Take time to analyse needs
Comment by Soo Ewe Jin
DOCTORS are methodical people. They make a diagnosis to identify the nature of an illness or problem by examining the symptoms. Then they may venture to offer a prognosis, which is a forecast, especially of the likely cause of an illness or problem.
A good doctor normally remains cool even when people get emotional.
And issues related to health often generate a lot of heat.
This is something for the new Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek to bear in mind.
His training as a medical practitioner will naturally give him a doctor’s perspective even if his political responsibilities may require him to see things from many other different aspects.
Despite not having held any federal positions before, Dr Chua has started on the right track.
His approach to some of the issues has been refreshing.
He recently announced a revamp of the ministry whereby the emphasis should be on quality treatment and better medicine with better equipment rather than just building more hospitals.
And while his dialogue with the Malaysian Medical Association yesterday was in an official capacity, it can also be seen as a meeting with his peers to closely examine the state of the nation’s health.
Malaysia’s public healthcare system, despite a few glitches, is in excellent health.
From the biggest city to the smallest kampung, no Malaysian is deprived of access to healthcare.
The private health industry, on the other hand, is concentrated mainly in certain urban parts of the country although its rapid growth has led to increasing pressures on government healthcare.
And certainly one of the biggest issues must be with regard to the brain drain of government doctors and specialists to the private sector, as pointed out by Dr Chua yesterday.
He has suggested the setting up of private wings in government hospitals as practised at the University Malaya Medical Centre and Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, two hospitals which actually come under the Education Ministry since they are teaching hospitals.
But the proposal must be studied first and it is important that the committee study the plus and minus points of these two examples as well as those from other countries.
And the process must involve feedback not only from the service providers but also more importantly from the patients.
There is no denying that private healthcare is here to stay and will in all likelihood expand further.
But the health ministry must not lose sight of its prime objective of ensuring that healthcare is available to all at affordable charges.
It is too simplistic to say that all doctors in government service are strictly there for a social conviction while doctors in private service are motivated solely by monetary incentives.
When you strip away the external differences between public and private, there is still this common thread of the health practitioners’ desire to heal and live up to the Hippocratic Oath, or “to have a passion to serve the ill,” as Dr Chua puts it.
The patient comes first and the ministry should look into how both the public and private healthcare systems can work symbiotically together.
Opening up private wings may be one way to ensure that government doctors get better incentives to stay on.
But taking away their workload and addressing the issue of a long waiting time may require a different approach.
Take cancer, for example, where statistics show that one in four Malaysians is at risk of getting the disease, which is the same risk as in most developed countries.
Does it mean that every hospital, government or private, should invest in an oncology ward and buy expensive equipment to deal with that many patients?
Should the oncology wards at government hospitals be all transformed into private wings so that the government specialists do not gravitate to the private centres?
There are many cancer patients in some parts of the country who have to travel quite a bit to be treated because not every hospital nearby can afford the facility.
Yet within the Klang Valley, one can have access to many different cancer treatment centres, public or private, within a very tight radius.
Should not the facilities at certain private centres be made available to those who would normally have to go to public wards because they cannot afford private charges?
Once upon a time, only government hospitals could handle radiotherapy and even private patients had to be sent there.
But now that the situation has turned around, why not have both parties work with each other so that while the doctors can remain where they are, the patients can be treated where it is most convenient?
Perhaps the Government can work out a system of charges that will allow private practitioners to help out with government patients at special rates so that a better equilibrium can be achieved.
The Singapore Government has just announced an unprecedented move to allow patients doing liver transplants to pay public hospital rates even if the operation is carried out in a private hospital.
In Britain, the National Health Service turns to the private sector to help deal with long waiting lists, particularly for operations such as hip replacements and cataracts.
The ministry should look at these issues scientifically and quietly and offer us a prognosis only when it is ready.
For instant cures often do not bring about long-term healing.
Malaysian Medical News: keeping you up to date with news sourced from various online sites, put in one place for your convenience, with a searchable archive
Saturday, May 08, 2004
Fomca ‘no’ to private wings
PETALING JAYA: Look for other ways to prevent the brain drain of specialists and doctors because the setting up of private wings in government hospitals is not the solution, said Fomca president Prof Datuk Hamdan Adnan.
Among the ways he suggested was to pay salaries and bonuses that matched the practitioner’s speciality or extend the contract period for those bonded by government scholarships.
“Why is there a need for private wings? It is just encroaching on the Government. We should leave it to the private sector. It also uses government facilities and setting up such wards would mean taking up the area meant for the general public,” he said yesterday.
He said that those who had received medical scholarships from the Government also had the obligation to “give back to the community”.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said on Thursday his ministry was looking into the feasibility of setting up private wings in government hospitals to halt the brain drain of specialists and doctors.
There are private wings at the University Malaya Medical Centre and Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
HUKM’s hospital director and consultant endocrinologist Prof Datuk Dr Khalid Abdul Kadir said the move was a long awaited one.
Dr Khalid, who set up the private wing at HUKM, added that the trick was to ensure that doctors did not spend too much time in the private wings.
“They are government doctors first and then in their extra time work privately. They must not take time off from their public service,” he said, adding that while the HUKM private wing had not prevented doctors and specialists from leaving, some nevertheless continued working at the hospital.
CAP medical advisor Dr T. Jayabalan said there were also infrastructure issues to consider. “There is a shortage of upper class wards even in public hospitals, so how do we accommodate the influx of patients into the public hospitals? This could lead to depriving the poor patient and converting the beds for the use of privatised wings.”
Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia president Datuk Dr Ridzwan Bakar said that a position paper on the matter would be submitted to the Health Ministry.
“In the 1960s, government doctors were allowed to see private patients but this practice was ceased due to various reasons,” he said
PETALING JAYA: Look for other ways to prevent the brain drain of specialists and doctors because the setting up of private wings in government hospitals is not the solution, said Fomca president Prof Datuk Hamdan Adnan.
Among the ways he suggested was to pay salaries and bonuses that matched the practitioner’s speciality or extend the contract period for those bonded by government scholarships.
“Why is there a need for private wings? It is just encroaching on the Government. We should leave it to the private sector. It also uses government facilities and setting up such wards would mean taking up the area meant for the general public,” he said yesterday.
He said that those who had received medical scholarships from the Government also had the obligation to “give back to the community”.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said on Thursday his ministry was looking into the feasibility of setting up private wings in government hospitals to halt the brain drain of specialists and doctors.
There are private wings at the University Malaya Medical Centre and Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
HUKM’s hospital director and consultant endocrinologist Prof Datuk Dr Khalid Abdul Kadir said the move was a long awaited one.
Dr Khalid, who set up the private wing at HUKM, added that the trick was to ensure that doctors did not spend too much time in the private wings.
“They are government doctors first and then in their extra time work privately. They must not take time off from their public service,” he said, adding that while the HUKM private wing had not prevented doctors and specialists from leaving, some nevertheless continued working at the hospital.
CAP medical advisor Dr T. Jayabalan said there were also infrastructure issues to consider. “There is a shortage of upper class wards even in public hospitals, so how do we accommodate the influx of patients into the public hospitals? This could lead to depriving the poor patient and converting the beds for the use of privatised wings.”
Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia president Datuk Dr Ridzwan Bakar said that a position paper on the matter would be submitted to the Health Ministry.
“In the 1960s, government doctors were allowed to see private patients but this practice was ceased due to various reasons,” he said
Friday, May 07, 2004
Selayang Hospital needs first aid
Dr Jacob George
1:55pm Thu May 6th, 2004
The Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam Selangor (Cassa) welcomes Health Minister Chua Soi Lek’s statement that his ministry, its agencies and government hospitals will be revamped in line with the objective of providing efficient and quality service to the people.
The minister’s statement is timely and addresses the allegation that there was an obsession in the past in of building expensive hospitals while compromising on the need to channel for primary healthcare, quality treatment and better medicine besides upgrading and maintaining hospital equipment.
Cassa maintains that there is a need to strike a balance between developing infrastructure and capacity building in areas such as manpower, treatment and medical supplies in order to optimise the use of the available resources.
There has been a mismatch of priorities in the past and as a result more expensive hospitals than needed were built, for example the Selayang hospital costing millions of ringgit.
Cassa’s investigations over the weekend at the Selayang hospital revealed extensive construction faults, construction omissions, leakages and equipment badly needing repairs.
The hospital has also been vandalised by thefts of signage and other equipment while its corridors are filled with rubbish and cigarette butts no thanks to irresponsible visitors. The building’ security system is also lax.
Cassa appeals to the health minister to take immediate action against contractors appointed by his ministry to undertake maintenance of the hospital but have failed to do so.
Our investigations have revealed that the main contractors have failed to pay external contractors and as a result, several of the external contractors refuse to continue providing service until they are paid for past services and maintenance.
As a result of all this, the quality of medical service to the patient has been seriously compromised.
To protect public interest, the minister should conduct an immediate review of all contracts awarded to those with a monopoly to protect public interest. Cassa is willing to work closely with the minister by providing him a detailed dossier of its observations.
The writer is Cassa’s president and legal adviser.
Dr Jacob George
1:55pm Thu May 6th, 2004
The Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam Selangor (Cassa) welcomes Health Minister Chua Soi Lek’s statement that his ministry, its agencies and government hospitals will be revamped in line with the objective of providing efficient and quality service to the people.
The minister’s statement is timely and addresses the allegation that there was an obsession in the past in of building expensive hospitals while compromising on the need to channel for primary healthcare, quality treatment and better medicine besides upgrading and maintaining hospital equipment.
Cassa maintains that there is a need to strike a balance between developing infrastructure and capacity building in areas such as manpower, treatment and medical supplies in order to optimise the use of the available resources.
There has been a mismatch of priorities in the past and as a result more expensive hospitals than needed were built, for example the Selayang hospital costing millions of ringgit.
Cassa’s investigations over the weekend at the Selayang hospital revealed extensive construction faults, construction omissions, leakages and equipment badly needing repairs.
The hospital has also been vandalised by thefts of signage and other equipment while its corridors are filled with rubbish and cigarette butts no thanks to irresponsible visitors. The building’ security system is also lax.
Cassa appeals to the health minister to take immediate action against contractors appointed by his ministry to undertake maintenance of the hospital but have failed to do so.
Our investigations have revealed that the main contractors have failed to pay external contractors and as a result, several of the external contractors refuse to continue providing service until they are paid for past services and maintenance.
As a result of all this, the quality of medical service to the patient has been seriously compromised.
To protect public interest, the minister should conduct an immediate review of all contracts awarded to those with a monopoly to protect public interest. Cassa is willing to work closely with the minister by providing him a detailed dossier of its observations.
The writer is Cassa’s president and legal adviser.
KL eyeing private wings in govt hospitals
KUALA LUMPUR - The Health Ministry is looking into the feasibility of setting up 'private wings' in government hospitals, to halt the brain drain of specialists and doctors to the private sector.
Health Minister Chua Soi Lek said a committee headed by his deputy, Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad, had been formed to look into all aspects of the proposal, such as legislation, use of human resources and fees, as well as feasibility.
'I expect a working module to be ready within two months,' he told reporters after a dialogue with the Malaysian Medical Association yesterday.
The government had last year proposed the setting up of private wings in public hospitals to attract more medical specialists and enable serving doctors to enjoy better remuneration while providing treatment at reasonable charges.
The wings would offer facilities such as private rooms with attached bathrooms and television.
A private wing is already available at the University Malaya Medical Centre and Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, both under the Education Ministry.
Dr Chua said that, should the arrangement be feasible, a working module covering 'issues like how much time a government doctor is allowed to work in the private wing' would be worked out.
He said there were about 3,000 vacancies in the government medical service now. -- The Star/Asia News Network
KUALA LUMPUR - The Health Ministry is looking into the feasibility of setting up 'private wings' in government hospitals, to halt the brain drain of specialists and doctors to the private sector.
Health Minister Chua Soi Lek said a committee headed by his deputy, Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad, had been formed to look into all aspects of the proposal, such as legislation, use of human resources and fees, as well as feasibility.
'I expect a working module to be ready within two months,' he told reporters after a dialogue with the Malaysian Medical Association yesterday.
The government had last year proposed the setting up of private wings in public hospitals to attract more medical specialists and enable serving doctors to enjoy better remuneration while providing treatment at reasonable charges.
The wings would offer facilities such as private rooms with attached bathrooms and television.
A private wing is already available at the University Malaya Medical Centre and Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, both under the Education Ministry.
Dr Chua said that, should the arrangement be feasible, a working module covering 'issues like how much time a government doctor is allowed to work in the private wing' would be worked out.
He said there were about 3,000 vacancies in the government medical service now. -- The Star/Asia News Network
Thursday, May 06, 2004
KL's Health Ministry to undergo a revamp
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's Health Ministry, its agencies and government hospitals are to be revamped with two priorities in mind: Keeping up with the public's rising expectations and cutting down on waiting time.
The energetic new Health Minister, Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek, announced this in an interview published yesterday.
Today, he will discuss the concerns of medical officers when he meets the Malaysian Medical Association.
It's a busy start for the onetime Johor state councillor, who has only just been elected to Parliament: Datuk Dr Chua inherits the Labis seat once held by Datuk Seri Ling Liong Sik, retired president of the Malaysian Chinese Association.
The medical doctor's speedy takeover at the Health Ministry then unseated another capable Chua, Datuk Chua Jui Meng.
Now he's staking out new ground confidently, saying ministry funds would be channelled towards providing quality treatment, better medicine and upgrading hospital equipment rather than building more hospitals.
'Any mismatch, like building more hospitals than necessary, will be at the expense of the rest,' he explained in a report in The Star.
Dr Chua said the 124 hospitals and more than 4,000 clinics nationwide, which had made health-care facilities available within a 5km radius for all Malaysians, were already adequate to meet the needs of the people.
Similarly, a revamp of the ministry's workforce - which included 1,000 doctors and 27,000 nurses - was to achieve optimal usage of the manpower available.
'Unlike building hospitals, which only takes between three and four years, it takes about seven years to train doctors,' said Dr Chua. 'Many people like to be doctors but not all will qualify or have the passion to serve the ill.'
He said a task force headed by his deputy, Datuk Abdul Latiff Ahmad, would come up with some solutions at the end of this month on how to bring about more efficient delivery of health-care services.
On Malaysia's continuing shortage of doctors - some 3,000 positions go unfilled - he said the situation had improved.
The shortage of doctors has meant delays in patients being attended to.
But Dr Chua compared the present ratio of one doctor for every 1,200 people with the ratio at Independence of a doctor for every 10,000.
That ratio would be further improved to one for every 650 people between 2015 and 2020.
As for retaining doctors in government service, he said the government cannot match the salaries of the private sector but that doctors enjoyed the highest starting salary compared with other professions in the civil service. -- Bernama, TheStar/Asia News Network
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
Preventing stroke
An awareness campaign will be held to make Malaysians more aware of the dangers of stroke, reports MAJORIE CHIEW.
THE National Stroke Association of Malaysia (Nasam) will embark on a nationwide Stroke Awareness Week campaign from this Sunday till May 16. This year’s theme is Let’s Get Physical, because the association hopes to encourage more people to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle to reduce the risks of getting stroke.
Janet Yeo, founder and chairman of Nasam, says: “Exercise and a healthy living are the best preventive measures that anyone can take to prevent stroke. Prevention is the best defence because stroke recovery is a long and costly process.”
Nasam’s forthcoming Stroke Awareness Week campaign is the second, after its inaugural one in 2002. The association is taking stroke cases seriously because stroke is the third leading killer disease in Malaysia after heart attack and cancer.
Some people may even be unaware that they had minor strokes and may not even make it to the hospital. Instead, they may visit doctors in clinics or seek traditional treatment. Some recover and carry on with life, not realising that the next stroke may kill, if not debilitate them.
“With a heart attack, one feels the pain,” she says. “And one is likely to rush to the hospital. But in a stroke, one doesn’t feel anything except discomfort and dizziness.”
By learning about the warning signs and symptoms of stroke, one can take precautions to prevent a major stroke.
“It’s cheaper to prevent stroke by knowing the signs and symptoms of stroke and leading a healthy lifestyle,” she emphasises.
She debunks a myth about stroke – some people perceive it as a disease of the sickly and elderly. She warns that stroke can also strike young people!
Nasam was set up eight years ago with a dual mission – to provide stroke care and to educate the public about reducing the risk of stroke.
“We help stroke survivors to believe that there’s life after stroke,” says Yeo.
Only a small percentage of stroke cases have access to rehabilitation facilities. Hence, Nasam deems that public education on stroke prevention, especially in rural areas, is a crucial part of its work.
