ECG outside US - solutions wanted!

[Kerry78]

Sounds like a good feature to have! But shame it is not available on other region watches except for America!

 

[bbednarz]

Actually it does because according to an Engadget article, Canada claims they haven’t been approached by Apple for approval yet.

I am just going to use common sense and assume that Apple is trying to get it approved everywhere. Why would they intentionally hold back their newest and most break thru feature? That doesn't make any sense.

 

[Rod1949]

I’m from Canada and disappointed as well but not surprised. When the AW4 was first released the ECG was only ever mentioned on the Apple US site and there was no mention of it on the Canada site. Even today there is no mention of it on the Canada site. Only mentions health things like monitoring your heart rate for problems and then shows pulse rate pictures. It likely will never come to Canada which is of course really disappointing for all those that would benefit from it. For me it would just be a gimmick that would be played with a few times and then forgot about.

I watched Tim Cook do the dog and pony show about all the things the new Apple Watch was going to do including the ECG feature. I don’t remember him saying, “but only in the USA not Canada or anywhere else”. And when I bought my watch at the Apple store I was left with the impression the ECG app would be released in late 2018 or the 1st quarter of 2019 and it would be released in the US first but likely a few weeks later it would be available in Canada. I didn’t really care as I was leaving for the US so thought I would just be able to get the app when I got to the US, just like the Ralph’s app which isn’t available in Canada. I must admit I didn’t compare webs sites but still think I was sold a bit of a story because of the hype. If I had know I would have waited the 4 days and bought my Apple Watch when I arrived in Palm Springs, yes I bought the watch 4 days before coming to the US.
[doublepost=1549318220][/doublepost]

Actually it does because according to an Engadget article, Canada claims they haven’t been approached by Apple for approval yet.

This is the latest news I could find, it’s from early Dec 2018
https://www.iphoneincanada.ca/watch/health-canada-apple-watch-ekg/
[doublepost=1549318700][/doublepost]

Has anyone gone to USA with Canadian Watch and updated there and get ECG working, or even reset the watch in US?

I’ve been in the USA for 3 months and my Canadian watch doesn’t have the ECG app, I’ve got IOS 5.1.3 on my watch. Buy a watch in the USA and take it anywhere in the world and the ECG app works, buy a watch outside the USA and you don’t get the ECG app.

 

[itsmemuffins]

It’s a pretty absurd situation really. You buy the aw4 from the US and can use the ecg in any unapproved country. You buy your watch from outside the US but won’t be able to use the ect in the US. furthermore the small print says the Apple Watch isn’t a medical device. Why would they need approval then?

 

[brentc133]

It’s a pretty absurd situation really. You buy the aw4 from the US and can use the ecg in any unapproved country. You buy your watch from outside the US but won’t be able to use the ect in the US. furthermore the small print says the Apple Watch isn’t a medical device. Why would they need approval then?

Your typical politics and bureaucracy.

 

[hull22]

It’s a pretty absurd situation really. You buy the aw4 from the US and can use the ecg in any unapproved country. You buy your watch from outside the US but won’t be able to use the ect in the US. furthermore the small print says the Apple Watch isn’t a medical device. Why would they need approval then?

You just stumbled upon the next great Apple innovation, watch-based Electroconvulsive Therapy.

 

[Azathoth123]

You just stumbled upon the next great Apple innovation, watch-based Electroconvulsive Therapy.

I’m waiting on Alternate Reality....

 

[r9800pro]

I got my AW4 just 5 days ago from brother in law who sent it to me in Egypt from Kuwait. Kuwait's sites have ECG feature advertised everywhere and I, too, was under the assumption Apple got all clearances done.

I did an Angioplasty and stenting just 2 weeks ago and was really hoping for the ECG to help me.

I was wondering if a Jailbreak for iOS 12.x.x is released soon, will it be easy to have the ECG app installed from the iPhone to the AW4 easily, or it is a definitive WatchOS limitation?

If there is no way to get it, I guess my only option is to sell the IW4.

 

[cdcastillo]

The title says it all.

Please post your verified solution to making ECG available on non-US bought and non-US located phone and watch.

Go to the US and buy your watch there. Presto.

 

[mrex]

Tim Cook cannot release a product like this until it receives the necessary approval in your country. This has nothing to do with Tim Cook.

apple had all the time to get all necessary approval far before product was released. it is already mentioned that apple hasnt even left applications in some countries when asked from the authority. i asked about it before xmas in my country, and they didnt find any documents about it.

 

[Shanghaichica]

apple had all the time to get all necessary approval far before product was released. it is already mentioned that apple hasnt even left applications in some countries when asked from the authority. i asked about it before xmas in my country, and they didnt find any documents about it.

