Special training for doctors

It is back to school for doctors and nurses.
They will be given special training in handling patients with diabetes and hypertension. The training will include the latest techniques.
This is one of the measures being taken by the Government which is concerned over the alarming increase in the number of Malaysians suffering from these two conditions.
The Health Ministry is also setting up units in hospitals and clinics to treat those suffering from diabetes and hypertension.
Speaking at a Press conference after opening the International Conference on Health Communication (Healthcom 2005), Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said a committee had been established to examine the adequacy of patient care, ways to reduce risks faced by patients, and measures to improve the monitoring of both conditions.
He said the estimated 800,000 diabetics and three million hypertension sufferers made up almost 30 per cent of those seeking out-patient treatment.
The units would be modelled after maternity and paediatric clinics, which had cut the mortality rate of expectant mothers and children.
"This will mean patients seeking treatment will not need to crowd the OPD and they will not have to wait a long time to get treatment," he said.
A study of patients in Johor Baru, Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur and Penang hospitals found that government hospitals and clinics lacked the specialisation, facilities and documentation of private hospitals and clinics.
The studies also revealed that a number of patients did not come for follow-up treatment and often could not be contacted.
Healthcom 2005 is a two-day event at which 24 health and communication experts from several countries will discuss various issues, including consumer- driven healthcare services, sexuality education, HIV/ AIDS, telemedicine and doctor-patient relationships.
The special envoy to the United Nations secretary- general on HIV/AIDS, Dr Nafis Sadik, delivered the keynote address on achieving the UN’s Millennium Development Goals through communication.
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