A County Down healthcare company is investing £19 million in a new research and development (R&D) centre at its Comber headquarters, creating 16 new jobs.
Eakin Healthcare, which specialises in medical devices for Ostomy, wound, respiratory and surgical needs, is in the process of creating an Ostomy Centre of Excellence to broaden its product lines. It said it wants to create the next generation of ostomy pouches as well as skin friendly medical adhesives to help people who have had stoma surgery.
The family-owned business was founded 50 years ago by former pharmacist Tom Eakin in an effort to help a family member who had had a urostomy, has grown substantially in recent years, exporting its products globally.
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Padraic Dempsey, CEO of Eakin Healthcare, said the patient has always been at the heart of everything the company does.
“As we have an aging population with more chronic conditions, our purpose continues to be ensuring that we help people to live as normal a life as possible,” he said. “Our new Centre of Excellence will support us to achieve this by developing life enhancing products which will support people who have had stoma surgery globally to lead a life with confidence and dignity for many years to come.”
Eakin Healthcare’s investment was supported by Invest Northern Ireland. Dr Vicky Kell, Director of Innovation, Research and Development at Invest Northern Ireland, said such investments are vital for the Northern Ireland economy.
“Today’s announcement secures the future of Eakin as a homegrown pioneer in Ostomy healthcare, while simultaneously enhancing Northern Ireland’s reputation as a global centre of innovation in engineering and healthcare. It’s also great to see this investment supporting the creation of up to 16 new roles within the company’s R&D, Operation and Commercial teams at its Comber facility.”