The Star bags MDA Award for awareness on health gadgets

PUTRAJAYA: The Star, the flagship of Star Media Group Bhd (SMG), has been conferred the Medical Device Authority’s (MDA) Award for Excellent Service 2023 for its work in promoting public awareness about health gadgets and how they are regulated.

The award was part of MDA’s ongoing efforts and commitment to recognise media partners’ cooperation in raising awareness of the regulatory ecosystem of medical devices.

“The SMG family is honoured to be recognised by MDA and the Health Ministry,” said SMG’s chief content officer Datin Paduka Esther Ng after receiving the award for the newspaper category on behalf of the group from Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

“The Star and its sister platforms will continue highlighting issues affecting the people and what they hold dear.

“We hope to continue working with the ministry to bring forth matters concerning the nation’s health. We both have the same objectives,” she said here yesterday.

Earlier at the event, Dzulkefly also launched MDA’s four-year Strategic Plan 2024-2028, in which he challenged the authority to raise their level so that they could be in the same league as other similar authorities at the international level.

“This strategic plan reflects MDA’s determination to be at the forefront of quality control, safety assurance and industry regulation, especially in our country.

“To ensure our industry remains at the top of the global stage, MDA, as a world-class regulatory body, must also play the role of mentor, catalyst, facilitator, and subsequently, adviser.

“Not only to me as the minister and the ministry, but also to all local and international industry players.

“From the smallest start-ups to those becoming unicorns, or perhaps one day, global giants. This is my challenge to you,” he said.

Also honoured at the event were Bernama Radio and Bernama TV under the radio and television categories respectively, as well as 18 civil servants and MDA staff, in recognition of their services.