DOI: 10.1136/bmjinnov-2025-001517 ISSN: 2055-8074

Future of equity in MedTech

Tafadzwa Patience Kunonga, Niina Kolehmainen, Katie Twentyman, Michael Crichton, Keith David Logan, Chris Marshall, Alastair Denniston, Dawn Craig, Jane Mcdermott, Andrew Mkwashi

Technological innovation in healthcare offers transformative potential but continues to reproduce inequities in access, safety and outcomes. Drawing on insights from a cross-sector workshop and recent evidence, this paper discusses how equity can be embedded across the medical technology (MedTech) innovation pathway, from research and development to design, regulation and deployment. We propose that equity should be treated as a core dimension of quality and safety rather than an ethical add-on, and outline practical approaches for integrating inclusive design, transparent data practices and equitable regulatory expectations. By conceptualising equity as both a technical and a moral imperative, the discussion highlights the need for shared accountability across innovators, regulators, procurers and health systems. Embedding these principles into existing frameworks and processes would enable MedTech innovation to deliver more just and effective health outcomes and ensure that no population is left behind.

More from our Archive