Nasam has grown from a small support grown set up in November 1996 to an association with over 1,000 members, who are stroke survivors. It provides group physio, occupational and speech therapies for its members. Group therapy sessions are from Mondays to Fridays. Counselling is also provided for stroke survivors and their caregivers.
The association’s long-term mission is to set up community-based Nasam centres in every state. Apart from Nasam House in Petaling Jaya, it also operates centres in Ampang, Penang and Malacca. Plans are underway to open a centre in Ipoh.
Alarming statistics
Nasam founder and chairman Janet Yeo is a stroke survivor.
Statistics on stroke are alarming, whether locally or globally. Stroke can kill and is also the largest cause of disability in most developed countries and in Malaysia.
Malaysia with a population of 20 million, is estimated to record 40,000 new stroke cases annually. Yeo expresses concern over the possibility of rising stroke cases in Malaysia with the spread of Western lifestyles, particularly the fast-food culture.
The World Health Organisation projects that 75% of all stroke deaths by 2020 will occur in developing countries. Yeo cites that 5.5 million people die from stroke each year while 22% to 25% patients die within a year of having their first stroke. Some 8.4% of men and 11% women die from strokes.
A six-month United States study on stroke survivors found that many of them suffered disabilities: 50% had paralysis on one side of the body; 35% had symptoms of depression; 30% couldn’t walk without assistance; 26% needed help with daily activities and 26% were living in nursing homes.
A stroke survivor herself, Yeo’s courage and determination saw her remarkable recovery from the paralysing effects of stroke, inspiring many Malaysian stroke survivors and their families, friends and volunteers.
She says: “If one survives a stroke, it’s a struggle to make it back to leading a normal life!”
Brain attack
Stroke is a brain attack and occurs when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Most strokes occur when a blood clot blocks an artery, which is carrying blood to the brain. Some strokes are caused by bleeding within or around the brain from a burst blood vessel. When the blood supply is disrupted, the brain cells are deprived of oxygen and other nutrients, causing some cells to become damaged and others to die.
Several factors of stroke include smoking, hypertension, diabetes, family history and heart disease. However, some patients who have stroke do not have any of these risk factors but probably only minor valve problems or abnormalities in the blood.
Stroke can strike without warning.
“It happens like the wind. That is why we called it (stroke) angin akmar in Malay. It’s a very sudden problem. One day, someone may be well and the next, he or she wakes up with a problem,” says Prof Goh Khean Jin, Associate Prof and consultant neurologist, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya.
He advises the person who just had a stroke to see a doctor or go to the hospital immediately (if possible within three hours). The medical experts will need to make a diagnosis, assess the severity of the stroke and prepare to monitor the patient. Some people can get worse as their condition deterioratesif they have diabetes.
“In the acute phase, the doctor needs to get a diagnosis and monitor the patient to ensure that his vital signs are stabilised. A lot of stroke patients have difficulty swallowing,” he says.
Prof Goh, who is also president of the Malaysian Society of Neurosciences and medical adviser for Nasam, says: “Neurologists view stroke as a medical emergency much like a heart attack.”
Mild strokes, he says, should be a warning. Those who have such attacks should prepare themselves not to get a second severe stroke.
Nasam House is at 12 Jalan 7/2, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor (03-79564840 / fax: 03-79542275 / e-mail: nasam@po.jaring.my).
An awareness campaign will be held to make Malaysians more aware of the dangers of stroke, reports MAJORIE CHIEW.
THE National Stroke Association of Malaysia (Nasam) will embark on a nationwide Stroke Awareness Week campaign from this Sunday till May 16. This year’s theme is Let’s Get Physical, because the association hopes to encourage more people to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle to reduce the risks of getting stroke.
Janet Yeo, founder and chairman of Nasam, says: “Exercise and a healthy living are the best preventive measures that anyone can take to prevent stroke. Prevention is the best defence because stroke recovery is a long and costly process.”
Nasam’s forthcoming Stroke Awareness Week campaign is the second, after its inaugural one in 2002. The association is taking stroke cases seriously because stroke is the third leading killer disease in Malaysia after heart attack and cancer.
Some people may even be unaware that they had minor strokes and may not even make it to the hospital. Instead, they may visit doctors in clinics or seek traditional treatment. Some recover and carry on with life, not realising that the next stroke may kill, if not debilitate them.
“With a heart attack, one feels the pain,” she says. “And one is likely to rush to the hospital. But in a stroke, one doesn’t feel anything except discomfort and dizziness.”
By learning about the warning signs and symptoms of stroke, one can take precautions to prevent a major stroke.
“It’s cheaper to prevent stroke by knowing the signs and symptoms of stroke and leading a healthy lifestyle,” she emphasises.
She debunks a myth about stroke – some people perceive it as a disease of the sickly and elderly. She warns that stroke can also strike young people!
Nasam was set up eight years ago with a dual mission – to provide stroke care and to educate the public about reducing the risk of stroke.
“We help stroke survivors to believe that there’s life after stroke,” says Yeo.
Only a small percentage of stroke cases have access to rehabilitation facilities. Hence, Nasam deems that public education on stroke prevention, especially in rural areas, is a crucial part of its work.
Nasam has grown from a small support grown set up in November 1996 to an association with over 1,000 members, who are stroke survivors. It provides group physio, occupational and speech therapies for its members. Group therapy sessions are from Mondays to Fridays. Counselling is also provided for stroke survivors and their caregivers.
The association’s long-term mission is to set up community-based Nasam centres in every state. Apart from Nasam House in Petaling Jaya, it also operates centres in Ampang, Penang and Malacca. Plans are underway to open a centre in Ipoh.
Alarming statistics
Nasam founder and chairman Janet Yeo is a stroke survivor.
Statistics on stroke are alarming, whether locally or globally. Stroke can kill and is also the largest cause of disability in most developed countries and in Malaysia.
Malaysia with a population of 20 million, is estimated to record 40,000 new stroke cases annually. Yeo expresses concern over the possibility of rising stroke cases in Malaysia with the spread of Western lifestyles, particularly the fast-food culture.
The World Health Organisation projects that 75% of all stroke deaths by 2020 will occur in developing countries. Yeo cites that 5.5 million people die from stroke each year while 22% to 25% patients die within a year of having their first stroke. Some 8.4% of men and 11% women die from strokes.
A six-month United States study on stroke survivors found that many of them suffered disabilities: 50% had paralysis on one side of the body; 35% had symptoms of depression; 30% couldn’t walk without assistance; 26% needed help with daily activities and 26% were living in nursing homes.
A stroke survivor herself, Yeo’s courage and determination saw her remarkable recovery from the paralysing effects of stroke, inspiring many Malaysian stroke survivors and their families, friends and volunteers.
She says: “If one survives a stroke, it’s a struggle to make it back to leading a normal life!”
Brain attack
Stroke is a brain attack and occurs when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Most strokes occur when a blood clot blocks an artery, which is carrying blood to the brain. Some strokes are caused by bleeding within or around the brain from a burst blood vessel. When the blood supply is disrupted, the brain cells are deprived of oxygen and other nutrients, causing some cells to become damaged and others to die.
Several factors of stroke include smoking, hypertension, diabetes, family history and heart disease. However, some patients who have stroke do not have any of these risk factors but probably only minor valve problems or abnormalities in the blood.
Stroke can strike without warning.
“It happens like the wind. That is why we called it (stroke) angin akmar in Malay. It’s a very sudden problem. One day, someone may be well and the next, he or she wakes up with a problem,” says Prof Goh Khean Jin, Associate Prof and consultant neurologist, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya.
He advises the person who just had a stroke to see a doctor or go to the hospital immediately (if possible within three hours). The medical experts will need to make a diagnosis, assess the severity of the stroke and prepare to monitor the patient. Some people can get worse as their condition deterioratesif they have diabetes.
“In the acute phase, the doctor needs to get a diagnosis and monitor the patient to ensure that his vital signs are stabilised. A lot of stroke patients have difficulty swallowing,” he says.
Prof Goh, who is also president of the Malaysian Society of Neurosciences and medical adviser for Nasam, says: “Neurologists view stroke as a medical emergency much like a heart attack.”
Mild strokes, he says, should be a warning. Those who have such attacks should prepare themselves not to get a second severe stroke.
Nasam House is at 12 Jalan 7/2, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor (03-79564840 / fax: 03-79542275 / e-mail: nasam@po.jaring.my).
No unusual increase in chicken pox cases
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia has not experienced any unusual increase in the number of chicken pox cases but the situation will be monitored closely, said Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek.
Responding to reports on a chicken pox epidemic in Thailand, he said yesterday that the Disease Control Division under the Public Health Department would step up its monitoring activities whenever such outbreaks were detected in neighbouring countries.
According to a wire report from Bangkok, more than 20,000 people had been infected with chicken pox in Thailand so far.
Disease Control Division director Dr Ramlee Rahmat said those infected with chicken pox must be stay at home for at least a week to prevent the disease from spreading.
He added that the people should not share food, drinks and towels as the virus could spread through respiratory tract secretions, adding that it was an airborne disease.
Those down with chicken pox would have a slight fever and flu before rashes begin to appear on the body, he said.
Dr Ramlee added that the public should not to panic because the disease was not dangerous.
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia has not experienced any unusual increase in the number of chicken pox cases but the situation will be monitored closely, said Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek.
Responding to reports on a chicken pox epidemic in Thailand, he said yesterday that the Disease Control Division under the Public Health Department would step up its monitoring activities whenever such outbreaks were detected in neighbouring countries.
According to a wire report from Bangkok, more than 20,000 people had been infected with chicken pox in Thailand so far.
Disease Control Division director Dr Ramlee Rahmat said those infected with chicken pox must be stay at home for at least a week to prevent the disease from spreading.
He added that the people should not share food, drinks and towels as the virus could spread through respiratory tract secretions, adding that it was an airborne disease.
Those down with chicken pox would have a slight fever and flu before rashes begin to appear on the body, he said.
Dr Ramlee added that the public should not to panic because the disease was not dangerous.
Chinese women live longer than other groups
KUALA LUMPUR - Chinese women live longer than others in Malaysia. They can expect to live up to 82 compared to 77 for men and around 79 for other women.
Doctors and health professionals are not surprised by the figures from the National Statistics Department.
Malaysian Chinese women are generally more health conscious, said Dr Mustaffa Omar, head of the human development programme in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
'The Chinese are relatively more conscious about dietary habits and give priority to a healthy lifestyle,' he noted.
The president of Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society, Dr Rajbans Singh, also believed this theory.
He said: 'Based on my own observation, the Chinese in general are the most health-conscious group.
'They are very particular about their health, and are active from young to old age.'
He believes that more Malaysian Chinese than Malaysians in the other ethnic groups go for regular medical check-ups and are physically active.
Still, he said that although people are living longer because of advances in medicine and technology, their quality of life is not improving.
'There is an increase in the number of people suffering from stroke, cancer, heart diseases and who are generally more immobile in their old age,' he said.
Malaysian Medical Association member Jayanthi Krishnan said the Chinese community was more hardworking, especially the older generation.
'The older people are more conscious about their health compared to others and tend to exercise, eat healthily and pursue healthy lifestyles.'
Madam Kong Sok Cheng, 83, is one of them. She does not have a sweet tooth and has worked hard all her life.
Remisier Chew May-Ann, 35, has been watching her diet and health after seeing family members and close friends suffer diseases such as cancer. -- New Straits Times
KUALA LUMPUR - Chinese women live longer than others in Malaysia. They can expect to live up to 82 compared to 77 for men and around 79 for other women.
Doctors and health professionals are not surprised by the figures from the National Statistics Department.
Malaysian Chinese women are generally more health conscious, said Dr Mustaffa Omar, head of the human development programme in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
'The Chinese are relatively more conscious about dietary habits and give priority to a healthy lifestyle,' he noted.
The president of Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society, Dr Rajbans Singh, also believed this theory.
He said: 'Based on my own observation, the Chinese in general are the most health-conscious group.
'They are very particular about their health, and are active from young to old age.'
He believes that more Malaysian Chinese than Malaysians in the other ethnic groups go for regular medical check-ups and are physically active.
Still, he said that although people are living longer because of advances in medicine and technology, their quality of life is not improving.
'There is an increase in the number of people suffering from stroke, cancer, heart diseases and who are generally more immobile in their old age,' he said.
Malaysian Medical Association member Jayanthi Krishnan said the Chinese community was more hardworking, especially the older generation.
'The older people are more conscious about their health compared to others and tend to exercise, eat healthily and pursue healthy lifestyles.'
Madam Kong Sok Cheng, 83, is one of them. She does not have a sweet tooth and has worked hard all her life.
Remisier Chew May-Ann, 35, has been watching her diet and health after seeing family members and close friends suffer diseases such as cancer. -- New Straits Times
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Ready to deal with the blues
ARE more Malaysians suffering from depression or developing anxious personalities?
Medical and pharmaceutical professionals say the number of patients seeking treatment for these disorders has increased a hundred-fold over a two-year period.
"The demand for treatment in the form of medication and counselling has increased substantially over the last two years.
This is probably related to the change in our lifestyles with work pressures and the changing environment ," a spokesman for a pharmaceutical company said.
"There is also a greater awareness of the fact that these conditions are treatable. Previously, people thought that anxiety or depression were linked to schizophrenia but now they realise that if they have the ‘blues’ and cannot get out of it, there are treatments available," he said.
Psychiatrist Dr Lee Aik Hoe agreed: "Recent World Health Organisation studies indicate that five out of the 10 biggest illnesses which cause disability are psychiatric in nature, with two related to depression and two as anxiety disorders.
"I would say that the situation in Malaysia is in tandem with the rest of the world.
"The pressures of modern living, with less avenues to reduce stress, is one of the factors that has led to the increase. More people are seeking help because treatment for mental or psychiatric problems has improved.
"In previous times, it was a situation that people lived with," he said, adding that general practitioners had also been taught how to treat depression and anxiety.
"There is definitely an increase in the number of people coming to see me with symptoms of anxiety or depression," said an occupational health physician.
"I prefer counselling as the form of therapy but in severe cases, I have also prescribed drugs," he said, adding that patients were fond of asking for medication to help ease their problems.
One reason for the request for drugs may be related to Malaysians’ proclivity for quick fixes. "We want instant gratification for everything. We want our meals fast and if we are suffering from insomnia, we want sleeping pills to help us.
"Our dependency on drugs is just a symptom of our quick-fix nature," he said.
A medical doctor attached to the private sector said a majority of people seeing her help for anxiety-related disorders cited work pressures as the main cause of the condition.
"There are a greater number of people coming to see me with anxiety disorders and they do so because they cannot cope with the pressure of tight deadlines and so forth.
" I believe that while many of them realise that psychotherapy may help, they are still affected by the stigma associated with it," she said.
She added that many of her patients did recognise counselling as the possible solution to their problems.
"They are unable to opt for this treatment though because of the high cost associated with it. At this point, most companies do not recognise work-related stress as a health problem," she said.
She also said that she prescribed medication for the majority of patients who came to see her with anxiety disorders.
"Unfortunately, because I work in a clinic, I do not have the time to counsel them.
"But before prescribing the medication, I spend a bit of time with them to find out what the problem is and so forth.
"If the problem is work-related, I try to make sure that they come back for follow-up visits," she said, adding that she also recommended visits to a psychiatrist as a part of the treatment.
While recent scientific findings indicate that an anxious or fearful personality may be rooted in genetics, psychiatrists are quick to point out that the reasons for mental disorders are multi-factorial.
Malaysian Psychiatric Association president Professor Dr Hussain Habil said: "We know that conditions such as anxiety and depression are a result of bio-chemical imbalances to the brain.
"Indeed, these imbalances are linked to receptors and neuro-chemical changes, all factors that are closely related to genes."
However, he added that whatever the reason for the symptoms of such conditions, counselling and therapy are still a crucial element in psychiatry.
"Drugs are prescribed on top of counselling and therapy because while drugs may treat the cause of the disorder, it does not treat the effect, in this case the anxiety or depression that may have resulted in an individual," he said.
Dr Salina Abdul Aziz, of Hospital Kuala Lumpur’s Department of Psychiatry, said: "While scientists are beginning to explore the gene that causes anxiety, it still does not explain other factors contributing to such disorders.
"For instance, we do not know why some people have the gene but not the illness or even why the disorder takes so long to manifest as symptoms usually emerge in adulthood."
ARE more Malaysians suffering from depression or developing anxious personalities?
Medical and pharmaceutical professionals say the number of patients seeking treatment for these disorders has increased a hundred-fold over a two-year period.
