The Apple Watch‘s irregular rhythm notification feature has been approved by health authorities in Australia, likely paving the way for the device’s full ECG functionality to soon be approved.
Australian publication EFTM, the Apple Watch ability to check your heart rate has been added to the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). While this means that Apple is allowed to use this particular feature, it is not the same as full ECG approval.
As noted by EFTM, this is the first indication that Apple has submitted its Apple Watch system for testing and approval in Australia. The ARTG entry refers to notifying the user of an issue but does not indicate that the ECG function can be used.
Apple’s ECG feature first debuted alongside the release of the Apple Watch Series 4 in 2018 and has been slowly gaining government approval around the globe. The ECG feature is now available in over 60 countries for Apple Watch Series 4, 5, and 6. The ECG functionality allows Apple Watch users to place their finger on the device’s Digital Crown, and 30 seconds later have a reading you can send to your doctor if the results are anything but normal sinus rhythm.
