PETALING JAYA, Dec 6 (Bernama) -- Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai today spoke of the importance of primary prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCD) by all Malaysians to check the rise in the number of sufferers.
He said the Health Ministry was giving special focus to the wellness paradigm by disseminating information on preventive measures to inform the people of the dangers of NCD.
Data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2011 showed a high prevalence of NCD such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and chronic respiratory ailments in Malaysia and the rest of the world, he said.
"In 2011, diabetes was prevalent in 2.6 million of the Malaysian population aged 18 and above; hypertension, 5.8 million population; hypercholesterolaemia or high cholesterol, 6.2 million population; and obesity, 2.5 million population.
"These numbers are most worrying because the NCD can put pressure on the sufferers in terms of medical costs and jeopardise their daily life activities," he said when launching the "Medik TV Live Now" channel, here.
Also present at the event were Health Ministry secretary-general Datuk Kamarul Azaman Md Isa and Medic Media Network Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Dr Rahman Ismail.
At a news conference after the launch, Liow said the ministry was more focused at one time on dissemination of information on the modes of treatment of diseases and enhancing the quality of medical equipment facilities.
"These efforts produced results, and the time has come for us to focus on preventive measures," he said.
"Medik TV", a channel disseminating information on health under the auspices of the ministry, will begin its broadcast at hospitals and 1Malaysia clinics in the country next month.
In his speech, Liow said the channel had begun broadcast at selected hospitals and clinics in the Klang Valley, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka.
"Under the first phase, we provided 1,612 television sets to carry the Medik TV broadcast at 252 locations, covering government hospitals and 1Malaysia clinics.
"Facilities for broadcast to the whole country are expected to be ready in January 2013," he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Rahman said Medik TV was seen as a good platform for more effective dissemination of health information.
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