"The demand for treatment in the form of medication and counselling has increased substantially over the last two years.
This is probably related to the change in our lifestyles with work pressures and the changing environment ," a spokesman for a pharmaceutical company said.
"There is also a greater awareness of the fact that these conditions are treatable. Previously, people thought that anxiety or depression were linked to schizophrenia but now they realise that if they have the ‘blues’ and cannot get out of it, there are treatments available," he said.
Psychiatrist Dr Lee Aik Hoe agreed: "Recent World Health Organisation studies indicate that five out of the 10 biggest illnesses which cause disability are psychiatric in nature, with two related to depression and two as anxiety disorders.
"I would say that the situation in Malaysia is in tandem with the rest of the world.
"The pressures of modern living, with less avenues to reduce stress, is one of the factors that has led to the increase. More people are seeking help because treatment for mental or psychiatric problems has improved.
"In previous times, it was a situation that people lived with," he said, adding that general practitioners had also been taught how to treat depression and anxiety.
"There is definitely an increase in the number of people coming to see me with symptoms of anxiety or depression," said an occupational health physician.
"I prefer counselling as the form of therapy but in severe cases, I have also prescribed drugs," he said, adding that patients were fond of asking for medication to help ease their problems.
One reason for the request for drugs may be related to Malaysians’ proclivity for quick fixes. "We want instant gratification for everything. We want our meals fast and if we are suffering from insomnia, we want sleeping pills to help us.
"Our dependency on drugs is just a symptom of our quick-fix nature," he said.
A medical doctor attached to the private sector said a majority of people seeing her help for anxiety-related disorders cited work pressures as the main cause of the condition.
"There are a greater number of people coming to see me with anxiety disorders and they do so because they cannot cope with the pressure of tight deadlines and so forth.
" I believe that while many of them realise that psychotherapy may help, they are still affected by the stigma associated with it," she said.
She added that many of her patients did recognise counselling as the possible solution to their problems.
"They are unable to opt for this treatment though because of the high cost associated with it. At this point, most companies do not recognise work-related stress as a health problem," she said.
She also said that she prescribed medication for the majority of patients who came to see her with anxiety disorders.
"Unfortunately, because I work in a clinic, I do not have the time to counsel them.
"But before prescribing the medication, I spend a bit of time with them to find out what the problem is and so forth.
"If the problem is work-related, I try to make sure that they come back for follow-up visits," she said, adding that she also recommended visits to a psychiatrist as a part of the treatment.
While recent scientific findings indicate that an anxious or fearful personality may be rooted in genetics, psychiatrists are quick to point out that the reasons for mental disorders are multi-factorial.
Malaysian Psychiatric Association president Professor Dr Hussain Habil said: "We know that conditions such as anxiety and depression are a result of bio-chemical imbalances to the brain.
"Indeed, these imbalances are linked to receptors and neuro-chemical changes, all factors that are closely related to genes."
However, he added that whatever the reason for the symptoms of such conditions, counselling and therapy are still a crucial element in psychiatry.
"Drugs are prescribed on top of counselling and therapy because while drugs may treat the cause of the disorder, it does not treat the effect, in this case the anxiety or depression that may have resulted in an individual," he said.
Dr Salina Abdul Aziz, of Hospital Kuala Lumpur’s Department of Psychiatry, said: "While scientists are beginning to explore the gene that causes anxiety, it still does not explain other factors contributing to such disorders.
"For instance, we do not know why some people have the gene but not the illness or even why the disorder takes so long to manifest as symptoms usually emerge in adulthood."
Malaysian men not health-conscious: Study
KUALA LUMPUR - Educated and affluent older Malaysian men are not as healthy as many Westerners, according to a recent study conducted in the Klang Valley.
It revealed that nearly seven out of 10 men aged above 58 suffered at least two more medical conditions than their Western counterparts. Professor Datuk Tan Hui Meng, a urologist, said: 'Although men in the Klang Valley are supposed to be more health-conscious and have better access to good medical facilities, I find their health to be poor compared to those in the West. Most men here are ignorant about health care.'
They seemed to think urine and blood tests were all they needed. 'This is not true because these tests cannot detect all diseases,' he said at a conference. -- New Straits Times
KUALA LUMPUR - Educated and affluent older Malaysian men are not as healthy as many Westerners, according to a recent study conducted in the Klang Valley.
It revealed that nearly seven out of 10 men aged above 58 suffered at least two more medical conditions than their Western counterparts. Professor Datuk Tan Hui Meng, a urologist, said: 'Although men in the Klang Valley are supposed to be more health-conscious and have better access to good medical facilities, I find their health to be poor compared to those in the West. Most men here are ignorant about health care.'
They seemed to think urine and blood tests were all they needed. 'This is not true because these tests cannot detect all diseases,' he said at a conference. -- New Straits Times
Sunday, May 02, 2004
Be vigilant for child victims, medical staff told
KUALA LUMPUR: Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek has warned all medical staff to be more vigilant in looking out for suspected child abuse victims and to treat them immediately.
He said the safety of the children was of utmost importance no matter who brought them in for treatment.
“Please use your common sense. Admission of children, if and when needed, must not be rejected just because the people who brought them in are not the parents, guardian or next-of-kin.
Noriszyani: Had injuries to the liver, bruises on the head and pinch marks all over.
“The safety of the children, even if they were brought in by a passer-by, is our top priority under any circumstances,” he said in an interview.
Dr Chua was commenting on a report which quoted Association of Registered Childcare Providers Malaysia president P.H. Wong as saying that the failure of a child-care centre in getting abused two-year-old Noriszyani Amilya Ahmad admitted to the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) was one of the failures in the system in protecting a child.
Wong said UMMC asked the child-care centre for evidence of legal guardianship, without which it said it
would not admit Noriszyani.
Noriszyani died at Sungei Buloh Hospital on Monday.
A post-mortem by UMMC showed that she had injuries to the liver, bruises on the head, pinch marks all over the body and she had also been scalded.
Wong said Noriszyani also had bruises on her back and neck which she suffered in January followed by bruises on the left arm and wrist in February.
She asked why the child, who was bleeding on her lips and had bruises on her ears, could not be admitted.
Dr Chua said admission procedures for children, like the need for consent from parents, guardians or next-of-kin, could always be sorted out later.
He said such requirements were important from the legal and medical aspects, particularly when the children needed to be operated upon. Nevertheless, he stressed that the safety and interests of children must remain the top priority.
Police have questioned at least seven people, including the child’s parents, a 28-year-old former maid, the day-care centre officers, welfare department officers and representatives of the association over the death of Noriszyani, but no arrests have been made.
KUALA LUMPUR: Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek has warned all medical staff to be more vigilant in looking out for suspected child abuse victims and to treat them immediately.
He said the safety of the children was of utmost importance no matter who brought them in for treatment.
“Please use your common sense. Admission of children, if and when needed, must not be rejected just because the people who brought them in are not the parents, guardian or next-of-kin.
Noriszyani: Had injuries to the liver, bruises on the head and pinch marks all over.
“The safety of the children, even if they were brought in by a passer-by, is our top priority under any circumstances,” he said in an interview.
Dr Chua was commenting on a report which quoted Association of Registered Childcare Providers Malaysia president P.H. Wong as saying that the failure of a child-care centre in getting abused two-year-old Noriszyani Amilya Ahmad admitted to the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) was one of the failures in the system in protecting a child.
Wong said UMMC asked the child-care centre for evidence of legal guardianship, without which it said it
would not admit Noriszyani.
Noriszyani died at Sungei Buloh Hospital on Monday.
A post-mortem by UMMC showed that she had injuries to the liver, bruises on the head, pinch marks all over the body and she had also been scalded.
Wong said Noriszyani also had bruises on her back and neck which she suffered in January followed by bruises on the left arm and wrist in February.
She asked why the child, who was bleeding on her lips and had bruises on her ears, could not be admitted.
Dr Chua said admission procedures for children, like the need for consent from parents, guardians or next-of-kin, could always be sorted out later.
He said such requirements were important from the legal and medical aspects, particularly when the children needed to be operated upon. Nevertheless, he stressed that the safety and interests of children must remain the top priority.
Police have questioned at least seven people, including the child’s parents, a 28-year-old former maid, the day-care centre officers, welfare department officers and representatives of the association over the death of Noriszyani, but no arrests have been made.
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.
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.
Cancer research blueprint a critical need
One in every four Malaysians will die of cancer. This sobering statistic is the reason behind the soon-to-be drafted Cancer Research Blueprint.
There are also plans to set up a National Cancer Institute which will oversee the prevention of the disease, and the treatment and rehabilitation of patients.
The research blueprint will not only detail available information on cancer in the country but also look at making research more relevant and accessible to everyone.
Malaysian Medical Association president Datuk Dr N. Arumugam has welcomed the drafting of the research blueprint, saying that it would encourage the pooling of limited resources for cancer research in the country.
The committee working on the blueprint will be headed by deputy director-general of Health Datuk Dr Ismail Merican and will comprise professionals and researchers from the Health Ministry, universities, non-governmental organisations and private sector.
Said Dr Ismail: "The blueprint is a must.
"We need to set the pace and direction for cancer research in view of almost 20 per cent of the population expected to suffer at least one form of cancer during their lifetime." There are some other troubling facts: l The National Cancer Society of Malaysia states that between 40,000 and 45,000 cancer cases are reported every year and only one-third survive.
Chinese in Malaysia have the highest incidence of breast cancer, lung cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer.
Indians suffer from mouth, larynx, oesophagus and tongue cancer and Malays from thyroid cancer, lymphatic leukaemia and lymphoma.
"Our present and future knowledge and understanding of cancer at the genetic, molecular and cellular level will open tremendous opportunities for us to seek new and innovative approaches to not only treat the disease but also prevent its start and progression," Dr Ismail said.
He also noted that cancer research at present was conducted by several individual groups and there was duplication of effort and resources. Hence, there is a need for better and effective research strategies.
On cancer prevention, he said the best way was to follow a healthy diet, quit smoking and reduce exposure to ultra-violet light.
Some 10 million people yearly are diagnosed as suffering from cancer and six million die. The World Cancer Report 2003 predicts 15 million new cases by 2020.
One in every four Malaysians will die of cancer. This sobering statistic is the reason behind the soon-to-be drafted Cancer Research Blueprint.
There are also plans to set up a National Cancer Institute which will oversee the prevention of the disease, and the treatment and rehabilitation of patients.
The research blueprint will not only detail available information on cancer in the country but also look at making research more relevant and accessible to everyone.
Malaysian Medical Association president Datuk Dr N. Arumugam has welcomed the drafting of the research blueprint, saying that it would encourage the pooling of limited resources for cancer research in the country.
The committee working on the blueprint will be headed by deputy director-general of Health Datuk Dr Ismail Merican and will comprise professionals and researchers from the Health Ministry, universities, non-governmental organisations and private sector.
Said Dr Ismail: "The blueprint is a must.
"We need to set the pace and direction for cancer research in view of almost 20 per cent of the population expected to suffer at least one form of cancer during their lifetime." There are some other troubling facts: l The National Cancer Society of Malaysia states that between 40,000 and 45,000 cancer cases are reported every year and only one-third survive.
Chinese in Malaysia have the highest incidence of breast cancer, lung cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer.
Indians suffer from mouth, larynx, oesophagus and tongue cancer and Malays from thyroid cancer, lymphatic leukaemia and lymphoma.
"Our present and future knowledge and understanding of cancer at the genetic, molecular and cellular level will open tremendous opportunities for us to seek new and innovative approaches to not only treat the disease but also prevent its start and progression," Dr Ismail said.
He also noted that cancer research at present was conducted by several individual groups and there was duplication of effort and resources. Hence, there is a need for better and effective research strategies.
On cancer prevention, he said the best way was to follow a healthy diet, quit smoking and reduce exposure to ultra-violet light.
Some 10 million people yearly are diagnosed as suffering from cancer and six million die. The World Cancer Report 2003 predicts 15 million new cases by 2020.
Saturday, May 01, 2004
UMMC Probes Claims Victim Turned Away
KUALA LUMPUR: The University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) yesterday started investigations into claims that Norishzyani Amylia Ahmad, a two-year-old child abuse victim who died on Monday, was turned away by the hospital two months ago.
It was reported that the girl was sent to UMMC at 10am on Feb 25 after she was slapped hard by a woman (not a child-minder) at a childcare centre in Petaling Jaya.
The incident left her bleeding from her ears and lips.
The child was then rushed to UMMC's accident and emergency unit at 10am by the minders that day.
They had hoped she would be given treatment and that the hospital would report the matter to the police.
Instead, sources had told The Malay Mail that the UMMC registration department had refused to accept her because those who brought her there were not her guardians.
UMMC staff had also claimed they could not register the girl as there were no Welfare Department officers, who under the law, become guardians for children suspected to be abuse victims. The child was handed back to her parents the same day. The matter was also not reported to the police.
The Malay Mail learnt that the meeting, headed by its director Datuk Dr Mohd Amin Jalaludin yesterday, was also to identify and reprimand the staff who had acted irresponsibly.
Dr Amin's office was also in touch with the minders who brought the girl to the hospital that day.
UMMC is expected to issue a statement on the matter today.
It was believed that the girl had been subjected to abuse since January as neighbours often heard or spotted her crying.
They had also claimed to have seen her being dragged and manhandled when she walked a little too slowly.
On Wednesday, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil had said she would get to the bottom of the matter.
She will be meeting Welfare Department officers and the minders who had dealt with the child next Wednesday.
KUALA LUMPUR: The University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) yesterday started investigations into claims that Norishzyani Amylia Ahmad, a two-year-old child abuse victim who died on Monday, was turned away by the hospital two months ago.
It was reported that the girl was sent to UMMC at 10am on Feb 25 after she was slapped hard by a woman (not a child-minder) at a childcare centre in Petaling Jaya.
The incident left her bleeding from her ears and lips.
The child was then rushed to UMMC's accident and emergency unit at 10am by the minders that day.
They had hoped she would be given treatment and that the hospital would report the matter to the police.
Instead, sources had told The Malay Mail that the UMMC registration department had refused to accept her because those who brought her there were not her guardians.
UMMC staff had also claimed they could not register the girl as there were no Welfare Department officers, who under the law, become guardians for children suspected to be abuse victims. The child was handed back to her parents the same day. The matter was also not reported to the police.
The Malay Mail learnt that the meeting, headed by its director Datuk Dr Mohd Amin Jalaludin yesterday, was also to identify and reprimand the staff who had acted irresponsibly.
Dr Amin's office was also in touch with the minders who brought the girl to the hospital that day.
UMMC is expected to issue a statement on the matter today.
It was believed that the girl had been subjected to abuse since January as neighbours often heard or spotted her crying.
They had also claimed to have seen her being dragged and manhandled when she walked a little too slowly.
On Wednesday, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil had said she would get to the bottom of the matter.
She will be meeting Welfare Department officers and the minders who had dealt with the child next Wednesday.
Report on long wait at hospitals ready soon
SHAH ALAM: The Health Ministry’s study on the long wait faced by outpatients at government hospitals will be completed next month, said Health Minister Datuk Chua Soi Lek.
He said his deputy Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad would be submitting a paper to him on the details of the current situation and proposals on how it could be improved by next month.
The ministry plans to cut waiting time to not more than 90 minutes.
“We will announce to the public the details of how the new system works once we have completed this study,” Dr Chua told the media after attending the ministry’s management conference here yesterday.
“We can understand how patients feel as they are required to wait for registration at the counters and then (for) the hospital staff to retrieve their records.
“The agony continues as they wait to see the doctor, and go for x-rays or urine tests before obtaining the prescriptions and subsequently the medicines,” he said.
Dr Chua said he believed that the long waiting hours could be reduced by efficient management of staff and by a systematic process of handling patients.
“We are not merely looking at increasing the amount of human resources at hospitals to achieve this goal but on ways to optimise their services at work,” he said.
Dr Chua also said the ministry was left with the challenge of equalling the ratio of government doctors between the peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak.
SHAH ALAM: The Health Ministry’s study on the long wait faced by outpatients at government hospitals will be completed next month, said Health Minister Datuk Chua Soi Lek.
He said his deputy Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad would be submitting a paper to him on the details of the current situation and proposals on how it could be improved by next month.
The ministry plans to cut waiting time to not more than 90 minutes.
“We will announce to the public the details of how the new system works once we have completed this study,” Dr Chua told the media after attending the ministry’s management conference here yesterday.
“We can understand how patients feel as they are required to wait for registration at the counters and then (for) the hospital staff to retrieve their records.
“The agony continues as they wait to see the doctor, and go for x-rays or urine tests before obtaining the prescriptions and subsequently the medicines,” he said.
