WHO said its independent, standardised assessment helped governments, donors, procurement organisations and UN agencies identify medical devices meeting international quality, safety and performance standards across various healthcare settings.
“The programme will now cover male and female condoms, intrauterine devices (IUDs), male circumcision devices and computer-aided tuberculosis detection software,” it said.
WHO said prequalification of condoms and IUDs was transferred from UNFPA, strengthening quality assurance for products supporting sexual and reproductive health, family planning and disease prevention.
“Condoms also help prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, while IUDs support prevention of unintended pregnancies and informed family planning decisions.
According to WHO, voluntary medical male circumcision can reduce men’s risk of acquiring HIV through heterosexual exposure by approximately 60 per cent, supporting broader HIV prevention efforts.
“The expansion is particularly important as many countries face weak regulatory systems, with WHO estimating that about 70 per cent report inadequate regulation of medicines and vaccines,” it said.