24 October 2025

Last week, the Board of Trustees and colleagues from the Global Medical Device Nomenclature (GMDN) Agency convened in London for their annual Board Meeting.

This pivotal gathering marked the start of discussions around the Agency’s next five-year strategy, with a clear focus on serving the evolving needs of stakeholders across the medical device industry and harnessing the power of GMDN data to underpin patient safety.

The meeting provided a valuable opportunity for Trustees and Agency colleagues to connect, collaborate, and reflect on past achievements. The group delved into strategic priorities, considering how the GMDN can proactively support manufacturers, regulators, healthcare providers, and patients in a rapidly shifting global landscape.

Central to these discussions was the question of how best to serve all stakeholders. Trustees shared insights from their diverse backgrounds, highlighting the importance of transparent communication, robust data standards, and responsive services.

GMDN data has become an essential tool for the medical device sector worldwide. By providing a standardised nomenclature for medical devices, the Agency helps ensure that products are identified consistently, supporting regulatory compliance and facilitating global trade. Most crucially, GMDN data plays a vital role in patient safety—enabling swift identification of devices, efficient tracking, and effective incident management.

Deniz Bruce, CEO of the GMDN Agency, took the opportunity to express heartfelt thanks to everyone involved. “I would like to sincerely thank our Trustees for giving up their valuable time and sharing their expertise, and to our dedicated team for helping shape the future direction of the GMDN Agency. Together, we are building on our strong foundations and ensuring that our work continues to have a meaningful, positive impact across the global medical device community.”

Trustees emphasised the need to continually enhance the quality and accessibility of GMDN data being used in the real world. As the Agency looks ahead, there is a shared ambition to further leverage data analytics and digital platforms to empower stakeholders and help to reinforce the safety net for patients.

John Wilkinson, Chair of the GMDN Agency Board of Trustees, said: “The Board working in concert with the team at GMDN is key to developing the next iteration of our strategy in a rapidly changing world. Bringing a wide range of skills and perspectives together helps all of us to contribute more effectively and that should lead to plans which continue to add value to global health systems and, of course, better outcomes for patients.”