Dr Chua said he believed that the long waiting hours could be reduced by efficient management of staff and by a systematic process of handling patients.
“We are not merely looking at increasing the amount of human resources at hospitals to achieve this goal but on ways to optimise their services at work,” he said.
Dr Chua also said the ministry was left with the challenge of equalling the ratio of government doctors between the peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak.
Friday, April 30, 2004
Chong praises Kudat hospital
Kudat: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat has commended the Kudat Hospital for receiving a full three-year accreditation award from the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (MSQH).
“This is an outstanding achievement by the hospital, and I am proud to see the drastic changes that have taken place,” he said. Chong’s speech was delivered by Kudat MP Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri.
The example by the Kudat Hospital in delivering high quality and innovative service to the public should be emulated by other government agencies, he added.
Earlier, in presenting the award, MSQH representative and board member Jasimah Hassan said the accreditation award was given in recognition of Kudat Hospital’s compliance with the Malaysian Hospitals Accreditation Standards.
“It focuses on five key areas, namely organisation and management, human resource development, policies and procedures, facilities and equipment, quality improvement activities and safety requirements in providing services,” she said.
The Kudat Hospital is the eighth government hospital to have been accorded the award in Sabah, topping the State in the list of the most number of MSQH recipients in Malaysia.
Also present were Sabah Deputy Director of Health Dr Anil Kumar and Kudat Hospital Director Dr Muhammad Jikal.
Kudat: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat has commended the Kudat Hospital for receiving a full three-year accreditation award from the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (MSQH).
“This is an outstanding achievement by the hospital, and I am proud to see the drastic changes that have taken place,” he said. Chong’s speech was delivered by Kudat MP Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri.
The example by the Kudat Hospital in delivering high quality and innovative service to the public should be emulated by other government agencies, he added.
Earlier, in presenting the award, MSQH representative and board member Jasimah Hassan said the accreditation award was given in recognition of Kudat Hospital’s compliance with the Malaysian Hospitals Accreditation Standards.
“It focuses on five key areas, namely organisation and management, human resource development, policies and procedures, facilities and equipment, quality improvement activities and safety requirements in providing services,” she said.
The Kudat Hospital is the eighth government hospital to have been accorded the award in Sabah, topping the State in the list of the most number of MSQH recipients in Malaysia.
Also present were Sabah Deputy Director of Health Dr Anil Kumar and Kudat Hospital Director Dr Muhammad Jikal.
Thursday, April 29, 2004
Meet to discuss ways to solve ageing problems
PETALING JAYA: If anti-ageing medicine is not implemented soon, the ageing population will be a burden to the Government, according to the Society for Anti-Ageing Medicine Malaysia (SAAMM).
Its president Datuk Dr S. Harnam said as the ageing population grew the demand for nursing homes would increase and this would involve greater government expenditure.
“Ageing is a disease none of us can escape. At the same time degenerative diseases such as cardiac diseases, strokes, arthritis and cancer increase rapidly after the age of 40,” he said in a statement.
He added that all these diseases led to a massive financial burden on the patient, family and nation, posing a serious socio-economic problem.
To deliberate on such issues and seek solutions to ageing problems, SAAMM will hold the First Malaysian Conference on Anti-Ageing Medicine.
At the conference, to be held at Nikko Hotel from May 1 to 3, it will give information on related medical breakthroughs.
Other topics to be discussed at the conference are internal and external degenerative changes and how to treat them with hormones, nutraceuticals, and aesthetic and cosmetic procedures.
The conference is endorsed by the Health Ministry, Malaysia Menopause Society and the National Sports Institute.
SAAMM is a non-profit medical society formed in 2002 by a group of medical specialists from various fields of medicine dedicated to the prevention and treatment of age-related diseases.
For details and registration, call Dr Aman Kaulsay at 012-215 3210.
PETALING JAYA: If anti-ageing medicine is not implemented soon, the ageing population will be a burden to the Government, according to the Society for Anti-Ageing Medicine Malaysia (SAAMM).
Its president Datuk Dr S. Harnam said as the ageing population grew the demand for nursing homes would increase and this would involve greater government expenditure.
“Ageing is a disease none of us can escape. At the same time degenerative diseases such as cardiac diseases, strokes, arthritis and cancer increase rapidly after the age of 40,” he said in a statement.
He added that all these diseases led to a massive financial burden on the patient, family and nation, posing a serious socio-economic problem.
To deliberate on such issues and seek solutions to ageing problems, SAAMM will hold the First Malaysian Conference on Anti-Ageing Medicine.
At the conference, to be held at Nikko Hotel from May 1 to 3, it will give information on related medical breakthroughs.
Other topics to be discussed at the conference are internal and external degenerative changes and how to treat them with hormones, nutraceuticals, and aesthetic and cosmetic procedures.
The conference is endorsed by the Health Ministry, Malaysia Menopause Society and the National Sports Institute.
SAAMM is a non-profit medical society formed in 2002 by a group of medical specialists from various fields of medicine dedicated to the prevention and treatment of age-related diseases.
For details and registration, call Dr Aman Kaulsay at 012-215 3210.
Private hospitals ready to tackle SARS
Private hospitals nationwide are ready to handle any possible re-emergence
of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, with many having reactivated
their isolation wards and placed their doctors and nurses on full alert.
Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia president Datuk Dr Ridzwan Bakar said the association had already uploaded to its website the announcement by Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek that the country was back on full alert against SARS, following fresh cases of the virus infection in China.
"The association has also directed its members to abide by the guidelines drawn up by the ministry for hospitals during the last SARS outbreak," he said in an interview.
He said the hospitals were now familiar with the protocols and, therefore, there should be no problem in their handling of suspected SARS patients.
However, no cases have yet been reported in the country and no passengers arriving from China have been detected with SARS symptoms — high fever, cough and breathing difficulty — through thermal screening at Kuala Lumpur Inter-national Airport and other entry points.
"Private hospitals are on the alert just like public hospitals," Dr Ridzwan said, adding that it was too early to determine the severity of the new virus in China with two confirmed and six suspected cases, all traceable to one laboratory.
China has also quarantined more than 700 people, including 24 staff of its National Institute of Virology where a medical student was diagnosed with SARS. He is believed to have been doing research on the virus.
Dr Ridzwan assured that private hospitals would work hand-in-hand with the 21 SARS-designated hospitals.
A Reuters report from Beijing said that World Health Organisation teams had arrived in the Chinese capital to launch their campaign to halt a chain of deadly SARS infections, days before hundreds of millions of people set off for the May Day holiday.
Meanwhile, Aida Ahmad reports from Penang that Penang Hospital has established a permanent "Infectious Disease" ward to handle suspected SARS, bird flu and other severe communicable diseases.
Hospital director Dr Zainina Mohd Zain said the ward, in the newlyrenovated Block C, was equipped with four isolation rooms and attached bathrooms.
She said a special team of 70 medical staff, including several doctors, would be assigned to run the ward.
Dr Zainina said the hospital had gained much experience from handling SARS cases last year.
"Members of the special team comprise doctors and nurses who had treated the cases last year. As such, their experience and knowledge will be vital in treating SARS or other severe communicable diseases." She said the hospital had also been submitting daily reports on any serious communicable diseases detected at the hospital to the Health Ministry.
In Johor Baru, Shahrum Sayuthim reports that State Health and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Halimah Mohd Sadique has directed that all tourists from Beijing and Shanghai entering the country via Singapore undergo screening for SARS at the Second Link checkpoint.
"They will be barred from crossing into Johor through other entry points, including the Causeway. The new ruling also applies to Malaysians returning to the country via Singapore's Changi Airport after visiting the two Chinese cities," she said.
She said the Immigration Department had relayed the directive to their Singaporean counterparts.
"The screening at the Second Link is an additional precauti
Private hospitals nationwide are ready to handle any possible re-emergence
of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, with many having reactivated
their isolation wards and placed their doctors and nurses on full alert.
Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia president Datuk Dr Ridzwan Bakar said the association had already uploaded to its website the announcement by Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek that the country was back on full alert against SARS, following fresh cases of the virus infection in China.
"The association has also directed its members to abide by the guidelines drawn up by the ministry for hospitals during the last SARS outbreak," he said in an interview.
He said the hospitals were now familiar with the protocols and, therefore, there should be no problem in their handling of suspected SARS patients.
However, no cases have yet been reported in the country and no passengers arriving from China have been detected with SARS symptoms — high fever, cough and breathing difficulty — through thermal screening at Kuala Lumpur Inter-national Airport and other entry points.
"Private hospitals are on the alert just like public hospitals," Dr Ridzwan said, adding that it was too early to determine the severity of the new virus in China with two confirmed and six suspected cases, all traceable to one laboratory.
China has also quarantined more than 700 people, including 24 staff of its National Institute of Virology where a medical student was diagnosed with SARS. He is believed to have been doing research on the virus.
Dr Ridzwan assured that private hospitals would work hand-in-hand with the 21 SARS-designated hospitals.
A Reuters report from Beijing said that World Health Organisation teams had arrived in the Chinese capital to launch their campaign to halt a chain of deadly SARS infections, days before hundreds of millions of people set off for the May Day holiday.
Meanwhile, Aida Ahmad reports from Penang that Penang Hospital has established a permanent "Infectious Disease" ward to handle suspected SARS, bird flu and other severe communicable diseases.
Hospital director Dr Zainina Mohd Zain said the ward, in the newlyrenovated Block C, was equipped with four isolation rooms and attached bathrooms.
She said a special team of 70 medical staff, including several doctors, would be assigned to run the ward.
Dr Zainina said the hospital had gained much experience from handling SARS cases last year.
"Members of the special team comprise doctors and nurses who had treated the cases last year. As such, their experience and knowledge will be vital in treating SARS or other severe communicable diseases." She said the hospital had also been submitting daily reports on any serious communicable diseases detected at the hospital to the Health Ministry.
In Johor Baru, Shahrum Sayuthim reports that State Health and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Halimah Mohd Sadique has directed that all tourists from Beijing and Shanghai entering the country via Singapore undergo screening for SARS at the Second Link checkpoint.
"They will be barred from crossing into Johor through other entry points, including the Causeway. The new ruling also applies to Malaysians returning to the country via Singapore's Changi Airport after visiting the two Chinese cities," she said.
She said the Immigration Department had relayed the directive to their Singaporean counterparts.
"The screening at the Second Link is an additional precauti
Health Ministry's Eye On SARS: No restrictions on travel to China
Malaysians can still visit China as no travel restrictions have been imposed by the Health Ministry.
However, passengers on flights from Beijing and Shanghai will be screened for fever, said an official from the Ministry’s disease control division.
“They will also be given health declaration forms which require them to notify the quarantine officers at the airports if they have a fever or other SARS-like symptoms or if they had come into contact with SARS patients over the last 10 days.”
Besides that, a health alert card will also be given to passengers from Beijing and Shanghai flights.
“These cards advise them to go to the nearest hospital should they have similar symptoms showing up 10 days after their flight,” said the official, adding that passengers from other parts of China will also be given health declaration forms.
It was reported yesterday that 2,000 people from China and Hong Kong arriving daily in Malaysia are required to fill out health forms and undergo screening.
Thermal screening will be reactivated at airports and hospitals and doctors will be monitoring for symptoms of the disease.
The Ministry’s SARS office has been reopened and doctors have been told to be extra vigilant.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek announced this two days ago after China confirmed four cases of SARS and is keeping some 470 people under observation.
Malaysians can still visit China as no travel restrictions have been imposed by the Health Ministry.
However, passengers on flights from Beijing and Shanghai will be screened for fever, said an official from the Ministry’s disease control division.
“They will also be given health declaration forms which require them to notify the quarantine officers at the airports if they have a fever or other SARS-like symptoms or if they had come into contact with SARS patients over the last 10 days.”
Besides that, a health alert card will also be given to passengers from Beijing and Shanghai flights.
“These cards advise them to go to the nearest hospital should they have similar symptoms showing up 10 days after their flight,” said the official, adding that passengers from other parts of China will also be given health declaration forms.
It was reported yesterday that 2,000 people from China and Hong Kong arriving daily in Malaysia are required to fill out health forms and undergo screening.
Thermal screening will be reactivated at airports and hospitals and doctors will be monitoring for symptoms of the disease.
The Ministry’s SARS office has been reopened and doctors have been told to be extra vigilant.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek announced this two days ago after China confirmed four cases of SARS and is keeping some 470 people under observation.
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Fighting depression in a child
Depression and mental illness are affecting more children and parents need to recognise the symptoms before they get worse, writes KASMIAH MUSTAPHA.
IF your child is withdrawn, refuses to participate in any activity and is always in a bad temper — and the symptoms persist for at least two weeks — these are signs that he or she is depressed.
Adults will find it difficult to believe that children can be depressed as we have in our mind an idealistic childhood — happy and carefree.
Yet, studies reveal that a child can face emotional problems and depression. Experts say clinical depression has been detected in toddlers, preschoolers and school-aged children.
Depression is one of the most common psychological disorders and is usually referred to as mood disorder. It affects a person's overall energy, emotions and behaviour.
Although the symptoms of a depressed child are different from those of an adult, the need to address the issue and seek treatment is just as serious. Depressed children can commit violent crimes, drop out of school and even commit suicide.
Dr Edward Chan, principal consultant psychologist at the Malaysian Psychology Centre, says children suffer from mental illness and depression because of low self-esteem and negative messages from adults and peers.
A child who is suffering from depression will display symptoms such as being insecure, withdrawn, excessive crying, irritability, changes in appetite and sleep pattern, he says.
"The child cannot concentrate and does not have the ability to enjoy things and people," he said after presenting a paper on "Children's Psychological Development" at a seminar in Kuala Lumpur recently.
He says although studies in Malaysia are scarce, in the US, research has shown that 1.9 per cent of schoolchildren meet the criteria for major depressive disorder while 33 per cent of elementary school children were at least mildly depressed. Every day in the US, six children commit suicide; 342 children under 18 are arrested for violent crimes and 2,833 children drop out of school.
Dr Chan says childhood emotional and psychological problems increase the likelihood of them developing similar psychological problems as adults. "As adults, they will have problems in managing their frustration, are unable to form any kind of relationship and find it difficult to hold down jobs." The fact that more children are expected to suffer from depression and mental illness is related to their lifestyle. Children growing up in today's world are exposed to so many negative things, including activities which they are involved in and also the food they take, he says.
"They behave impulsively, they have poor attention spans, display aggressive behaviour, are hyperactive, unable to communicate, are poor academically and are socially isolated." Dr Chan says children now are commonly exposed to fast-paced television programmes which make them unable to concentrate on slower paced daily activities.
The biggest challenge in raising children in today's world is to find quality time to inculcate family values amid the constant bombardment of advertisements, he says.
Parents need to become more involved in their children's activities instead of leaving children on their own most of the time. They should encourage imaginative activities such as drawing, story-telling or creating things with building bricks. "Children's diets should also be monitored to prevent candida infections which could lead to poor concentration and attention. Children should also undergo a food intolerance and candida test to identify food which can cause behavioural and emotional problems." Candida is a type of yeast growth found naturally in humans, especially in the stomach. Candida can, however, become pathogenic and abnormally dominant in our body.
Candida infection can result in learning difficulties, poor attention span, lack of energy, fatigue, moodiness, hyperactivity and weight problems.
He added that most importantly, parents should never allow their children to suppress negative feelings because this would also lead to the suppression of positive feelings. "Depression does not only mean that they are being sad but also that they are suppressing feelings. They are keeping everything inside, which is not healthy.
"Parents need to make an effort to spend time with their children and this should be a priority. When you have time with your child, try to arrange for one-to-one interaction, and get into their world." Parents should also build up their children's self esteem, appreciating and reinforcing positive qualities and giving constructive criticism rather than criticising, he says.
* The writer can be contacted at kasmiah@nstp.com.my
Depression and mental illness are affecting more children and parents need to recognise the symptoms before they get worse, writes KASMIAH MUSTAPHA.
IF your child is withdrawn, refuses to participate in any activity and is always in a bad temper — and the symptoms persist for at least two weeks — these are signs that he or she is depressed.
Adults will find it difficult to believe that children can be depressed as we have in our mind an idealistic childhood — happy and carefree.
Yet, studies reveal that a child can face emotional problems and depression. Experts say clinical depression has been detected in toddlers, preschoolers and school-aged children.
Depression is one of the most common psychological disorders and is usually referred to as mood disorder. It affects a person's overall energy, emotions and behaviour.
