Bangalore, Sep 15, 2006: According to the Association of Malaysian Medical Industries (AMMI) report, the Malaysian medical devices industry is expected to continue to register an average year-on-year growth of eight percent over the next few years.

 

Data indicates that the revenue in 2005 from AMMI members alone totaled to approximately $9 million. The Third Industrial Master Plan (IMP3) estimates that including non-members, the revenue of the entire industry is approximately $1.3 billion.

 

Surgical and examination gloves, catheters and condoms, which accounted for 85 per cent of exports in 2005, dominate the Malaysian medical device industry. Other medical devices manufactured locally include needles, medical and surgical instruments and appliances, and orthopedic appliances.

 

The existing players and new entrants in the market are expected to spur the industry in the coming years. Malaysia produces 80 percent of the world's rubber-based catheters and 60 percent of the world's surgical gloves. But the growth in each of these two segments is not as big as other products, and additionally these products are now facing price competition from other countries. Hence, other medical devices produced here like non-rubber catheters, surgical drapes and gowns and medical tubing are expected to make a big leap over the next few years.

 

The industry is exploring opportunities to bring production from the US and Japan in Malaysia or by doing contract manufacturing for foreign firms. Demand for these products are also in line with the overall increase in life expectancy, better education, higher demand from hospitals as well as factors like diseases and war. The industry is also constantly exploring the opportunities for new players to begin production in the area of implantable products (like hip joints), combination products (drug coated devices) and home care (dialysis machine) in Malaysia.

 

AMMI is also working closely with the government bodies to help in areas dealing with international standards on medical devices and to form linkages to supporting industries. AMMI also does training, provides a platform for networking as well as guidance on world regulation such as The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US and Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (TGA) of Australia.

 

The association is extending its services to the Ministry of Health to draw up the Medical Devices Act and also to form regulations for the medical devices to meet international standards.