Deputy minister calls for industry participation in medical devices sector

SIBU: Deputy Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Minister Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee has called for increased participation of industry players in the medical field to explore opportunities within the medical devices industry.

He said that unlike the pharmaceutical industry, which is largely dominated by larger companies and entails a highly rigorous process, the medical devices industry may not require such a stringent procedure.

“If you read a medical journal today, it might not be relevant next week anymore (as medical journal relevance diminishes over time as the medical field progresses), and there are so many medical journals that you have to read.

“That’s why I think there are still a lot of things that we can produce in terms of medical devices,” he said in his speech at the Medical Innovation Seminar at the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) at its campus here yesterday (Jan 13).

Taking robotics invention as an example, the Nangka assemblyman said that it has demonstrated an incredibly precise approach in the medical field and has served as a source of inspiration for all to generate innovative ideas.

“It is also crucial to work alongside private enterprises as they play a pivotal role in commercialising your research products. Going solo in research endeavours may not be feasible; hence, a collaborative effort is imperative,” he said.

The Chairman of the UTS’s Board of Governors also advised industry players to use all the resources available to assist them with their innovation, such as research grants from the Sarawak Research and Development Council, which can be applied online.

Speaking about the seminar, Dr Annuar expressed his hope for more similar events, assuring his full support.

The first-ever medical innovation seminar, featuring 10 experts as its speakers, was organised by UTS’s School of Engineering and Technology (UTS SET) in collaboration with Twin Catalyst Sdn Bhd.

Also present was UTS deputy vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Shahril Osman and others.