Medical Device Industry Supply Outlook Remains Stable Amid Geopolitical Uncertainty, Says Economy Minister

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 — The supply outlook for the medical device industry remains stable despite ongoing global geopolitical uncertainty, according to Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.

Based on a supply-risk assessment conducted as of Aug 5, Akmal Nasrullah highlighted that 81.3 per cent of medical-device items were categorized as low risk, while 18.7 per cent were classified as medium risk.

Delivering his keynote address at the International Medical Device Exhibition and Conference (IMDEC) 2026 today, he emphasized that Malaysia’s approach focuses on combining market diversification with stronger domestic manufacturing capabilities to build resilience before potential supply-chain disruptions worsen.

“The objective is not to step away from global value chains, but to strengthen Malaysia’s position within them and enhance our ability to respond to future disruptions,” Akmal Nasrullah said.

He noted that Malaysia’s established medical-device ecosystem—backed by capabilities in electronics, precision engineering, plastics, packaging, sterilisation, and advanced manufacturing—generated RM34.54 billion in exports in 2025, demonstrating the country’s significant presence in global healthcare supply chains.

To solidify Malaysia’s position as a regional medical technology hub, Akmal Nasrullah called for closer collaboration between clinicians, researchers, engineers, manufacturers, regulators, and investors. He added that empowering local small and medium enterprises to become specialized suppliers and regional exporters will ensure that medical technology delivers a double dividend of economic growth and improved healthcare quality.

–NMT