Although the symptoms of a depressed child are different from those of an adult, the need to address the issue and seek treatment is just as serious. Depressed children can commit violent crimes, drop out of school and even commit suicide.
Dr Edward Chan, principal consultant psychologist at the Malaysian Psychology Centre, says children suffer from mental illness and depression because of low self-esteem and negative messages from adults and peers.
A child who is suffering from depression will display symptoms such as being insecure, withdrawn, excessive crying, irritability, changes in appetite and sleep pattern, he says.
"The child cannot concentrate and does not have the ability to enjoy things and people," he said after presenting a paper on "Children's Psychological Development" at a seminar in Kuala Lumpur recently.
He says although studies in Malaysia are scarce, in the US, research has shown that 1.9 per cent of schoolchildren meet the criteria for major depressive disorder while 33 per cent of elementary school children were at least mildly depressed. Every day in the US, six children commit suicide; 342 children under 18 are arrested for violent crimes and 2,833 children drop out of school.
Dr Chan says childhood emotional and psychological problems increase the likelihood of them developing similar psychological problems as adults. "As adults, they will have problems in managing their frustration, are unable to form any kind of relationship and find it difficult to hold down jobs." The fact that more children are expected to suffer from depression and mental illness is related to their lifestyle. Children growing up in today's world are exposed to so many negative things, including activities which they are involved in and also the food they take, he says.
"They behave impulsively, they have poor attention spans, display aggressive behaviour, are hyperactive, unable to communicate, are poor academically and are socially isolated." Dr Chan says children now are commonly exposed to fast-paced television programmes which make them unable to concentrate on slower paced daily activities.
The biggest challenge in raising children in today's world is to find quality time to inculcate family values amid the constant bombardment of advertisements, he says.
Parents need to become more involved in their children's activities instead of leaving children on their own most of the time. They should encourage imaginative activities such as drawing, story-telling or creating things with building bricks. "Children's diets should also be monitored to prevent candida infections which could lead to poor concentration and attention. Children should also undergo a food intolerance and candida test to identify food which can cause behavioural and emotional problems." Candida is a type of yeast growth found naturally in humans, especially in the stomach. Candida can, however, become pathogenic and abnormally dominant in our body.
Candida infection can result in learning difficulties, poor attention span, lack of energy, fatigue, moodiness, hyperactivity and weight problems.
He added that most importantly, parents should never allow their children to suppress negative feelings because this would also lead to the suppression of positive feelings. "Depression does not only mean that they are being sad but also that they are suppressing feelings. They are keeping everything inside, which is not healthy.
"Parents need to make an effort to spend time with their children and this should be a priority. When you have time with your child, try to arrange for one-to-one interaction, and get into their world." Parents should also build up their children's self esteem, appreciating and reinforcing positive qualities and giving constructive criticism rather than criticising, he says.
* The writer can be contacted at kasmiah@nstp.com.my
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
New alert against SARS
The country is back on full alert against SARS, following fresh cases of the virus in China. From now, thermal screening will be reactivated at airports, and hospitals and doctors will be monitoring for symptoms of the disease.
This follows reports of two confirmed cases and a half-dozen suspected ones during the past week in Beijing and Anhui province, where almost 500 people have been quarantined.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the Government would not issue a public advisory against travel to China at this stage.
He added the ministry had reopened its SARS operations room and re-activated its hotline (6-0326989436). Also, 21 hospitals around the country have been directed to set up isolation wards.
Dr Chua said passengers arriving in Malaysia from Beijing are required to undergo thermal scanning to check if they are running a fever, and visitors from Guangzhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong are required to fill out health declaration forms.
On Friday, 1,980 tourist arrivals at KLIA and Kota Kinabalu from Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Shanghai were screened for SARS symptoms. None were found positive (See graphic for symptoms on P2).
Speaking to reporters after the first bilateral meeting on health between Malaysia and China at the Institute of Health Management, Dr Chua said all passengers arriving at KLIA from China would also have to submit health declaration cards distributed on board their aircraft.
Dr Chua said doctors and nurses who handled suspected victims during the global outbreak last year would be mobilised at the hospitals.
"Institute for Medical Research and hospital laboratories are also being put on alert," he said, adding that the ministry would issue daily statements on the SARS situation.
During the global outbreak last year, the SARS virus killed some 800 people and infected more than 8,000. Malaysia reported five cases, with two deaths.
Dr Chua said the ministry would collaborate with China to strengthen surveillance and to facilitate information exchange.
On the SARS alert and the measures put in place, Dr Chua said they would be reviewed from time to time based on global developments and the situation in the country.
Asked whether Malaysia would bar its citizens from visiting China, Dr Chua said: "We are not going to stop anyone from visiting the country. Our advice is to be careful." China's Vice-Minister of Health Dr Zhu Qingsheng said Malaysia and China had pledged to work together against SARS and other infectious diseases.
China has stepped up anti-SARS efforts ahead of a major national holiday next week when millions of people will be on the move, he said.
"We have instructed local authorities to take appropriate precautions and measures to prevent the possibility of the transmission of the virus and make the May Day holiday as safe as possible," he said.
He expressed confidence that "tourists will continue to travel, including out of the country".
He said China had put in place thermal screening at all exit point
The country is back on full alert against SARS, following fresh cases of the virus in China. From now, thermal screening will be reactivated at airports, and hospitals and doctors will be monitoring for symptoms of the disease.
This follows reports of two confirmed cases and a half-dozen suspected ones during the past week in Beijing and Anhui province, where almost 500 people have been quarantined.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the Government would not issue a public advisory against travel to China at this stage.
He added the ministry had reopened its SARS operations room and re-activated its hotline (6-0326989436). Also, 21 hospitals around the country have been directed to set up isolation wards.
Dr Chua said passengers arriving in Malaysia from Beijing are required to undergo thermal scanning to check if they are running a fever, and visitors from Guangzhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong are required to fill out health declaration forms.
On Friday, 1,980 tourist arrivals at KLIA and Kota Kinabalu from Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Shanghai were screened for SARS symptoms. None were found positive (See graphic for symptoms on P2).
Speaking to reporters after the first bilateral meeting on health between Malaysia and China at the Institute of Health Management, Dr Chua said all passengers arriving at KLIA from China would also have to submit health declaration cards distributed on board their aircraft.
Dr Chua said doctors and nurses who handled suspected victims during the global outbreak last year would be mobilised at the hospitals.
"Institute for Medical Research and hospital laboratories are also being put on alert," he said, adding that the ministry would issue daily statements on the SARS situation.
During the global outbreak last year, the SARS virus killed some 800 people and infected more than 8,000. Malaysia reported five cases, with two deaths.
Dr Chua said the ministry would collaborate with China to strengthen surveillance and to facilitate information exchange.
On the SARS alert and the measures put in place, Dr Chua said they would be reviewed from time to time based on global developments and the situation in the country.
Asked whether Malaysia would bar its citizens from visiting China, Dr Chua said: "We are not going to stop anyone from visiting the country. Our advice is to be careful." China's Vice-Minister of Health Dr Zhu Qingsheng said Malaysia and China had pledged to work together against SARS and other infectious diseases.
China has stepped up anti-SARS efforts ahead of a major national holiday next week when millions of people will be on the move, he said.
"We have instructed local authorities to take appropriate precautions and measures to prevent the possibility of the transmission of the virus and make the May Day holiday as safe as possible," he said.
He expressed confidence that "tourists will continue to travel, including out of the country".
He said China had put in place thermal screening at all exit point
Thermal checks reactivated
The latest Sars outbreak in China has prompted Malaysia to reactivate thermal screening at airports and alert its hospitals and doctors to be on guard for symptoms of the disease.
'We are on full alert for passengers from China, more so from Beijing,' Malaysian Health Minister Chua Soi Lek told reporters.
Malaysia escaped relatively lightly when severe acute respiratory syndrome swept Asia last year. Out of 774 people killed globally from 8,000 infected, Malaysia had two deaths from five cases.
Mr Chua said passengers arriving from Beijing were required to undergo thermal scanning to check for fever.
Visitors from Guangzhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong were required to fill out health declaration forms.
About 2,000 people a day arrive in Malaysia from those places, the minister said.
The Health Ministry has reopened a Sars office and a hotline for public inquiries and reports.
Meanwhile, doctors have been reminded to be extra vigilant for signs of Sars when diagnosing illness among their patients. -- AP
The latest Sars outbreak in China has prompted Malaysia to reactivate thermal screening at airports and alert its hospitals and doctors to be on guard for symptoms of the disease.
'We are on full alert for passengers from China, more so from Beijing,' Malaysian Health Minister Chua Soi Lek told reporters.
Malaysia escaped relatively lightly when severe acute respiratory syndrome swept Asia last year. Out of 774 people killed globally from 8,000 infected, Malaysia had two deaths from five cases.
Mr Chua said passengers arriving from Beijing were required to undergo thermal scanning to check for fever.
Visitors from Guangzhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong were required to fill out health declaration forms.
About 2,000 people a day arrive in Malaysia from those places, the minister said.
The Health Ministry has reopened a Sars office and a hotline for public inquiries and reports.
Meanwhile, doctors have been reminded to be extra vigilant for signs of Sars when diagnosing illness among their patients. -- AP
Monday, April 26, 2004
Herbal Science to gain from fad in health food
WITH the growing popularity of complementary medicine and health supplements, the future looks bright for herbal preparations, health and personal care products manufacturer Herbal Science Sdn Bhd.
The company, which started operations in 1994, has had to expand its production capacity from a shoplot with one production line to its current premises in Taman Medan, Petaling Jaya, which houses eight lines and a laboratory.
Director Tan Pye Sen said the key to becoming a successful manufacturing company was to continually research and develop new products to create new markets.
“That has always been our strategy. We feel that there is huge potential for complementary medicine and health supplements in Malaysia and around the world,” he said, adding that the company planned to expand its network of clientele locally and overseas.
The front facade of the Herbal Science plant in Petaling Jaya.
Tan said the company, which generated revenue in the region of RM10mil annually, exported about 10% of its products to countries in the Asean region.
“A potentially exciting market for us is China where we are in the final stages of discussion for a significant supply contract.
“China is a huge market and although the local manufacturers are able to produce at a lower cost hence the lower priced products, we plan to leverage on the fact that imports can command a premium,” he said.
In line with the expected growth in demand for its products, Tan said the company would be adding another two production lines in three to four months time.
Herbal Science was founded by Tan's father, Dr Tan Boon Leong, an Britain-trained pharmacist who became interested in complementary medicine in the 1980s and went to Japan and China to study acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine.
Dr Tan's inexhaustible passion and interest in developing new products in this field has been the key reason for the company's success so far.
The company currently has 130 employees, of which 16 are graduates.
Herbal Science also provides services such as product registration, packing services, laboratory testing including microbiology and heavy metals testing, product knowledge training, nutritional analysis and design of brochures and other promotional materials.
Its current production facilities are of good manufacturing practice standards and consists of production lines that can supply products in capsule, tablet, sachet, liquid, powder and gel forms.
WITH the growing popularity of complementary medicine and health supplements, the future looks bright for herbal preparations, health and personal care products manufacturer Herbal Science Sdn Bhd.
The company, which started operations in 1994, has had to expand its production capacity from a shoplot with one production line to its current premises in Taman Medan, Petaling Jaya, which houses eight lines and a laboratory.
Director Tan Pye Sen said the key to becoming a successful manufacturing company was to continually research and develop new products to create new markets.
“That has always been our strategy. We feel that there is huge potential for complementary medicine and health supplements in Malaysia and around the world,” he said, adding that the company planned to expand its network of clientele locally and overseas.
The front facade of the Herbal Science plant in Petaling Jaya.
Tan said the company, which generated revenue in the region of RM10mil annually, exported about 10% of its products to countries in the Asean region.
“A potentially exciting market for us is China where we are in the final stages of discussion for a significant supply contract.
“China is a huge market and although the local manufacturers are able to produce at a lower cost hence the lower priced products, we plan to leverage on the fact that imports can command a premium,” he said.
In line with the expected growth in demand for its products, Tan said the company would be adding another two production lines in three to four months time.
Herbal Science was founded by Tan's father, Dr Tan Boon Leong, an Britain-trained pharmacist who became interested in complementary medicine in the 1980s and went to Japan and China to study acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine.
Dr Tan's inexhaustible passion and interest in developing new products in this field has been the key reason for the company's success so far.
The company currently has 130 employees, of which 16 are graduates.
Herbal Science also provides services such as product registration, packing services, laboratory testing including microbiology and heavy metals testing, product knowledge training, nutritional analysis and design of brochures and other promotional materials.
Its current production facilities are of good manufacturing practice standards and consists of production lines that can supply products in capsule, tablet, sachet, liquid, powder and gel forms.
Mahathir's daughter in AIDS fight
Extending rights and education for women and giving them choices in their lives is one way the fight against AIDS is being waged in Malaysia, Marina Mahathir said yesterday.
Ms Mahathir, a columnist and president of the Malaysian AIDS Council, is a daughter of Malaysia's former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad.
She said that knowing about the risks associated with AIDS was not sufficient to change behaviour in women.
Women, particularly young women, were the focus of efforts to reduce an increasing rate of diagnosed HIV-positive cases in her country, she said.
Although women comprised fewer than 1000 of the 57,000 reported cases, their rate of infection was increasing faster than for males, Ms Mahathir said.
At the same time, echoing the experience of other countries plagued by AIDS, the indications were that the virus in Malaysia was starting to move out of the drug population - accounting for 72 per cent of HIV-positive cases - and into the general population, she said.
Ms Mahathir, who also produces a television health program aimed at young women, is one of the speakers at the World Conference on Health Promotion and Health Education that opens in Melbourne today.
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"We've done a lot to promote women's rights and options and talk about health because it had been really hard for them to get realistic information," she said.
"For a long time a lot of women had no idea that they were at all vulnerable. We tried to open their eyes to the fact that women are very vulnerable because you really depend on men using condoms so that you don't get infected."
Safe sex was a difficult issue for women to negotiate with their male partners, she said. Although condoms were widely available in Malaysia, there was great reluctance to use them.
"Some people think it is not allowed in our (Muslim) religion or that it doesn't make it pleasurable," she said.
It was a myth that condom use was forbidden for religious reasons, "so we are trying to get the people to understand that there is nothing wrong with it".
One approach was to run training workshops on safe sex for religious leaders, she said.
Ms Mahathir, who is presenting a paper at the health conference on the role of social research in HIV prevention, said Malaysia's Health Ministry provided strong support for the awareness campaign.
But other government agencies had been slow to realise AIDS was not just a medical problem.
The 47-year-old mother of three became involved in the Malaysian AIDS Council, an umbrella group for 37 non-government organisations, after raising funds for AIDS victims 10 years ago.
She found it hard going because people did not really understand the nature of the problem.
Extending rights and education for women and giving them choices in their lives is one way the fight against AIDS is being waged in Malaysia, Marina Mahathir said yesterday.
Ms Mahathir, a columnist and president of the Malaysian AIDS Council, is a daughter of Malaysia's former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad.
She said that knowing about the risks associated with AIDS was not sufficient to change behaviour in women.
Women, particularly young women, were the focus of efforts to reduce an increasing rate of diagnosed HIV-positive cases in her country, she said.
Although women comprised fewer than 1000 of the 57,000 reported cases, their rate of infection was increasing faster than for males, Ms Mahathir said.
At the same time, echoing the experience of other countries plagued by AIDS, the indications were that the virus in Malaysia was starting to move out of the drug population - accounting for 72 per cent of HIV-positive cases - and into the general population, she said.
Ms Mahathir, who also produces a television health program aimed at young women, is one of the speakers at the World Conference on Health Promotion and Health Education that opens in Melbourne today.
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"We've done a lot to promote women's rights and options and talk about health because it had been really hard for them to get realistic information," she said.
"For a long time a lot of women had no idea that they were at all vulnerable. We tried to open their eyes to the fact that women are very vulnerable because you really depend on men using condoms so that you don't get infected."
Safe sex was a difficult issue for women to negotiate with their male partners, she said. Although condoms were widely available in Malaysia, there was great reluctance to use them.
"Some people think it is not allowed in our (Muslim) religion or that it doesn't make it pleasurable," she said.
It was a myth that condom use was forbidden for religious reasons, "so we are trying to get the people to understand that there is nothing wrong with it".
One approach was to run training workshops on safe sex for religious leaders, she said.
Ms Mahathir, who is presenting a paper at the health conference on the role of social research in HIV prevention, said Malaysia's Health Ministry provided strong support for the awareness campaign.
But other government agencies had been slow to realise AIDS was not just a medical problem.
