UTM aspires to produce affordable, high quality hemodialysers in two years

JOHOR BARU: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) aims to make Malaysia one of the producers of low-cost, high quality dialysis machines or hemodialysers in the next two years.
This is due to the ever increasing number of patients with End Stage Renal Failure and the high medical care costs incurred by the government and patients.
UTM deputy vice-chancellor (research and innovation) Prof Dr Ahmad Fauzi Ismail said to date, only four countries, namely China, Japan, Germany, and the United States were manufacturers of the dialysis apparatus.
"Currently, local hospitals and hemodialysis centres depend entirely on these machines which are imported from foreign countries.
"However, with sufficient funds, we are able to produce the same hemodialysis machines at much lower cost and which are of high quality in the next two years," he told reporters at the Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre, Chemical and Energy Engineering Faculty, UTM here today.

Ahmad Fauzi said there were four phases to the project, of which the first phase would see the preparation of 1,000 hemodialysis machines which would require a fund of RM5 million for marketing purposes.
"The second phase will see the design and construction of the hemodialysis machines, which require additional funding of RM15 million, while feasibility studies, pre-clinical and clinical trials would be conducted within the next five years," he said.
UTM had managed to create a hemodialyser prototype whereby the blood cleansing rate was 30% faster than other hemodialyser products available in the market, he noted.
Ahmad Fauzi said by the signing of the memorandum of understanding with Foresight Industries Sdn Bhd, Foresight would provide a clean room for UTM to run its experiments.
According to National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia statistics, the number of kidney failure patients has increased from 12,182 patients in 2005 to 38,157 last year, and the figure is expected to rise to 43,000 patients this year.
"One in 12 Malaysians is at risk of developing kidney disease which will result in them losing 85 to 90% of their kidney function.
"As for costs, each patient spends an average RM25,272 a year to undergo treatment and the total cost of treatment could reach over RM960 million," said Ahmad Fauzi, adding that with local hemodialyser products available, the costs could be reduced by up to 30% or RM280 million.
He said UTM had the aspiration, technical expertise and manpower needed to produce local hemodialyser products which would have a significant impact on society in the country.
Local companies interested in becoming investors for the products can call 07-5535592 or e-mail: afauzi@utm.my for further information. — Bernama