Malaysia chooses med device industry as major growth driver

More than 50% of Malaysia's medical devices production focuses on gloves. But the Southeast Asian nation is developing policies to diversify the industry in its country and use it as a generator of high-paying jobs. A major Malaysian economic development official told the Borneo Post of plans to bring in more higher-paying device industry jobs that require college and university degrees, and to place the industry into the driver's seat for the economy. The goal, the official said, is to "make the country a high income nation by 2010." So far, 190 device companies have invested in Malaysia's medical device industry, according to the story; 25 are multinationals. The country isn't just focusing on manufacturing; growth plans also involve a focus on medical advice testing and clinical trials. Story