The 47-year-old mother of three became involved in the Malaysian AIDS Council, an umbrella group for 37 non-government organisations, after raising funds for AIDS victims 10 years ago.
She found it hard going because people did not really understand the nature of the problem.
Friday, April 23, 2004
DPM: Adopt regional response against diseases
Asean countries have to adopt rapid and effective regional response mechanisms to effectively combat any future outbreaks of communicable diseases, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.
He said the SARS outbreak, which had caused the Asian economies to suffer damages in the region of RM40.3bil, had highlighted the need for a more effective and co-ordinated early warning surveillance and communication mechanisms among member countries.
“These mechanisms to warn against threats to public health will contribute much to long-term epidemic preparedness and capacity building for combating any future outbreaks,” he said in his keynote speech at the opening of the 7th Asean Health Ministers’ Meeting and the first Asean + 3 Health Ministers’ Meeting yesterday.
The meeting, themed Health Without Frontiers and held from April 17 and ending today, saw the attendance of heads of delegations from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, People’s Republic of China, Japan and Republic of Korea.
Two important health related activities, which have been identified for deliberation by the technical groups during the meeting, were the Special Meeting of the Asean Expert Group on Communicable Diseases and the Asean Ad Hoc Working Group Meeting on Traditional Medicine/Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Najib noted that co-operation between countries in and around the region had contributed to Malaysia’s success in containing the SARS outbreak.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek in his address said the experience gained by Asian countries in controlling the SARS outbreak would ensure that the group would be ready when the next new disease strikes without warning, especially diseases with the potential for international spread.
“Past experience has shown that an integrated and comprehensive action plan is crucial in combating communicable diseases, especially those posed by emerging and re-emerging infections.
“Various initiatives under the Asean umbrella are now under way which would provide a long-term framework for the strengthening of surveillance of communicable diseases within the region,” he added.
Asean countries have to adopt rapid and effective regional response mechanisms to effectively combat any future outbreaks of communicable diseases, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.
He said the SARS outbreak, which had caused the Asian economies to suffer damages in the region of RM40.3bil, had highlighted the need for a more effective and co-ordinated early warning surveillance and communication mechanisms among member countries.
“These mechanisms to warn against threats to public health will contribute much to long-term epidemic preparedness and capacity building for combating any future outbreaks,” he said in his keynote speech at the opening of the 7th Asean Health Ministers’ Meeting and the first Asean + 3 Health Ministers’ Meeting yesterday.
The meeting, themed Health Without Frontiers and held from April 17 and ending today, saw the attendance of heads of delegations from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, People’s Republic of China, Japan and Republic of Korea.
Two important health related activities, which have been identified for deliberation by the technical groups during the meeting, were the Special Meeting of the Asean Expert Group on Communicable Diseases and the Asean Ad Hoc Working Group Meeting on Traditional Medicine/Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Najib noted that co-operation between countries in and around the region had contributed to Malaysia’s success in containing the SARS outbreak.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek in his address said the experience gained by Asian countries in controlling the SARS outbreak would ensure that the group would be ready when the next new disease strikes without warning, especially diseases with the potential for international spread.
“Past experience has shown that an integrated and comprehensive action plan is crucial in combating communicable diseases, especially those posed by emerging and re-emerging infections.
“Various initiatives under the Asean umbrella are now under way which would provide a long-term framework for the strengthening of surveillance of communicable diseases within the region,” he added.
HEALTH MINISTERS WARN ON NEW DISEASES
Warning that new diseases are likely to surface across the region, Asian health ministers on Thursday pledged to boost research, create new facilities and share expertise to counter potential epidemics.
In the wake of deadly SARS and bird flu outbreaks in Asia, ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations hope to establish an international network to help countries detect emerging +health+ threats faster and contain outbreaks during this two-day meeting on the northwest Malaysian resort island of Penang.
Singaporean +Health+ Minister Khaw Boon Wan said governments are now expected to respond quickly and transparently after back-to-back outbreaks of SARS and bird flu proved how easily public +health+ emergencies can spread.
"There are bound to be new viruses," Khaw told reporters. "But we don't know what they would be or when they would strike. Nature has a way of surprising us, so there's nothing like a speedy response to these viruses."
Indonesian Public +Health+ Minister Achmad Sujudi said the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome caused economic losses of more than US$10 billion in Asia, while the financial impact of avian flu could be "easily as much."
Philippine Undersecretary of +Health+ Milagros Fernandez said Asian governments plan to increase research on communicable diseases and establish a panel of experts to assess each country's ability to monitor new outbreaks.
"If a nation is found to be lacking in expertise or equipment, then technical assistance and the exchange of experts will be provided by the World +Health+ Organization and other countries in the region," Fernandez said.
ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Senior +health+ officials from China, Japan and South Korea are scheduled to join the talks Friday.
Many Asian countries increased their disease surveillance systems last year when severe acute respiratory syndrome sickened at least 8,000 people worldwide before subsiding in June. The disease killed 774 people, mostly in Asia.
Earlier this year, bird flu swept through Asia, killing or leading to the slaughter of about 100 million birds. At least 24 people died of the virus in Vietnam and Thailand before it tapered off.
But Khaw said Asian countries are now better prepared to handle such outbreaks.
"With SARS, we had to improvise in our joint cooperation," Khaw said. "Now that the SARS crisis is over, it's a good time to consolidate and institutionalize the various cooperation plans."
Malaysian +Health+ Minister Chua Soi Lek said the ministers would also discuss how to integrate Asia's medicinal plants and traditional remedies into +health+-care systems, bolstering the variety of treatments available for patients.
Warning that new diseases are likely to surface across the region, Asian health ministers on Thursday pledged to boost research, create new facilities and share expertise to counter potential epidemics.
In the wake of deadly SARS and bird flu outbreaks in Asia, ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations hope to establish an international network to help countries detect emerging +health+ threats faster and contain outbreaks during this two-day meeting on the northwest Malaysian resort island of Penang.
Singaporean +Health+ Minister Khaw Boon Wan said governments are now expected to respond quickly and transparently after back-to-back outbreaks of SARS and bird flu proved how easily public +health+ emergencies can spread.
"There are bound to be new viruses," Khaw told reporters. "But we don't know what they would be or when they would strike. Nature has a way of surprising us, so there's nothing like a speedy response to these viruses."
Indonesian Public +Health+ Minister Achmad Sujudi said the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome caused economic losses of more than US$10 billion in Asia, while the financial impact of avian flu could be "easily as much."
Philippine Undersecretary of +Health+ Milagros Fernandez said Asian governments plan to increase research on communicable diseases and establish a panel of experts to assess each country's ability to monitor new outbreaks.
"If a nation is found to be lacking in expertise or equipment, then technical assistance and the exchange of experts will be provided by the World +Health+ Organization and other countries in the region," Fernandez said.
ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Senior +health+ officials from China, Japan and South Korea are scheduled to join the talks Friday.
Many Asian countries increased their disease surveillance systems last year when severe acute respiratory syndrome sickened at least 8,000 people worldwide before subsiding in June. The disease killed 774 people, mostly in Asia.
Earlier this year, bird flu swept through Asia, killing or leading to the slaughter of about 100 million birds. At least 24 people died of the virus in Vietnam and Thailand before it tapered off.
But Khaw said Asian countries are now better prepared to handle such outbreaks.
"With SARS, we had to improvise in our joint cooperation," Khaw said. "Now that the SARS crisis is over, it's a good time to consolidate and institutionalize the various cooperation plans."
Malaysian +Health+ Minister Chua Soi Lek said the ministers would also discuss how to integrate Asia's medicinal plants and traditional remedies into +health+-care systems, bolstering the variety of treatments available for patients.
Thursday, April 22, 2004
MTUC: stop engaging unqualified medical personnel for plantations
KUALA LUMPUR April 21 - The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has called on the Health and Human Resources Ministries to reprimand employers who engage unqualified medical personnel to work in plantations.
Its President, Senator Zainal Rampak, said employing unqualified medical personnel violated Section 2 of the Estate Hospital Assistants (Registration) Act 1965.
In a statement Wednesday, he said the MTUC had received a complaint from an affiliate, the All Malayan Estates Staff Union (AMESU), that certain plantation companies were employing unqualified medical personnel as hospital assistants at low wages to cut costs.
Zainal said these unqualified medical personnel were mainly ex-servicemen who had undergone short courses of between six and seven months in para-medical subjects such as First Aid but did not have the extensive internship experience in hospitals.
"Their training programmes, which do not include a final examination, are supervised and certified by the Defence Ministry and are meant to serve military needs.
"Upon retiring from the army, they apply for jobs as estate hospital assistants and plantation companies are happy to employ them because they are prepared to accept lower wages," he said.
He said the competency certificates issued by the Defence Ministry's Medical and Dental Corps were not recognised by the Health Ministry as equivalent to the hospital assistants' or nurses' diploma.
Zainal said the MTUC was concerned that some of these unqualified medical personnel were taking over the role of qualified doctors and pharmacists by diagnosing, treating, prescribing and preparing medicine for estate workers and their families.
If this practice was allowed to continue unchecked, it would pose a serious threat to the well-being of estate workers and their families, he said.
He urged the Human Resources Ministry to investigate the matter and stop the unethical and illegal practice.
MTUC would also be writing to the respective Ministers to request them to intervene and address the problem before any tragedy takes place, he added.
KUALA LUMPUR April 21 - The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has called on the Health and Human Resources Ministries to reprimand employers who engage unqualified medical personnel to work in plantations.
Its President, Senator Zainal Rampak, said employing unqualified medical personnel violated Section 2 of the Estate Hospital Assistants (Registration) Act 1965.
In a statement Wednesday, he said the MTUC had received a complaint from an affiliate, the All Malayan Estates Staff Union (AMESU), that certain plantation companies were employing unqualified medical personnel as hospital assistants at low wages to cut costs.
Zainal said these unqualified medical personnel were mainly ex-servicemen who had undergone short courses of between six and seven months in para-medical subjects such as First Aid but did not have the extensive internship experience in hospitals.
"Their training programmes, which do not include a final examination, are supervised and certified by the Defence Ministry and are meant to serve military needs.
"Upon retiring from the army, they apply for jobs as estate hospital assistants and plantation companies are happy to employ them because they are prepared to accept lower wages," he said.
He said the competency certificates issued by the Defence Ministry's Medical and Dental Corps were not recognised by the Health Ministry as equivalent to the hospital assistants' or nurses' diploma.
Zainal said the MTUC was concerned that some of these unqualified medical personnel were taking over the role of qualified doctors and pharmacists by diagnosing, treating, prescribing and preparing medicine for estate workers and their families.
If this practice was allowed to continue unchecked, it would pose a serious threat to the well-being of estate workers and their families, he said.
He urged the Human Resources Ministry to investigate the matter and stop the unethical and illegal practice.
MTUC would also be writing to the respective Ministers to request them to intervene and address the problem before any tragedy takes place, he added.
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
The cost of treating infertility
There are many treatments for infertility but couples have to consider the cost of a procedure against its success rate, and the time and energy expended.
Have you consciously planned your lovemaking for months in the hope of getting pregnant but to no avail? Inability to conceive can be very frustrating and depressing, more so when the "trying time" has been going on for too long.
But you are not alone. The World Health Organisation estimates that approximately eight to 10 per cent of couples experience some form of infertility. This means that 50-80 million people in the world suffer from infertility. In Malaysia, infertility affects one out of seven couples.
If you think that you are having difficulty becoming pregnant, you should seek the assistance of your physician. Infertility is a diagnosable medical problem that can be treated by a doctor. But keep in mind that no treatment is a 100 per cent successful.
The first step is to choose a physician with clinical expertise in reproductive medicine — a fertility specialist. It is also important that you feel comfortable with the fertility specialist of your choice, that he or she expresses an ability to listen to and understand your issues and concerns, one who communicates openly about your options, and most importantly, one whom you and your partner feel you can talk to and work with even under stress.
Once you have selected a physician and are opting for treatment, special tests may need to be preformed before a diagnosis is made or confirmed. Identifying the cause of your infertility is important as it may affect the choice of treatment. Possible treatments may include:
Ovulation induction
A series of hormone injections will be given to the woman in order to stimulate egg growth and ovulation. If ovulation can be successfully induced, conception may then be able to occur naturally.
Artificial insemination
This is used in cases where the male has a low sperm count or a high number of abnormal sperm, or the woman has sperm antibodies present in her cervical mucus. Sperm is treated in the laboratory to increase the chances of fertilisation. Large numbers of sperm are then inserted directly into the uterus for easy access to the fallopian tubes.
IVF (In vitro fertilisation)
IVF is used to treat infertility blockages of the fallopian tubes, endometriosis, abnormal sperm, and some cases of unexplained infertility.
The woman is treated with hormones over a number of weeks to stimulate the growth of several eggs in the ovary. When ripe, the eggs are removed from the ovary and put into a dish with the partner’s (or donor’s) sperm. The fertilised eggs are then grown in the laboratory for a few days before being placed into the uterus.
GIFT (Gamete intrafallopian transfer)
This procedure is the same as that for IVF except that fertilisation takes place inside the body of the woman. The eggs and sperm (gametes) are collected and placed directly into the fallopian tubes for fertilisation to occur. GIFT is used in cases of endometriosis, cervical disorders, and some types of male infertility. It is suitable only for women with no abnormalities in the fallopian tubes.
ZIFT (Zygote intrafallopian transfer)
ZIFT involves the same procedure as IVF except that the very early embryo (zygote) is placed directly into the fallopian tube.
This procedure is done when there are abnormal sperm and/or problems with the ability of the sperm to fertilise the eggs.
ICSI (Intracytoplasmic sperm injection)
This is a technique in which a single sperm is inserted directly into the egg. Eggs are obtained the same way as for IVF and then fertilised by injecting a single sperm into them. The fertilised eggs can be transferred to the fallopian tubes of the woman or grown in the laboratory for a couple of days and then transferred to the uterus.
In Malaysia, there are 17 privately-owned and three Government-owned fertility treatment centres which offer assisted reproductive technologies equal to those of other global facilities.
Your financial situation may play an important factor as private treatment can be expensive. For example, the cost for IVF treatment could run up to RM1,000 per cycle. You need to consider the time and energy you need to invest as well. Before going ahead with any treatment you should find out what that particular treatment involves and what the success rate is. Your doctor will help and advise you on which treatment is best for you.
There are many treatments for infertility but couples have to consider the cost of a procedure against its success rate, and the time and energy expended.
Have you consciously planned your lovemaking for months in the hope of getting pregnant but to no avail? Inability to conceive can be very frustrating and depressing, more so when the "trying time" has been going on for too long.
But you are not alone. The World Health Organisation estimates that approximately eight to 10 per cent of couples experience some form of infertility. This means that 50-80 million people in the world suffer from infertility. In Malaysia, infertility affects one out of seven couples.
If you think that you are having difficulty becoming pregnant, you should seek the assistance of your physician. Infertility is a diagnosable medical problem that can be treated by a doctor. But keep in mind that no treatment is a 100 per cent successful.
The first step is to choose a physician with clinical expertise in reproductive medicine — a fertility specialist. It is also important that you feel comfortable with the fertility specialist of your choice, that he or she expresses an ability to listen to and understand your issues and concerns, one who communicates openly about your options, and most importantly, one whom you and your partner feel you can talk to and work with even under stress.
Once you have selected a physician and are opting for treatment, special tests may need to be preformed before a diagnosis is made or confirmed. Identifying the cause of your infertility is important as it may affect the choice of treatment. Possible treatments may include:
Ovulation induction
A series of hormone injections will be given to the woman in order to stimulate egg growth and ovulation. If ovulation can be successfully induced, conception may then be able to occur naturally.
Artificial insemination
This is used in cases where the male has a low sperm count or a high number of abnormal sperm, or the woman has sperm antibodies present in her cervical mucus. Sperm is treated in the laboratory to increase the chances of fertilisation. Large numbers of sperm are then inserted directly into the uterus for easy access to the fallopian tubes.
IVF (In vitro fertilisation)
IVF is used to treat infertility blockages of the fallopian tubes, endometriosis, abnormal sperm, and some cases of unexplained infertility.
The woman is treated with hormones over a number of weeks to stimulate the growth of several eggs in the ovary. When ripe, the eggs are removed from the ovary and put into a dish with the partner’s (or donor’s) sperm. The fertilised eggs are then grown in the laboratory for a few days before being placed into the uterus.
GIFT (Gamete intrafallopian transfer)
This procedure is the same as that for IVF except that fertilisation takes place inside the body of the woman. The eggs and sperm (gametes) are collected and placed directly into the fallopian tubes for fertilisation to occur. GIFT is used in cases of endometriosis, cervical disorders, and some types of male infertility. It is suitable only for women with no abnormalities in the fallopian tubes.
