[KUALA LUMPUR] While Malaysia harbours ambitions to become a global offshore manufacturing hub for medical devices, industry players say a severe shortage of talent is hindering the country’s progress as it seeks to move up the value chain.

The country has a long history of producing medical devices for multinationals, with close to 300 medical technology – or medtech – firms setting up their regional headquarters or an office in the country.

Data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia indicates that exports in professional, scientific and controlling instruments and apparatus (including medical devices) totalled RM42.9 billion (S$12.6 billion) in 2021. This marked a nearly 54 per cent increase from RM27.9 billion in 2017.