LOCAL medical device developer Go Medical Industries has been awarded a $2.06 million Federal Government AusIndustry grant to develop a treatment system for drug addictions. According to Go Medical chief executive Patsy Graieg, the grant will be used to develop and test the system is expected to be ready for sale to the health sector in two to three years, depending on its success in testing. Mrs Graieg said the treatment ess-entially consisted of a naltrexone implant and had many possible buyers, ranging from the Ministry of Justice to the healthcare industry. She said it could also be eventually exported with similar systems currently being used by mining companies overseas for the drug treatment of workers in developing countries. Go Medical has been in business since 1986 and operates out of its head office in Subiaco as well as three associated offices and factories in the eastern states, Europe and Asia. Founder George O’Neil spent 10 years in research and development working on products in Europe, Africa and Australia, before starting the company. Standard medical devices such as multi-line intravenous were the company’s “bread and butter”, according to Mrs Graieg, however the group began to develop the addiction device about six years ago. The grant was part of the latest round of R&D grants announced by Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane as part of the Government’s Commercial Ready program.
