PAS 277 recommendations for developers of health and wellness apps, intending to meet the needs of health care professionals, patients, carers and the wider public. It includes a set of quality criteria and covers the app project life cycle, through the development, testing, releasing and updating of an app, including native, hybrid and web-based apps, those apps associated with wearable, ambient and other health equipment and apps that are linked to other apps. It also addresses fitness for purpose and the monitoring of usage.
Note 1: The development and placing on the market, including free of charge, of a health and wellness app may be covered by certain legislation, for example, the Medical Devices Directive.
Note 2: The focus of PAS 277 is on commodity apps available through app repositories, but may also be relevant to specialized applications running on other platforms.
Note 3: PAS 277 is not intended to replace documentation provided by platform curators on requirements for apps made available on the platform unless referenced by platform curators.
Note 4: PAS 277 is not intended to cover apps for enforcement or legal advice purposes. For example, apps used to monitor alcohol levels for drivers are out of scope.
Note 5: PAS 277 does not cover the processes or criteria that an app developer or publisher follow to establish whether a health and wellness app is subject to regulatory control (e.g., as a medical device, or related to information governance).
PAS 277 on health and wellness apps is useful for:
Why should you use PAS 277 - Health and wellness apps -Code of practise with quality standards for all stages of life?
Any component of the user's physical, emotional, or social wellbeing, or any other issue of care or wellbeing, can be improved with a health and wellness app.
PAS 277 establishes a set of principles for health and wellness app developers to follow throughout the life cycle of an app project, ensuring that health care professionals, patients, and the general public have confidence in their products and services. PAS 277 intends to promote healthcare innovation and the creation of high-quality, fit-for-purpose apps that are both safe and effective.
Overall, PAS 277 apps have the potential to change the way health care is delivered in the future, and they can help you define the quality requirements for apps.