Some pacemakers have been found to cause patients electric shocks.(ABC News: Alison Branley)

Patients affected by malfunctioning medical devices are angry the Federal Government is quietly delaying important safety reforms until the end of next year.

Changes to the oversight of medical devices were due to be introduced in three months, but will now be delayed until November 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A statement on the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) website said: “Reflecting the challenges identified by the medical devices industry and healthcare professionals as they have focused on the COVID-19 crisis, the Australian Government intends asking the Governor-General to agree to the proposed delay of … a number of medical device reforms.”

Patient groups said the delays could put patient safety at risk.

The full article was published by ABC News on the 21st June 2020