KUALA LUMPUR: A harmonisation of Asean medical device industry regulations will be the key to protecting the regional industry from Trump’s tariffs, says the Malaysian Medical Device Manufacturers Association (Perantim).
Perantim president Johari Abu Kasim said this was due to most Asean exporters already beginning to notice a slowdown in exports to the United States as uncertainties surrounding the tariffs continue.
“We must invest and promote innovation in healthcare as a region now or risk being left behind by the rest of the world.
“Raw materials are in abundance here but other Asean countries might not have the same, so there has to be a structure in place for us to share resources among Asean partners,” he said during the International Healthcare Week 2025 on Wednesday (July 16).
He also suggested that Asean countries develop a reciprocal acceptance of market access and tax frameworks to enable easier integration.
Perantim innovation advisor Roy Chin said that Trump’s tariffs on other countries like China had also severely impacted healthcare device innovation in Asean directly.
“The tariffs have impacted the supply of circuit boards, sensors and power systems used in imaging, diagnostics and robotic systems from China.
“This has led to research and development delays due to sourcing shifts and the need to find and test for alternative suppliers,” he said during the same conference.
To overcome this, Chin suggested that Asean medical device developers shift towards modular software-driven innovations that are not as susceptible to tariffs.
He also called on industry players to invest in localised R&D hubs and also partake in co-development programmes with universities or startups in tariff-safe countries.
“This would shorten supply chains for prototype testing and speed up innovation without depending on tariff-prone imports from China."
Chin added that Asean governments should work towards simplifying licensing requirements across the region, similar to those in the European Union.
“This can be done through the existing Asean Medical Device Directive to harmonise classification, registration and post-market surveillance of medical device products, as well as expediting customs between member states.
“We should also look to encourage co-development of domestic component ecosystems such as precision parts in the region by providing better tax incentives, free trade zones or even investment tax allowances,” he added.
