The health ministry, through the Medical Device Authority (MDA), has given the green light to Apple’s sleep apnoea detection feature. While the medical feature already received approval in the US when it launched alongside the Apple Watch Series 10, it had not gotten clearance from local authorities in Malaysia, meaning it is still unavailable here, but that might be changing soon.
According to the MDA, the software has been approved as a feature to identify patterns of breathing interruptions that suggest moderate to severe sleep apnoea. It officially gave the green light on 2 January 2025 and states that it is intended for adults over that age of 18 who have not previously received a sleep apnoea diagnosis.
Notably, the listing adds that the feature is not intended to diagnose, treat, or aid in the management of sleep apnea. Moreover, the lack of a notification does not necessarily mean the user does not have the breathing disorder.
The detection feature is available on an Apple Watch Series 9 or later as well as the Watch Ultra 2. Given the recent approval, it is likely that the tech giant will be rolling out the feature here in a future update.
(Source: MDA)
