Pharmaceuticals are substances that are developed and manufactured through drug development for the prevention, treatment, mitigation, or diagnosis of disease. Pharmaceuticals can be chemically synthesized or derived from natural substances, such as plants, animals, or microorganisms. Pharmaceuticals treat diseases by affecting the physiological processes of an organism, such as inhibiting the growth of pathogens and modulating the patient's immune system.
Medical devices are instruments, equipment, apparatus or other similar items used for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment or mitigation of disease. Medical devices usually do not directly affect the physiological processes of an organism, but rather help patients by providing support, monitoring, replacing or improving bodily functions. There are many types of medical devices, including pacemakers, artificial joints, blood glucose meters, and surgical instruments.
Pharmaceuticals and medical devices play different roles in the medical field. Pharmaceuticals directly treat diseases by intervening in the physiological processes of an organism mainly through chemical or biological means. Medical devices, on the other hand, help patients restore or improve physiological functions by providing auxiliary or alternative functions.