This is not a straight forward thing. It can take years. It’s a long processs.

 

[hull22]

I got my AW4 just 5 days ago from brother in law who sent it to me in Egypt from Kuwait. Kuwait's sites have ECG feature advertised everywhere and I, too, was under the assumption Apple got all clearances done.

I did an Angioplasty and stenting just 2 weeks ago and was really hoping for the ECG to help me.

I was wondering if a Jailbreak for iOS 12.x.x is released soon, will it be easy to have the ECG app installed from the iPhone to the AW4 easily, or it is a definitive WatchOS limitation?

If there is no way to get it, I guess my only option is to sell the IW4.

Why do you think your Apple Watch EKG is going to help you after coronary intervention? It's designed to look for atrial fibrillation not ischemic heart disease. Are you trained in reading EKGs otherwise?

 

[haruhiko]

Given Apple's history in dealing with features depending on geographic locations, it can take years before the ECG appear in other countries (or never...). Even the HomePod, which only depends on localised Siri and Apple Music (i.e. not government approval), is only available in a few countries as of now...

 

[r9800pro]

Why do you think your Apple Watch EKG is going to help you after coronary intervention? It's designed to look for atrial fibrillation not ischemic heart disease. Are you trained in reading EKGs otherwise?

I want to be able to check for any abnormalities and no, I can't read EKGs but I have doctor friends who can and it would be good to be able to share such data with them.

 

[hull22]

I want to be able to check for any abnormalities and no, I can't read EKGs but I have doctor friends who can and it would be good to be able to share such data with them.

I never order heart monitors after I have a patient receive a stent. It is of little benefit. More important that you take your medications and report symptoms of chest pain, etc. Need EKG findings will not be the thing to prompt further testing or concerns. People greatly misunderstand how EKGs are utilized in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

 

[Rsauerf]

I have a AW bought in USA but I use it in Brazil. I updated both iOS to 12.2 and WatchOS to 5.2 and the ECG function didn't stop working. By the way, my iPhone is a 7 plus bought in Brazil.

 

[Hongkie girl]

I bought my watch from an approved country (Hong Kong) and I’ve travelled out of the country. Unfortunately the ECG app still doesn’t work!

 

[iPhysicist]

And it will not until your country (where at least our phone lives in) does approve ecg because as the watch so does the phone check the country. And when you buy the watch and set it up at home the watch knows not to function there because the phone Provider of a not supported country says so.

 

[Rod1949]

Finally Canada and Singapore have the ECG app. This morning I updated my phone to 12.4 and then my watch to 5.3 and was able to take my first ECG. The expectations was more than the actual test results which were the same as my lab results.
[doublepost=1563892278][/doublepost]

I watched Tim Cook do the dog and pony show about all the things the new Apple Watch was going to do including the ECG feature. I don’t remember him saying, “but only in the USA not Canada or anywhere else”. And when I bought my watch at the Apple store I was left with the impression the ECG app would be released in late 2018 or the 1st quarter of 2019 and it would be released in the US first but likely a few weeks later it would be available in Canada. I didn’t really care as I was leaving for the US so thought I would just be able to get the app when I got to the US, just like the Ralph’s app which isn’t available in Canada. I must admit I didn’t compare webs sites but still think I was sold a bit of a story because of the hype. If I had know I would have waited the 4 days and bought my Apple Watch when I arrived in Palm Springs, yes I bought the watch 4 days before coming to the US.
[doublepost=1549318220][/doublepost]
This is the latest news I could find, it’s from early Dec 2018
https://www.iphoneincanada.ca/watch/health-canada-apple-watch-ekg/
[doublepost=1549318700][/doublepost]
I’ve been in the USA for 3 months and my Canadian watch doesn’t have the ECG app, I’ve got IOS 5.1.3 on my watch. Buy a watch in the USA and take it anywhere in the world and the ECG app works, buy a watch outside the USA and you don’t get the ECG app.

July 23, 2019. 7 months after the USA and finally Canada and Singapore have the ECG app. This morning I updated my phone to 12.4 and then my watch to 5.3 and was able to take my first ECG. The expectations was more than the actual test results which were the same as my lab results.

 

[TheIntruder]

With the release of iOS 13 and watchOS 6, it's a good time to revisit the question as to whether updating to them will affect the ECG function that was successfully activated, but used in unsupported territories?

 

[Rsauerf]

Just updated both iPhone 7 plus to iOS 13 and Apple Watch 4 to WatchOS 6. ECG still working here in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.