Apple Watch: ECG In Australia

Thanks for following up, I wonder if it’s a technology difference that allows Samsung to make progress or whether there is a change in the TGAs position, I guess we’ll have to wait and see. I don’t mind waiting, it’s the absence of customer communication in the context of earlier statements by Apple that has been disappointing.

In Australia we use other ways measure an ECG. Basically you wait until one side of your body is numb and in paralysis. Then you book in with your doctor get a referral to get an ECG. Wait 2-3weeks and then see a specialist. In New Zealand, UK and USA they have a far inferior system where your apple watch may catch issues before you you realise there is an issue.

Surely the benefits (diagnosis) outweigh the risks (false positives). In any event, a deeper investigation ie halter monitor, would be used for verification. Fingers crossed the stakeholders can reach an agreement.

I too are like everyone else..

Paid good money for this watch expecting to have the ECG function, and expecting that, Apple being a trillion dollar company would have more clout to have things changed here in Australia to have the ECG function enabled.

I am in my 60's and similar to other comments, I too purchased the watch not only for the fantastic features, but also for my Heart Health and the ECG function.

Come on guys... get this feature happening so I can finally get what I paid for.

Craig.

chr1966 wrote:

Permission is not required it plain to see that ECG will help.

Yes, regulatory approval IS required in order for Apple to make the ECG feature available in any given country. It is considered a medical device. No matter how noble your intentions, medical devices are regulated in Australia.

ROFL. No wonder you haven't got in an application to TGA. Maybe Apple have invested too much in staff with smartass comments and keep tally of how many posts from unsatisfied customers than staff that could do something about it. Is there an update of do you just wait for the more unsatisfied customers to comment to add to the tally?

I'm guessing that you are new to the world of Apple.

In the 36 years that I've been using Apple products, Apple has never done what you are wishing it to do!

If you believe that you were mislead by an Apple retail employee in Australia, then the best way to resolve that is to go directly to that store's manager, not complaining on a US-based user to user support forum.

If you say so, I wasn't clear, it's perhaps your 1st language. You, however are the 1st to have said so.

And I'm just sooooo ashamed for enjoying posting here. You've really put me in my place.

I posted to ask for help on where to go to find out when Apple expected Australian approval.

The folks posting here are volunteer users of Apple products. No one here would have the answer to that question. Not deggie, not Idris, not Stanley and not me. Apple doesn't reveal its product or business plans to folks here; to folks seeking help nor folks offering help.

And...”Withings says its TGA approval only took a couple of weeks, as it was able to send the same performance information to it as it did to authorities in other countries.”

I have two friends who have discovered, late, that they have arterial fibrillation, in one case necessitating emergency hospitalisation, so I have more than a techie interest in this. While there’s no guarantee that any of these devices are 100% accurate Apple’s own research data makes the point that among their test subjects, notwithstanding false positives, there were a significant number of cases of the watch alerting the wearer to an underlying, undetected and potentially fatal heart condition. That’s the whole point of developing such a feature.

So we have heart disease as the leading cause of death in Australia and no access to a device that could save lives and is actively marketed as that overseas. The Withing’s experience suggests the problem is not with the TGA. I’m done with this forum and will buy a Withings watch and recommend them to all...

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

Maybe Apple hasn't applied to have the watch approved by the TGA, because of the ongoing annual fees to have the watch on the TGA approved list. It is not a once of getting approved fee......It is an ongoing TGA money making scheme. Ask any company that has had to go through the process of getting the TGA to approve their product.

Yes we are but since that model is not available in the US I didn't find it when I searched. Apparently the Withings has not yet received approval from the FDA in the US. Perhaps I'll start a long thread about it.

Despite what you have just posted (which seems to indicate a very blinkered approach to searching) I still can’t see the relevance of your comment. Not up to the standard of a level 10 I would have thought,

What standards? And I didn't bring up the Withings.

But since it is approved why don't you talk to Apple Customer Service, return your Apple Watch for a refund and then buy the Withings? Problem solved. And maybe Apple should follow Withings lead and only sell the Apple Watch Series 3 in Australia. Would this be a reasonable solution for you?

Joseph of Australia (in a deleted comment) said -

a few times when I have told the truth on other pages, a level higher with administration rights deletes my facts.

Just so you lot know, none of us in the Apple Support Communities has Admin rights. The only folks doing any deleting are the Apple Support Communities Hosts, who moderate the threads.

However, anyone who is Level 2 or higher can report a comment to the Apple Support Communities Hosts who will then take a look at the comment and edit or delete as they see fit. You will find the Report facility in the down arrow menu under every comment.

I stand (actually I'm sitting) corrected. It was a long, long, long time ago, ♫ south of the border, down Mexico way ♫ that I became a Level 2. I don't recall the perks of that great achievement.

Yes, new I remember, when you become a Level 6 you get the top secret Apple Decoder Ring! And access to the booze in the Water Cooler in the Lounge.