Health Minister: Malaysia’s healthcare industry to bring in RM13 bn this year
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr. S.Subramaniam said that Malaysia’s healthcare industry is expected to generate a revenue of nearly RM13 billion this year. The medical devices sector, a key segment of the industry, is expected to contribute RM11 billion in exports, saying that the country manufactures beds, dental chairs and orthopaedic implants in addition to being the world’s largest surgical gloves manufacturer.
Revenue from the health tourism and pharmaceutical sectors are expected to reach RM1 billion and RM800 million respectively.
He said that, overall, the healthcare industry is expected to contribute RM35 billion to Gross National Income (GNI) and create 180,000 jobs by 2020. He spoke to reporters during the Medical Device Competency Seminar in Putrajaya on August 2. The seminar, themed “Towards Implementation of Medical Device Competency Regulatory Programme in Malaysia”, was organised by the Medical Device Authority and Eastwood Park Integrated Academy Sdn Bhd.
Dr.Subramaniam said the seminar will kick off the Medical Device Competency Regulatory Programme, in line with the Medical Device Act 2012 (Act 737). He also said that the programme would ensure competency among persons using or operating a medical device or a person installing, commissioning, testing, maintaining or disposing of a medical device to demonstrate conformity to the requirements of the Act.
“There are 4,000 personnel in this country working in this field and they should be trained properly to ensure that they meet all the requirements of the Act,” he said.