Terms of Use. Beyond that, people are free to post as they see fit, even if that involves strenuous disagreement

I don’t believe Apple monitors these forums to change the course of their ECG approval effort's.

No, as has been stated repeatedly, Apple does not read these threads for suggestions. If you want Apple to know your thoughts on the matter, use the feedback link.

Product Feedback - Apple

teraez wrote:

It’s really frustrating especially as apple are not transparent and specifically list that these features are NOT available in Australia. Me, like so many other people, have upgraded from other smart watch’s to an Apple Watch only to be let down.

I really hope they apply to the TGA soon.

You are correct that Apple does not discuss on-going negotiations (very few companies do, as that can negatively affect the outcome). NOTE: The TGA is not discussing it either, nor putting out periodic updates explaining why the Apple Watch has not been included as an accepted device. Apple is also not discussing negotiations for the other 150'ish counties in the world where ECG is not supported either, and those 150 countries are not issuing updates on the approval process either.

Apple does not advertise ECG in Australia. If you are reading media from other countries, or if your local press is mentioning ECG, that is not Apple's fault.

Apple does document what countries have ECG support. It is a big (HUGE) Internet, so that fact that you did not find this one items that is a "Hot Button" for some users is understandable. Here is the link to Apple Watch Feature Availability:

https://www.apple.com/watchos/feature-availability/#branded-ecg

You are not addressing Apple here. This is a user to user support forum and Apple does not participate here. If you wish to provide feedback to Apple regarding a change you would like to see, or report a bug, then use the feedback link here, Feedback - Apple Watch - Apple All we as users can say is go ahead and vote with your feet. Since Apple needs approval from the Australian government for ECG and have not received it, then you cannot use ECG on the Watch.

Apple promotes features that are available on all of their devices, and is footnoted that they may not be available in all regions. These is also a document with information of all features of iOS, as well as one for watchOS and it lists the features and what country the features are available in.

Also, you are not addressing Apple here, so your statement "you Apple keep promoting it" and "Your advertising" is not about us. This is a user to user support forum and Apple does not participate here. If you wish to provide feedback to Apple regarding a change you would like to see, or report a bug, then use the feedback link here,Feedback - Apple Watch - Apple

markjennc wrote:

So Apple is playing God and removing people’s posts. Hmm. And they tell us the don’t monitor these discussions.

No, Apple is playing Apple. In the Terms of Use, to which you agreed when you registered, they explained this:

Apple reserves the right to delete any Submission, or take action against any account, at any time, for any reason.

Apple monitors these discussions quite closely to make sure we all adhere to those Terms of Use. What they don't monitor for is suggestions or feedback. If you have something you'd like Apple to know, use the appropriate method:

Product Feedback - Apple

Doesn’t matter what the method is anyway. If they are providing ECG, first question is:

• Is it approved by TGA for Australia?
• Hence, is it available for sale in Australia?
• Why would withings have the resources to clinically prove their ECG works and Apple with their Trillion dollars cannot?

Eitherway, I’m a sucker for buying Apple Watch 6 knowing Apple won’t focus on ECG.