The New England Center for Investigative
Reporting (NECIR) has found that the Google Play Store and the iTunes Store continues to offer
medical apps that do not follow proposed guidelines.
Background
Information
The ongoing
debate of how to regulate medical mobile apps and the role the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) should play came to the forefront last year when the
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) became involved in helping to pull an app that
claimed to cure acne.
Research2Guidance, a global market research
firm, reports that apps range anywhere from free, $.69 to $999. The company
expects about 247 million smartphone users to download health apps this year.
Ongoing
Issues
NECIR examined 1,500 health apps available for purchase since
June 2011. It found that more than one out of five apps claimed to treat and/or
cure a medical issue.
The agency looked at 331 therapeutic apps
and found that 43 percent of them relied on the sound a cellphone makes for
treatment. Twelve more apps used the device’s light as a treatment and
two others said the phone vibrations provided the treatment.
Light treatment is used to treat a variety
of conditions, but typically under the guidance of a dermatologist or other
medical professional. It is impossible to achieve professional results by using
a phone as it lacks the needed light frequency.
Concluding
Thoughts
While the debate
continues regarding regulation, the credibility of certain apps will remain in
question. Agencies continue to monitor and call out those who make false claims. Users may protect themselves by keeping in mind that
apps cannot diagnose or treat a medical condition. For consumers, apps that monitor conditions or
help keep track of things like weight, rate the highest. Apps that support doctors and hospitals also
rank high.
Developers who need assistance to ensure they follow the proper guidelines, should visit the ones posted by Happtique, as that store only houses medical apps.
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