ZIFT (Zygote intrafallopian transfer)
ZIFT involves the same procedure as IVF except that the very early embryo (zygote) is placed directly into the fallopian tube.
This procedure is done when there are abnormal sperm and/or problems with the ability of the sperm to fertilise the eggs.
ICSI (Intracytoplasmic sperm injection)
This is a technique in which a single sperm is inserted directly into the egg. Eggs are obtained the same way as for IVF and then fertilised by injecting a single sperm into them. The fertilised eggs can be transferred to the fallopian tubes of the woman or grown in the laboratory for a couple of days and then transferred to the uterus.
In Malaysia, there are 17 privately-owned and three Government-owned fertility treatment centres which offer assisted reproductive technologies equal to those of other global facilities.
Your financial situation may play an important factor as private treatment can be expensive. For example, the cost for IVF treatment could run up to RM1,000 per cycle. You need to consider the time and energy you need to invest as well. Before going ahead with any treatment you should find out what that particular treatment involves and what the success rate is. Your doctor will help and advise you on which treatment is best for you.
Service sector workers unaware of health hazards
KUALA TERENGGANU: Workers in the service sector are not paying due attention to medical problems arising from their workplace, said the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH).
Its director-general Dr Johari Basri said their cases were often not highlighted unlike those who suffered bodily injuries in factories or construction sites.
“This has caused a misconception that there are less problems in the services sectors such as banking, hotel, trading or transportation,” he told newsmen in Batu Rakit yesterday.
Earlier, he opened a DOSH seminar on behalf of Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Bakar.
Dr Johari said those employed in the service sector in the West submitted the highest insurance claims for work-related medical problems.
“It is probably because they are more aware of their rights,” he said.
In Malaysia, he said some workers blamed their backache or hearing problems to their advancing age without realising that it could be due to them carrying heavy equipment in the workplace or working in a noisy environment.
He said the Social Security Organisation would pay compensation for medical ailments suffered by workers provided that there was proof that the illness was due to the workplace.
KUALA TERENGGANU: Workers in the service sector are not paying due attention to medical problems arising from their workplace, said the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH).
Its director-general Dr Johari Basri said their cases were often not highlighted unlike those who suffered bodily injuries in factories or construction sites.
“This has caused a misconception that there are less problems in the services sectors such as banking, hotel, trading or transportation,” he told newsmen in Batu Rakit yesterday.
Earlier, he opened a DOSH seminar on behalf of Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Bakar.
Dr Johari said those employed in the service sector in the West submitted the highest insurance claims for work-related medical problems.
“It is probably because they are more aware of their rights,” he said.
In Malaysia, he said some workers blamed their backache or hearing problems to their advancing age without realising that it could be due to them carrying heavy equipment in the workplace or working in a noisy environment.
He said the Social Security Organisation would pay compensation for medical ailments suffered by workers provided that there was proof that the illness was due to the workplace.
Monday, April 19, 2004
Record RM754m paid out by Socso last year
Last year, Socso paid out more than ever before to victims of industrial accidents and those injured travelling between home and workplace.
Socso chief executive officer Datuk Ng Teck said the RM754 million disbursed last year in accident benefits was an increase of 13.3 per cent over the RM722 million paid out in 2002, and included RM166 million for those involved in accidents while commuting to and from workplace.
He said since the Occupational Safety and Health Act came into force in 1996 and stringent enforcement began in 2001, there had been a drop in the number of workers involved in such accidents.
"However, errant employers who do not strictly abide by the legislation's requirements have resulted in accidents in workplaces," he said.
Under Section 30 of the Act, it is compulsory for employers with more than 40 workers to set up a safety and health committee. Non-compliance can result in a fine of RM5,000 or six months' jail, or both.
The Act also provides for a fine of RM50,000 or jail not exceeding two years, or both, for employers who do not ensure the safety, health and welfare of their employees at worksites.
Ng said many industrial accidents could be averted if employers adhered to the Act and ensured safe working environments for their workers, including providing protective gear for those operating heavy machinery or doing hazardous work.
Last year, Socso collected RM1.143 billion from its 4.4 million active contributors, of which RM754 million was paid out to 241,038 beneficiaries. Socso has a total of 9.9 million registered contributors.
Ng said Socso had raised the salary ceiling of contributors from RM2,000 to RM3,000 a month.
"Our study revealed some 700,000 contributors have reached the RM2,000 ceiling and thus, to ensure they are protected, the ceiling has been increased to RM3,000," he said, adding that amendments were also being made to the Employees' Social Security Act 1969 to address controversial issues such as the definitions of employment injury and commuting accidents.
He said as unclear definitions had led to delayed payments, guidelines had been drafted to be presented at the Socso Appellate Board meeting on April 29.
Clearer definitions would help avert abuse by contributors and also specify coverage of injuries sustained in job-related activities and during functions organised by employers.
He said Socso allocated between RM1 million and RM2 million a year for activities organised by the Malaysian Trades Union Congress, Malaysian Employers Federation and non-govern-mental organisations to create awareness among employers and workers of the importance of reducing industrial and commuting accidents.
Last year, Socso paid out more than ever before to victims of industrial accidents and those injured travelling between home and workplace.
Socso chief executive officer Datuk Ng Teck said the RM754 million disbursed last year in accident benefits was an increase of 13.3 per cent over the RM722 million paid out in 2002, and included RM166 million for those involved in accidents while commuting to and from workplace.
He said since the Occupational Safety and Health Act came into force in 1996 and stringent enforcement began in 2001, there had been a drop in the number of workers involved in such accidents.
"However, errant employers who do not strictly abide by the legislation's requirements have resulted in accidents in workplaces," he said.
Under Section 30 of the Act, it is compulsory for employers with more than 40 workers to set up a safety and health committee. Non-compliance can result in a fine of RM5,000 or six months' jail, or both.
The Act also provides for a fine of RM50,000 or jail not exceeding two years, or both, for employers who do not ensure the safety, health and welfare of their employees at worksites.
Ng said many industrial accidents could be averted if employers adhered to the Act and ensured safe working environments for their workers, including providing protective gear for those operating heavy machinery or doing hazardous work.
Last year, Socso collected RM1.143 billion from its 4.4 million active contributors, of which RM754 million was paid out to 241,038 beneficiaries. Socso has a total of 9.9 million registered contributors.
Ng said Socso had raised the salary ceiling of contributors from RM2,000 to RM3,000 a month.
"Our study revealed some 700,000 contributors have reached the RM2,000 ceiling and thus, to ensure they are protected, the ceiling has been increased to RM3,000," he said, adding that amendments were also being made to the Employees' Social Security Act 1969 to address controversial issues such as the definitions of employment injury and commuting accidents.
He said as unclear definitions had led to delayed payments, guidelines had been drafted to be presented at the Socso Appellate Board meeting on April 29.
Clearer definitions would help avert abuse by contributors and also specify coverage of injuries sustained in job-related activities and during functions organised by employers.
He said Socso allocated between RM1 million and RM2 million a year for activities organised by the Malaysian Trades Union Congress, Malaysian Employers Federation and non-govern-mental organisations to create awareness among employers and workers of the importance of reducing industrial and commuting accidents.
Lack of privacy may be a project-killer
IMPLEMENTING a hospital information system (HIS) means facing a host of problems, but while most can be resolved, the potential project-killer could be a lack of data privacy.
“Poor project management, miscommunication with the system’s endusers, and software and technologies not meeting requirements – all these occur more frequently but can be easily remedied,” said Dr Chow Yuen Ho, director of Singapore General Hospital’s Department of Medical Informatics.
“Not honouring patient confidentiality and security, and a failure to plan for real returns on the software and technologies purchased – these rarely happen but can potentially sink a project if they do,” he told the eHealth Asia 2004 event in Kuala Lumpur last week.
Integrating hospital information systems would lead to the ability to electronically transfer patient records and information between hospitals, clinics and doctors.
However, some countries have laws which prevent the transfer of certain highly-confidential information about the patient.
“For instance, Singapore’s privacy protection laws forbid hospitals from including confidential details like a patient’s past record of sexual assault, psychiatric illnesses, AIDS and so on, in medical records transferred between hospitals and clinics,” said Dr Chow.
Thus patients have the discretion to reveal or not reveal these details when their medical records are transferred.
Malaysia’s proposed, and much-delayed, Data Protection Act is supposed to provide similar protection.
Hospitals also have a fiduciary duty to protect patient records from unauthorised access by hackers and others.
“One approach is to block illegitimate access altogether, but by doing so hospitals risk also blocking legitimate requests for information, thus compromising the care provided by other doctors,” said Dr Chow.
Another, more viable way would be to audit and regulate access, and block it if illegitimate intrusion is detected.
“Signs to look out for are frequent attempts to access records of particular people like celebrities or important persons, concurrent access to records from different places, or access to dormant records – especially when the patient isn’t admitted to the hospital at the time,” he added.
These “soft” security measures include passwords, security tokens, smartcards or biometrics to ensure non-repudiation, punitive legislation, professional codes of conduct and hospital policy.
Look beyond savings
Hospitals must also look beyond cost-savings when planning for real returns on their technology investment, yet remain focused on their main goal of delivering adequate patient care while realising positive benefits from their investments.
“Hospitals should only buy items and features they actually need, instead of paying for bells and whistles which they don’t,” said Dr Chow.
“For instance, simply paying for a Snomed (systemised nomenclature of medicine) dictionary of standard clinical terms brings no returns in itself, but integrating it into an HIS could lead to greater efficiency, features like data mining, and better research and surveillance.
“Building a decision support system from Snomed could also lead to better clinical safety and results,” he added.
Snomed standardises medical terms internationally to avoid any confusion.
“For instance, when a patient is having a heart attack, some doctors will call it a ‘heart attack,’ others will say ‘heart failure,’ others a ‘myocardial infarction’ and others an ‘acute myocardial infarction’ (AMI).
“Snomed standardises on the acronym ‘AMI’ which gives computers a standard term to search for and arrive at intelligent decisions,” said Dr Chow.
The electronic medical records system in Singapore went live in October, 2002, across a cluster of three acute care hospitals, four national speciality centres and eight clinics with standardised clinical documentation.
Now 95% of prescriptions at Singapore General Hospital are issued electronically.
“The end result for Singapore General Hospital was an electronic system which is accurate, with fast access to records and a more secure electronic system than the former paper-based system,” said Dr Chow.
IMPLEMENTING a hospital information system (HIS) means facing a host of problems, but while most can be resolved, the potential project-killer could be a lack of data privacy.
“Poor project management, miscommunication with the system’s endusers, and software and technologies not meeting requirements – all these occur more frequently but can be easily remedied,” said Dr Chow Yuen Ho, director of Singapore General Hospital’s Department of Medical Informatics.
“Not honouring patient confidentiality and security, and a failure to plan for real returns on the software and technologies purchased – these rarely happen but can potentially sink a project if they do,” he told the eHealth Asia 2004 event in Kuala Lumpur last week.
Integrating hospital information systems would lead to the ability to electronically transfer patient records and information between hospitals, clinics and doctors.
However, some countries have laws which prevent the transfer of certain highly-confidential information about the patient.
“For instance, Singapore’s privacy protection laws forbid hospitals from including confidential details like a patient’s past record of sexual assault, psychiatric illnesses, AIDS and so on, in medical records transferred between hospitals and clinics,” said Dr Chow.
Thus patients have the discretion to reveal or not reveal these details when their medical records are transferred.
Malaysia’s proposed, and much-delayed, Data Protection Act is supposed to provide similar protection.
Hospitals also have a fiduciary duty to protect patient records from unauthorised access by hackers and others.
“One approach is to block illegitimate access altogether, but by doing so hospitals risk also blocking legitimate requests for information, thus compromising the care provided by other doctors,” said Dr Chow.
Another, more viable way would be to audit and regulate access, and block it if illegitimate intrusion is detected.
“Signs to look out for are frequent attempts to access records of particular people like celebrities or important persons, concurrent access to records from different places, or access to dormant records – especially when the patient isn’t admitted to the hospital at the time,” he added.
These “soft” security measures include passwords, security tokens, smartcards or biometrics to ensure non-repudiation, punitive legislation, professional codes of conduct and hospital policy.
Look beyond savings
Hospitals must also look beyond cost-savings when planning for real returns on their technology investment, yet remain focused on their main goal of delivering adequate patient care while realising positive benefits from their investments.
“Hospitals should only buy items and features they actually need, instead of paying for bells and whistles which they don’t,” said Dr Chow.
“For instance, simply paying for a Snomed (systemised nomenclature of medicine) dictionary of standard clinical terms brings no returns in itself, but integrating it into an HIS could lead to greater efficiency, features like data mining, and better research and surveillance.
“Building a decision support system from Snomed could also lead to better clinical safety and results,” he added.
Snomed standardises medical terms internationally to avoid any confusion.
“For instance, when a patient is having a heart attack, some doctors will call it a ‘heart attack,’ others will say ‘heart failure,’ others a ‘myocardial infarction’ and others an ‘acute myocardial infarction’ (AMI).
“Snomed standardises on the acronym ‘AMI’ which gives computers a standard term to search for and arrive at intelligent decisions,” said Dr Chow.
The electronic medical records system in Singapore went live in October, 2002, across a cluster of three acute care hospitals, four national speciality centres and eight clinics with standardised clinical documentation.
Now 95% of prescriptions at Singapore General Hospital are issued electronically.
“The end result for Singapore General Hospital was an electronic system which is accurate, with fast access to records and a more secure electronic system than the former paper-based system,” said Dr Chow.
Friday, April 16, 2004
Malaysia hosting SEA’s biggest healthcare trade show
Malaysia will play host to the biggest healthcare trade show in Southeast Asia from April 21 to 23.
The exhibition will be held at the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur. The exhibition will have 130 exhibitors and the organisers expect about 5,000 visitors.
Malaysia will play host to the biggest healthcare trade show in Southeast Asia from April 21 to 23.
The exhibition will be held at the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur. The exhibition will have 130 exhibitors and the organisers expect about 5,000 visitors.
Minister: Effects from second vaccine dose only temporary
PETALING JAYA: The effects from the second dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine are only temporary, affecting children for a short period, Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said.
He said the ministry would continue with the Mass Immunisation Measles Campaign, as its benefits were greater than the side effects.
Dr Chua also said the second MMR dose given under the campaign, aimed to boost the children’s immunity system, would not cause any harm to the their health in the long run.
He said out of 650,000 children immunised to date under this campaign, only 15 have complained of fever and rashes.
“This is a small group reacting to the injections compared to the large number of children benefiting from the campaign,” said Dr Chua yesterday.
He was asked to respond to Consumers Association of Penang’s (CAP) concern over the ministry’s campaign, which began this month.
CAP had urged the authorities to carry out a proper evaluation before conducting the campaign involving 4.5 million school children aged between seven and 15.
It stated that soon after the vaccine came into use, there was a new problem where children contracted atypical measles, a more serious form of the disease that might not respond to treatment.
Dr Chua also said CAP should not “be so negative” as it confuses the public.
PETALING JAYA: The effects from the second dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine are only temporary, affecting children for a short period, Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said.
He said the ministry would continue with the Mass Immunisation Measles Campaign, as its benefits were greater than the side effects.
Dr Chua also said the second MMR dose given under the campaign, aimed to boost the children’s immunity system, would not cause any harm to the their health in the long run.
He said out of 650,000 children immunised to date under this campaign, only 15 have complained of fever and rashes.
“This is a small group reacting to the injections compared to the large number of children benefiting from the campaign,” said Dr Chua yesterday.
He was asked to respond to Consumers Association of Penang’s (CAP) concern over the ministry’s campaign, which began this month.
CAP had urged the authorities to carry out a proper evaluation before conducting the campaign involving 4.5 million school children aged between seven and 15.
It stated that soon after the vaccine came into use, there was a new problem where children contracted atypical measles, a more serious form of the disease that might not respond to treatment.
Dr Chua also said CAP should not “be so negative” as it confuses the public.
Neonatal Registry to be set up soon
PETALING JAYA: A National Neonatal Registry will be set up to compile information in a move to improve neonatal care and bring down the death rate among newborns.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the registry, scheduled to be ready by the end of the year, would allow health authorities to assess the state of neonatal care in the country.
“This reporting system is not compulsory for healthcare facilities in the private and public sector, but it will help the ministry obtain a clearer picture of the causes of neonatal deaths and the risks involved,” he said.
