News Straits Times, June 25, 2010

PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry expects the medical appliances and equipment industry, along with the pharmaceutical industry, to contribute RM10 billion to the country's economy over the next 10 years.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the anticipated growth was in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's National Key Economic Area thrusts.

"There is a lot of room for us to encourage growth in these industries and the ministry is now pushing the local companies to produce quality products for export purposes.

He said the both the industries contributed up to RM4 billion annually to the economy and was hoping to reach the target of RM5.7 billion by 2015.

"Our aim now is to improve the quality of our generic medication to boost exports and improve the grade of medical machinery produced by our local companies.

"Even now, I believe the quality of our locally produced pharmaceuticals and medical machinery are impressive, but we want to improve this further."

Liow was speaking after conferring more than 550 excellence awards to the ministry staff here yesterday.

He also said there was no need to worry over the recent reports on the death of a fisherman due to malaria.

"The situation is under control and the malaria disease for that case was not locally contracted."

He said the state Health Department had tested 122 locals and 219 foreigners within the same area following the fisherman's death. The test results for all 341 residents there proved negative.