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GEORGE TOWN: The Association of Malaysian Medical Industries (AMMI) is projecting the overseas sales of medical devices to hit RM16.88bil this year, up 10% from last year’s RM15.35bil.

AMMI chairman Hitendra Joshi said the association was also projecting the exports of AMMI members to grow in tandem with the forecast for the growth in overseas medical device sales this year.

Last year, AMMI members’ export sales were RM6.2bil, or 40% of the RM15.35bil. “Of the RM15.35bil in total exports, medical gloves dominated with a total of RM10.53bil last year. Catheters, syringes, needles and sutures accounted for RM1.57bil.

“The remaining RM3.25bil came from medical and surgical X-ray apparatus, electro-medical equipment, ophthalmic lenses, dental instruments, medical furniture and other medical instruments and appliances,” he added.

Joshi said there had been a steady increase in cumulative investments in the medical device companies of AMMI members over the years, growing from RM1.8bil in 2009 to RM3.4bil last year.

“The AMMI Industry Survey last year showed that 62% of local raw materials and services at a value of RM2.1bil was used for manufacturing medical devices in the country,” he added.

Joshi said whenever possible, AMMI members would source locally, as it was more cost-effective.

As seen in The Star, Business News, 25 June 2014

GEORGE TOWN, June 20 (Bernama) — The Association of Malaysian Medical Industries (AMMI) expects the export of medical device to hit RM16.88 billion this year, a 10 per cent growth from RM15.35 billion in 2013

Chairman Hitendra Joshi said of the RM15.35 billion in total export last year, medical gloves dominated the medical device industry at RM10.53 billion, while catheters, syringes, needles and sutures accounted for RM1.57 billion.

“The remaining RM3.25 billion came from medical and surgical X-ray apparatus, electro-medical equipment, ophthalmic lenses, dental instruments, medical furniture and other medical instruments and appliances,” he told a press conference after a media briefing on the medical device industry outlook 2014 here Friday.

Joshi said the AMMI Industry Survey last year also recorded a high percentage of 62 per cent local content or worth RM2.1 billion, local raw materials and service sources at RM1.1 billion and RM1.0 billion respectively.

“Whenever possible, we will try to buy locally, because firstly it is in the ringgit, making it cost-effective, and secondly, it is easier to manage delivery and supply when using a local supplier.

“Nevertheless, as an industry that caters to the global market, we need to achieve global standards. Hence, imports are also necessary to support the requirements of the manufacturing sector,” he added.

Meanwhile, Joshi said that AMMI will organise a forum on the impact of the Malaysian Medical Device Regulations in collaboration with the Medical Device Authority (MDA) on June 23.

“This is to ensure smooth implementation of the Medical Device Regulations 2012, the subsidiary legislation under the Medical Device Act 2012, which will come into force on July 1,” he added.

He said AMMI has invited notable speakers and panelists who are experts in the industry to share their knowledge on the Regulations and Act 737.

“The forum serves as a platform for open discussion among the medical device industry, and the objective is to guide it towards ensuring the safety, efficacy and quality of medical devices placed in and exported from Malaysia,” Joshi added.

— BERNAMA

As seen in Bernama News, 20 June 2014