Star: A regional avian influenza research centre will be set up at the Veterinary Research Institute (VRI) here to develop a local bird flu vaccine to deal with the deadly H5N1 virus.
Agriculture and Agro-Based Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the vaccine would be more effective in fighting the local strain of the virus.
He said RM13mil would be allocated for the centre, and that the vaccine could be developed in a few months.
He said it would cost RM77mil to purchase the vaccine overseas for all the birds in the country.
“If we produce our own vaccine, the cost can be cut by half.
“VRI is doing a good job in working round the clock to check on all the samples collected,” he told reporters after visiting the institute yesterday.
He said the allocation would be used for acquiring equipment and manpower needed for the vaccine's research and development.
The vaccine would be used on non-infected poultry in the event of an epidemic, he said, adding that there was no need for any vaccination now.
Muhyiddin said veterinarians have been working on samples to detect any presence of the bird flu and conducting checks at farms to prevent an outbreak.
He said border checks on smuggling of poultry and poultry products had been stepped up.
He said farmers were also being educated on the bird flu and the necessary precautionary measures they were to take.
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, November 12, 2005
State-of-the-art operating theatres for hospitals
Star: The operation theatres at 45 government hospitals in the country will be upgraded and equipped with state-of-the-art technology surpassing that at private hospitals.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad said, under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, services at the operation theatres would be improved to cater for the increasing number of surgeries at government hospitals.
“We have a backlog of elective surgeries. With the improved technology, the services at government hospitals will be more efficient,” he told reporters after attending a Hari Raya gathering at Sungai Petani Hospital here yesterday.
Dr Latiff also said specialised surgeries such as laproscopy and hysterectomy were now available at Sungai Petani Hospital.
Such surgeries, he added, were being performed by one of the country’s top surgeons now attached to the hospital.
Earlier, in his speech, he urged the hospital’s medical staff to be patient and steadfast in handling public complaints and to view them constructively. He added that government hospitals now faced bigger challenges as patients today were more knowledgeable.
“In the old days, patients did not question their doctors as they fully relied on the experts’ opinions.”
He said the annual expenses incurred by government hospitals nationwide amounted to RM7bil, but the hospitals only collected revenue of RM125mil a year from patients.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad said, under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, services at the operation theatres would be improved to cater for the increasing number of surgeries at government hospitals.
“We have a backlog of elective surgeries. With the improved technology, the services at government hospitals will be more efficient,” he told reporters after attending a Hari Raya gathering at Sungai Petani Hospital here yesterday.
Dr Latiff also said specialised surgeries such as laproscopy and hysterectomy were now available at Sungai Petani Hospital.
Such surgeries, he added, were being performed by one of the country’s top surgeons now attached to the hospital.
Earlier, in his speech, he urged the hospital’s medical staff to be patient and steadfast in handling public complaints and to view them constructively. He added that government hospitals now faced bigger challenges as patients today were more knowledgeable.
“In the old days, patients did not question their doctors as they fully relied on the experts’ opinions.”
He said the annual expenses incurred by government hospitals nationwide amounted to RM7bil, but the hospitals only collected revenue of RM125mil a year from patients.
Well-equipped fleet and manpower to boost ambulance service
Star: An efficient ambulance service can save lives, said Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek who wants the 127 government hospitals to focus on enhancing the service.
He said the ambulances were part of the services provided by the hospitals and they played a very important role in an emergency.
He said each ambulance should be equipped with a driver, medical assistant, nurse and doctor, as well as medical aid.
Dr Chua said 112 of the 869 ambulances in the country would be replaced.
Some 300 ambulances that are over five years old will be refurbished and upgraded, he told reporters after visiting the Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital here yesterday.
Dr Chua said of the 864 health clinics in the country, 224 had no ambulance service and had to use mini-buses or four-wheel drives converted into ambulances.
He said this led to complaints that some ambulances were not fully equipped, as people did not realise that the vehicles were not meant to be ambulances.
He added that RM40mil was spent this year to purchase 197 new ambulances.
Dr Chua said ambulance control and despatch centres had been set up in Batu Pahat, Malacca, Ipoh, Penang, Kangar, Klang and Temerloh.
He said the ambulances were part of the services provided by the hospitals and they played a very important role in an emergency.
He said each ambulance should be equipped with a driver, medical assistant, nurse and doctor, as well as medical aid.
Dr Chua said 112 of the 869 ambulances in the country would be replaced.
Some 300 ambulances that are over five years old will be refurbished and upgraded, he told reporters after visiting the Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital here yesterday.
Dr Chua said of the 864 health clinics in the country, 224 had no ambulance service and had to use mini-buses or four-wheel drives converted into ambulances.
He said this led to complaints that some ambulances were not fully equipped, as people did not realise that the vehicles were not meant to be ambulances.
He added that RM40mil was spent this year to purchase 197 new ambulances.
Dr Chua said ambulance control and despatch centres had been set up in Batu Pahat, Malacca, Ipoh, Penang, Kangar, Klang and Temerloh.
Bid to stem the brain drain
NST: To keep the best brains from leaving Malaysia’s universities, the Higher Education Ministry may consider extending the retirement age of academics.
