The medical Devices Bureau (MDB) of the Malaysian Ministry of Health defines a medical device as all products except medicines, used in healthcare for the diagnosis, prevention, monitoring or treatment of illness or disability. This definition covers a broad range of products as diverse as tongue depressor, contact lenses, condoms, heart valves, ventilators, resuscitators, radiotherapy machines, surgical instruments, syringes, etc.

Penang’s track record of success in the electronic industry coupled with strong base of local suppliers skilled in precision engineering, plastic and tools provide a compelling combination for medical device companies. The breakdown of expertise and specialization of medical device industry in Penang is listed as below:-

Precision & tooling based medical devices

• Orthopaedic instrumentation and products eg. screws, pins, nails, plates, implants, external fixations, etc.
• Surgical equipments eg. scissors, needles, blades, forceps, etc.
• Syringes

Electrical & Electronic based medical devices

• Medical electrodes eg. heart electrodes, neonatal electrodes, ECG.
• Monitoring devices eg. on-line vital monitoring device, heart rate monitor, blood pressure monitor, pulse rate monitor, respiration rate measurement, clinical pump, etc.
• Programmable devices eg. pacemakers, defibrillators, etc.
• Support devices eg. hearing aids including components such as microphones and receivers, contact lenses, etc.
• Scientific instrumentation eg. spectrophotometer, analytical instrumentation.

Automation based medical devices

• Hospital beds, assembly line for medical device production, etc.

Bioabsordable based medical devices

• Sutures.

Plastic & latex based medical devices

• Medical tubes eg. tracheostomy cannulaes, nasal cannulaes, etc.
• Disposables products eg. gloves, gowning, etc.

In-vitro diagnostic devices

• Urine pregnancy test kits, drug abuse test, kits, HIV detection test kits, malaria detection test kits, etc.

Supporting industry

• Contract Packaging Organization.
• Contract Sterilization Organization.