Make medical tools, local firms urged

Star: PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry is encouraging more local manufacturers to produce medical equipment as the industry is expected to expand by 5% each year.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad said the RM1.2bil medical equipment industry constituted 8% of the health services industry and the demand was increasing.
He said more Malaysians and Asians were expected to face various health problems because of changing lifestyles, similar to the situation in Western countries.
“Local manufacturers should produce equipment that are suitable for Malaysians and Asians using local technology.”
He, however, added that the ministry would not give preference to any specific brand when buying equipment for hospitals but would use products that medical staff can handle easily.
Dr Abdul Latiff was speaking to reporters after launching a locally made haemodialysis machine called “Alice” produced by Chulia Facilities Management, Woodridge Life Sciences Sdn Bhd and Power Choice.
Fifty of the user-friendly machine have been sold locally and exported to India.
On kidney patients in the country, Dr Abdul Latiff said the number was increasing by 3% each year and most of them need at least 13 haemodialysis treatments a month.