Materia Medica Malaysiana

Anti-ageing medicine to be introduced if effective

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government will introduce anti-ageing medicine in hospitals if it is proven to be effective in treating or reversing ageing-related diseases.

Health Ministry Family Health Development director Datuk Dr Narimah Awin said such medicine presented a new perspective and a paradigm shift in the population's healthcare.

“The Government will incorporate it (in the healthcare system) if there is evidence that anti-ageing medicine is good for the Malaysian population,” she said at the First Malaysian Conference on Anti-Ageing Medicine yesterday.

“Ageing and disease affects us as we grow older. Some of the challenges that accompany the ageing population must be seen as opportunities.

“There are several opportunities to enhance the quality of life of older people, and one such opportunity is offered by anti-ageing medicine.

“We need to consider anti-ageing medicine in the light of the Malaysian social and health scenario,” said Dr Narimah, who is also secretary to the Health Ministry's National Council for Anti-Ageing.

Anti-ageing medicine, a RM200bil industry in the United States, is the practice of early detection, prevention and treatment or reversal of ageing-related dysfunctions.

Dr Narimah said there was a need to increase the level of awareness and to determine the health service scope to ensure equal access of the medicine for the ageing population.

While ageing is an inevitable natural process, she added, ill health, discomfort, disabilities in old age should not be seen as inevitable. “You can’t help growing older, but you don’t have to get old,” Dr Narimah said.

Society for Anti-Ageing Medicine Malaysia president Datuk Dr Harnam Singh said anti-ageing medicine would help to delay or reverse the degenerative diseases of ageing.