Taking steps to boost export of medical devices
PUTRAJAYA: The export of medical devices, which is already contributing around RM11bil annually, can provide more to the economy once regulations are fully enforced by next year.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the regulatory programme, which comes under Medical Device Act 2012, would play a crucial role in promoting Malaysian-made goods as it would ensure the safety and effectiveness of the devices. The programme covers the manufacturing, maintaining and commissioning of such equipments.
“We want to establish an environment where there is confidence in our products – and with confidence comes greater demand from the international market.
“We are currently in the process of registering locally-made medical devices but the process will take some time. We are talking about recording over 70,000 medical-related products,” he said after opening a seminar on medical devices competency regulatory programme.
Dr Subramaniam said expanding the contribution of the health sector to the economy was in line with Government efforts to look for new potential growth areas.
Malaysian-made medical devices that are being exported today are surgical gloves, orthopedic implants, dental chairs and hospital beds.
Apart from medical devices, pharmaceutical and health tourism are expected to contribute to the Gross National Income. By 2020, the three sectors are expected to generate income in the region of RM35bil, offering high-value employment to 180,000 people.
The target this year is for the pharmaceutical sector to contribute up to RM800mil while revenue from health tourism is expected to be in the tune of RM1bil.
Dr Subramaniam said regulating medical devices would be beneficial to Malaysian consumers because their safety would be protected as manufacturers would be made responsible in ensuring the standards and quality of their products.
The regulatory programme is to ensure competency among those operating medical devices as well as those installing, commissioning, testing, maintaining or disposing such equipments.