Pilot Project to Provide Braille and Sign Language Videos for Blood Pressure and Thermometers for Visually and Hearing Impaired

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 1st that it plans to promote a pilot project to provide medical device information by marking Braille and codes for voice and sign language video conversion on medical devices such as blood pressure monitors, blood glucose meters, and thermometers for the visually and hearing impaired.

The Ministry conducted an online survey from September 1 to October 31 to identify the inconveniences experienced by the visually and hearing impaired when using medical devices and to determine which items require Braille and other markings. On this day, the Ministry announced the survey results, with a total of 113 respondents, including 44 visually impaired and 69 hearing impaired individuals.

This is in preparation for the ‘Medical Device Braille and Voice/Sign Language Video Conversion Code Marking System’ to be implemented from June 14 next year. Medical device manufacturers and importers are encouraged to use Braille and sign language/voice video conversion codes to display medical device information.

According to the survey results, 46.9% of the visually and hearing impaired respondents reported experiencing difficulties when using medical devices. The main inconvenience was confirming usage information of medical devices, such as the location of power buttons and distinguishing functions of each button (29.1%). Next, respondents found it difficult to check medical device labeling information such as precautions and expiration dates.

The medical devices for which Braille and other markings were most desired were blood pressure monitors (53 cases), personal combinational stimulators (49 cases), blood glucose meters (46 cases), and thermometers (38 cases), in that order. These devices are used for personal health management at home.

Additionally, the medical device information that the visually and hearing impaired wished to receive included the device name (model name/product name) (27 cases), manufacturer name (23 cases), and usage instructions and precautions (21 cases), in that order.

As many visually and hearing impaired respondents requested Braille and other markings in this survey, the Ministry decided to promote a pilot project to mark Braille and codes for voice and sign language video conversion on blood pressure monitors, blood glucose meters, thermometers, and to provide medical device information.

Furthermore, the Ministry added that it plans to prepare measures to support medical device manufacturers and importers, such as encouraging Braille markings through meetings, publishing guidelines (customer manuals) on how to mark Braille on medical devices, and providing standards.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.