Dr Chua said the registry would gather information on the frequency and distribution of critically ill newborns and would study the strengths and weaknesses of centres providing neonatal care.
“Data collected from the registry will enable us to review our policies and improve the services we provide,” he told a press conference after opening the 13th Congress of the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies here yesterday.
He said healthcare facilities from both private and public sectors should co-operate with the ministry to formulate programmes to improve the level of neonatal care, adding that the ministry had initially allocated RM50,000 to set up the registry.
Dr Chua said Malaysia had significantly reduced its perinatal (the period from the 22nd week of pregnancy to the first week of life) mortality rate from 55 deaths per 1,000 births in 1955 to 6.1 per 1,000 births in 2001.
“We intend to further reduce the rates to make them comparable to those of developed countries like Japan, which records four deaths per 1,000 births,” he said.
Dr Chua said the target would be met in about 10 to 15 years.
He said one of the problems was the shortage of paediatricians.
“Malaysia only has 570 paediatricians while the ideal number is 1,400. This is the reason we train nurses and other health personnel to have basic knowledge in neonatal care,” he said.
Dr Chua said the ministry had trained 1,200 personnel each year for the past 10 years, adding that they would be retrained every two years to upgrade their knowledge in this field.
“Medical staff are trained to deal promptly with newborns who have breathing difficulties or other similar risks,” he said.
PETALING JAYA: A National Neonatal Registry will be set up to compile information in a move to improve neonatal care and bring down the death rate among newborns.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the registry, scheduled to be ready by the end of the year, would allow health authorities to assess the state of neonatal care in the country.
“This reporting system is not compulsory for healthcare facilities in the private and public sector, but it will help the ministry obtain a clearer picture of the causes of neonatal deaths and the risks involved,” he said.
Dr Chua said the registry would gather information on the frequency and distribution of critically ill newborns and would study the strengths and weaknesses of centres providing neonatal care.
“Data collected from the registry will enable us to review our policies and improve the services we provide,” he told a press conference after opening the 13th Congress of the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies here yesterday.
He said healthcare facilities from both private and public sectors should co-operate with the ministry to formulate programmes to improve the level of neonatal care, adding that the ministry had initially allocated RM50,000 to set up the registry.
Dr Chua said Malaysia had significantly reduced its perinatal (the period from the 22nd week of pregnancy to the first week of life) mortality rate from 55 deaths per 1,000 births in 1955 to 6.1 per 1,000 births in 2001.
“We intend to further reduce the rates to make them comparable to those of developed countries like Japan, which records four deaths per 1,000 births,” he said.
Dr Chua said the target would be met in about 10 to 15 years.
He said one of the problems was the shortage of paediatricians.
“Malaysia only has 570 paediatricians while the ideal number is 1,400. This is the reason we train nurses and other health personnel to have basic knowledge in neonatal care,” he said.
Dr Chua said the ministry had trained 1,200 personnel each year for the past 10 years, adding that they would be retrained every two years to upgrade their knowledge in this field.
“Medical staff are trained to deal promptly with newborns who have breathing difficulties or other similar risks,” he said.
Thursday, April 15, 2004
Doctors on the field
THE army wants you! For many, working in the Armed Forces is seen as a job with low pay and poor benefits. And if you are a doctor most Malaysians would call you a fool if you give up a “money-printing” private practice for “subsistence” living in army camps.
The overwhelming majority of those who serve in the military are Malays; non-Malays have traditionally shunned becoming soldiers. Yet in the health services division of the Malaysian Armed Forces there is a big non-Malay presence, even more so in the higher ranks.
Armed Forces Health Services Division director-general Mejar-Jen Datuk Pahlawan Dr R. Mohanadas (which is the highest position in the division) says that at least 25% of the staff in the division is non-Malay.
In this day and age when the Government is trying hard to get more non-Malays to enlist, this division seems to have got it right.
Ophthalmologist Kol. Dr. Nor Aishah Malek and her husband Kol. Dr. Azlan Mohd. Nor are happy with their careers in the Armed Forces.
Dr Mohanadas started off as a Kedah state scholar, and in the 1970s and 80s there was compulsory national service. After one scholarship followed another, he began to enjoy the military lifestyle and its traditions.
“Personal comfort should be the lowest priority. National requirements should come first. Still it is a unique lifestyle with the uniforms and the procedures.
“Being a doctor in the military involves a clash of duties. As a doctor you are tasked to save a life but as a soldier you might be expected to take one,” Dr Mohanadas points out.
He says the advantage of a military career is that it emphasises personal development and gives a person the confidence to survive difficult situations. He certainly put that to good use when he headed a number of United Nations missions.
“Now that I am basically handling administrative duties, I do miss the bonding and camaraderie in the infantry as a young doctor,” admits Dr Mohanadas.
Terendak Hospital commanding officer Kol Dr N. Arichandra concurs that the traditions, morals and discipline of the military provide a good upbringing and build character and he also misses the army life.
“In the field, you are a soldier first, a doctor second. During the 1970s, there was still communist activity and when we were in the jungle there was esprit de corps and if there was a doctor present then it was good for morale,” points out Dr Arichandra.
Dr Arichandra remembers going out in a helicopter and then being winched down somewhere in Kroh, Perak, where some communists had been spotted and then the chopper suddenly left.
His team thought they were abandoned but they later found out that the chopper had to leave because it had a problem with the rear rotor. He also recalls booby traps and explosions during jungle missions.
Lt Kol Dr N. S. Nachiappan who is also based in Terendak is a general surgeon who deals mainly with muscular-skeletal conditions and was on a Health Ministry attachment for two years.
However, the lure of army life persuaded him to stay on.
He says the pace is not as hectic as in civilian hospitals and he has more time to spend with his family. He needs that extra time too as his wife is a doctor in private practice in Johor Baru, thus he has to travel quite a bit.
For Kol Dr Tang Ming Kin, another doctor in Terendak, his stint in the army came about because of a loan he obtained from the Defence Ministry while studying in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia from 1989 to 1993. He had the option to repay the loan or serve 10 years with the military. He took up the latter and while he didn’t know what he was getting into, he has no regrets.
Dr Tang, a surgeon, says he likes the outdoor aspect of the service and that he had served in many places like Sarawak and Sabah. Another aspect of the service he likes is that it gives him the time to plan his life as there is more control over time. He likens it to a trade off – more time but less pay compared to private practice. He concedes that the fringe benefits are much better than in government service.
In the long term with the educational needs of his children, he sees himself leaving the service eventually. Dr Tang adds that for a bachelor, being a doctor in the military is worthwhile.
Ophthalmologist Kol Dr Nor Aishah Malek is the second female in the military to be promoted to the rank of Kolonel and she is very happy with her career as it has taken her far.
Dr Nor Aishah has no problems juggling a career, five children and husband. It helps, of course, that her husband, surgeon Kol Dr Azlan Mohd Nor is also in the army and posted to Terendak.
They both say it is a good life and they have travelled not only to various places in Malaysia but foreign lands in the course of their duties. – By S.S. Yoga
THE army wants you! For many, working in the Armed Forces is seen as a job with low pay and poor benefits. And if you are a doctor most Malaysians would call you a fool if you give up a “money-printing” private practice for “subsistence” living in army camps.
The overwhelming majority of those who serve in the military are Malays; non-Malays have traditionally shunned becoming soldiers. Yet in the health services division of the Malaysian Armed Forces there is a big non-Malay presence, even more so in the higher ranks.
Armed Forces Health Services Division director-general Mejar-Jen Datuk Pahlawan Dr R. Mohanadas (which is the highest position in the division) says that at least 25% of the staff in the division is non-Malay.
In this day and age when the Government is trying hard to get more non-Malays to enlist, this division seems to have got it right.
Ophthalmologist Kol. Dr. Nor Aishah Malek and her husband Kol. Dr. Azlan Mohd. Nor are happy with their careers in the Armed Forces.
Dr Mohanadas started off as a Kedah state scholar, and in the 1970s and 80s there was compulsory national service. After one scholarship followed another, he began to enjoy the military lifestyle and its traditions.
“Personal comfort should be the lowest priority. National requirements should come first. Still it is a unique lifestyle with the uniforms and the procedures.
“Being a doctor in the military involves a clash of duties. As a doctor you are tasked to save a life but as a soldier you might be expected to take one,” Dr Mohanadas points out.
He says the advantage of a military career is that it emphasises personal development and gives a person the confidence to survive difficult situations. He certainly put that to good use when he headed a number of United Nations missions.
“Now that I am basically handling administrative duties, I do miss the bonding and camaraderie in the infantry as a young doctor,” admits Dr Mohanadas.
Terendak Hospital commanding officer Kol Dr N. Arichandra concurs that the traditions, morals and discipline of the military provide a good upbringing and build character and he also misses the army life.
“In the field, you are a soldier first, a doctor second. During the 1970s, there was still communist activity and when we were in the jungle there was esprit de corps and if there was a doctor present then it was good for morale,” points out Dr Arichandra.
Dr Arichandra remembers going out in a helicopter and then being winched down somewhere in Kroh, Perak, where some communists had been spotted and then the chopper suddenly left.
His team thought they were abandoned but they later found out that the chopper had to leave because it had a problem with the rear rotor. He also recalls booby traps and explosions during jungle missions.
Lt Kol Dr N. S. Nachiappan who is also based in Terendak is a general surgeon who deals mainly with muscular-skeletal conditions and was on a Health Ministry attachment for two years.
However, the lure of army life persuaded him to stay on.
He says the pace is not as hectic as in civilian hospitals and he has more time to spend with his family. He needs that extra time too as his wife is a doctor in private practice in Johor Baru, thus he has to travel quite a bit.
For Kol Dr Tang Ming Kin, another doctor in Terendak, his stint in the army came about because of a loan he obtained from the Defence Ministry while studying in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia from 1989 to 1993. He had the option to repay the loan or serve 10 years with the military. He took up the latter and while he didn’t know what he was getting into, he has no regrets.
Dr Tang, a surgeon, says he likes the outdoor aspect of the service and that he had served in many places like Sarawak and Sabah. Another aspect of the service he likes is that it gives him the time to plan his life as there is more control over time. He likens it to a trade off – more time but less pay compared to private practice. He concedes that the fringe benefits are much better than in government service.
In the long term with the educational needs of his children, he sees himself leaving the service eventually. Dr Tang adds that for a bachelor, being a doctor in the military is worthwhile.
Ophthalmologist Kol Dr Nor Aishah Malek is the second female in the military to be promoted to the rank of Kolonel and she is very happy with her career as it has taken her far.
Dr Nor Aishah has no problems juggling a career, five children and husband. It helps, of course, that her husband, surgeon Kol Dr Azlan Mohd Nor is also in the army and posted to Terendak.
They both say it is a good life and they have travelled not only to various places in Malaysia but foreign lands in the course of their duties. – By S.S. Yoga
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
More M’sian men turning to illegal sex stimulants
PETALING JAYA: More Malaysian men are turning to illegal sex stimulants, thus fuelling the burgeoning drug industry in the country.
Health Ministry’s Pharmaceutical Services Division Director, Datuk Mohd Zin Che Awang, said Saturday that of the RM14.98 million worth of unregistered drugs seized by the division between January and February (see report on Page 6), some RM9 million worth were sex stimulants.
“There is an increasing demand from Malaysian men to boost their sex drive. The main reason could be due to a surge in male population and the illegal industry takes this opportunity to manufacture these drugs to fulfil the demand,” he said at a news conference at his office, after giving a briefing on the growing threat of unregistered drugs in the country.
He said most of the drugs seized lately contained Tadalafil and Sildenafil, both chemicals widely used to treat erectile dysfunction or impotence in men.
The illegal sex stimulant drugs industry was not only thriving on local demand but also from overseas, he said.
“We have received complaints from as far as Bahrain a Tongkat Ali Plus exported from Malaysia,” he said.
The product was believed to have tested positive for Sildenafil, which is classified as a schedule poison.
“The Drug Control Authority would like to advise the public against buying and using Shitek Tongkat Ali 400mg and Longeria Capsules.
These two products were tested and found to contain an ingredient which is not allowed to be used in traditional medicines and could be deleterious to the health of the user,” said Mohd Zin.
He advised the public not to purchase or consume these drugs as they could lead to severe side effect, especially among heart and diabetic patients, and those suffering from high blood pressure.
“Sildenafil and Tadalafil are medicines, which can only be prescribed by doctors for men diagnosed with the condition of erectile dysfunction.
These drugs could interact with other medicines resulting in serious adverse effects such as lowering of blood pressure if used together with the antihypertensive drugs,” said Mohd Zin. - Bernama
PETALING JAYA: More Malaysian men are turning to illegal sex stimulants, thus fuelling the burgeoning drug industry in the country.
Health Ministry’s Pharmaceutical Services Division Director, Datuk Mohd Zin Che Awang, said Saturday that of the RM14.98 million worth of unregistered drugs seized by the division between January and February (see report on Page 6), some RM9 million worth were sex stimulants.
“There is an increasing demand from Malaysian men to boost their sex drive. The main reason could be due to a surge in male population and the illegal industry takes this opportunity to manufacture these drugs to fulfil the demand,” he said at a news conference at his office, after giving a briefing on the growing threat of unregistered drugs in the country.
He said most of the drugs seized lately contained Tadalafil and Sildenafil, both chemicals widely used to treat erectile dysfunction or impotence in men.
The illegal sex stimulant drugs industry was not only thriving on local demand but also from overseas, he said.
“We have received complaints from as far as Bahrain a Tongkat Ali Plus exported from Malaysia,” he said.
The product was believed to have tested positive for Sildenafil, which is classified as a schedule poison.
“The Drug Control Authority would like to advise the public against buying and using Shitek Tongkat Ali 400mg and Longeria Capsules.
These two products were tested and found to contain an ingredient which is not allowed to be used in traditional medicines and could be deleterious to the health of the user,” said Mohd Zin.
He advised the public not to purchase or consume these drugs as they could lead to severe side effect, especially among heart and diabetic patients, and those suffering from high blood pressure.
“Sildenafil and Tadalafil are medicines, which can only be prescribed by doctors for men diagnosed with the condition of erectile dysfunction.
These drugs could interact with other medicines resulting in serious adverse effects such as lowering of blood pressure if used together with the antihypertensive drugs,” said Mohd Zin. - Bernama
Malaysia battles measles outbreak
KUALA LUMPUR (dpa) - Malaysia is in the midst of a measles outbreak, a newspaper reported Saturday.
In the past six months, about 270 cases of measles have been reported at the government hospital in the capital city, The New Straits Times newspaper said.
The head of the hospital's Pediatrics Department, Dr. Hussain Iman Mohammad Ismail, warned that the country was in the midst of an outbreak. Middle-class children in urban areas were the most affected.
"Two children have died so far," Hussain told the Times. "Forty-five have developed measles pneumonia, and eight suffered serious lung damage."
He stressed the need for the public to be aware of the importance of immunising their children to prevent death and permanent health effects from the disease.
After the last outbreak in late 1999 and early 2000, which affected immigrant children, the health ministry launched an immunisation campaign, adopting a two-dose regime that had seen success in many countries.
KUALA LUMPUR (dpa) - Malaysia is in the midst of a measles outbreak, a newspaper reported Saturday.
In the past six months, about 270 cases of measles have been reported at the government hospital in the capital city, The New Straits Times newspaper said.
The head of the hospital's Pediatrics Department, Dr. Hussain Iman Mohammad Ismail, warned that the country was in the midst of an outbreak. Middle-class children in urban areas were the most affected.
"Two children have died so far," Hussain told the Times. "Forty-five have developed measles pneumonia, and eight suffered serious lung damage."
He stressed the need for the public to be aware of the importance of immunising their children to prevent death and permanent health effects from the disease.
After the last outbreak in late 1999 and early 2000, which affected immigrant children, the health ministry launched an immunisation campaign, adopting a two-dose regime that had seen success in many countries.
$6.8M IN ILLEGAL SEX STIMULANTS SEIZED
A SURGE in the consumption of unregistered sex stimulants has Malaysian experts worried.
In the first two months of this year, the Pharmaceutical Services Division seized about RM15 million (S$6.8 million) worth of unregistered drugs purporting to boost male sexual health.
Last year, RM7 million worth of such products were seized, while it was RM4 million in 2001. -- New Straits Times
A SURGE in the consumption of unregistered sex stimulants has Malaysian experts worried.
In the first two months of this year, the Pharmaceutical Services Division seized about RM15 million (S$6.8 million) worth of unregistered drugs purporting to boost male sexual health.
Last year, RM7 million worth of such products were seized, while it was RM4 million in 2001. -- New Straits Times
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