Saying that the brain drain was critical at institutes of higher learning, Minister Datuk Dr Shafie Salleh said local universities were no longer an attraction to the most talented of academics.
"We are worried about the situation and we must do something.
"The ministry will review the academic service scheme to find the best mechanism to keep the academic manpower in public universities," he had said at his first meeting with heads of local universities recently.
About 600 participants, including vice-chancellors, deputy vice-chancellors, deans and registrars, from 17 public universities were briefed on the ministry’s direction and goals for higher education.
Shafie said the move to address the brain drain issue would be done carefully to ensure that only those who were productive would reap the benefits.
The retirement age at universities is 55, which has been criticised as outdated as many feel that academics are at their prime at that age, with the best yet to come.
Shafie also said the ministry was trying to find ways to increase the number of lecturers who have doctorates to 75 per cent in public universities, so that these institutes would stay as respected centres of knowledge.
He also spoke on the challenges of the democratisation of education, a knowledge economy, competition among universities and globalisation.
Universities like Harvard and Cambridge had begun operating in the "global labour market" with a diverse faculty staff and student population, he said.
"The London School of Economics has 44 per cent of its lecturers from overseas, while 64 per cent of its students are from all over the world."
He also felt universities should be more autonomous and vibrant, not rigid and bureaucratic.
Shafie, who will be holding a Hari Raya open house at his official residence in Kuala Langat tomorrow, also said graduates needed to understand global issues and be open to outside cultures but still remain patriotic.
Saying that the brain drain was critical at institutes of higher learning, Minister Datuk Dr Shafie Salleh said local universities were no longer an attraction to the most talented of academics.
"We are worried about the situation and we must do something.
"The ministry will review the academic service scheme to find the best mechanism to keep the academic manpower in public universities," he had said at his first meeting with heads of local universities recently.
About 600 participants, including vice-chancellors, deputy vice-chancellors, deans and registrars, from 17 public universities were briefed on the ministry’s direction and goals for higher education.
Shafie said the move to address the brain drain issue would be done carefully to ensure that only those who were productive would reap the benefits.
The retirement age at universities is 55, which has been criticised as outdated as many feel that academics are at their prime at that age, with the best yet to come.
Shafie also said the ministry was trying to find ways to increase the number of lecturers who have doctorates to 75 per cent in public universities, so that these institutes would stay as respected centres of knowledge.
He also spoke on the challenges of the democratisation of education, a knowledge economy, competition among universities and globalisation.
Universities like Harvard and Cambridge had begun operating in the "global labour market" with a diverse faculty staff and student population, he said.
"The London School of Economics has 44 per cent of its lecturers from overseas, while 64 per cent of its students are from all over the world."
He also felt universities should be more autonomous and vibrant, not rigid and bureaucratic.
Shafie, who will be holding a Hari Raya open house at his official residence in Kuala Langat tomorrow, also said graduates needed to understand global issues and be open to outside cultures but still remain patriotic.
Friday, November 11, 2005
Government pledges to be open on bird flu
Star: The public will get prompt and honest answers to the way the Government is dealing with the bird flu threat.
“The Cabinet has stressed the importance of being transparent so that no one can question the integrity of our actions and the tests that we carry out,” Agriculture and Agro-Based Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin told a joint conference with Health Minister Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek at the end of the second meeting of the inter-ministerial committee to prepare for the avian influenza at his office yesterday.
The meeting, he said, also discussed contingency plans to be put in place should the bird flu infection spread to Malaysia.
Among options being considered, he said, was the banning of chicken slaughter in wet markets if that practice was found to contribute to the spread of the disease.
Muhyiddin said some of the options being considered, like tighter enforcement on poultry farms and slaughterhouses would not go down well with industry players, but “when it comes to life and death situations, business will have to take a back seat”.
The situation, he said, would be considered critical only when about 25% of the country’s estimated 160 million birds became infected. He will seek RM103mil to compensate farmers in the event their poultry is culled.
The Government, he said, had also allocated RM13mil to improve the Veterinary Research Institute’s capacity to produce bird flu vaccine for local use.
Dr Chua said his ministry had asked for RM60mil more to stock up enough antiviral drugs for at least 5% of the country’s population.
“The Cabinet has stressed the importance of being transparent so that no one can question the integrity of our actions and the tests that we carry out,” Agriculture and Agro-Based Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin told a joint conference with Health Minister Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek at the end of the second meeting of the inter-ministerial committee to prepare for the avian influenza at his office yesterday.
The meeting, he said, also discussed contingency plans to be put in place should the bird flu infection spread to Malaysia.
Among options being considered, he said, was the banning of chicken slaughter in wet markets if that practice was found to contribute to the spread of the disease.
Muhyiddin said some of the options being considered, like tighter enforcement on poultry farms and slaughterhouses would not go down well with industry players, but “when it comes to life and death situations, business will have to take a back seat”.
The situation, he said, would be considered critical only when about 25% of the country’s estimated 160 million birds became infected. He will seek RM103mil to compensate farmers in the event their poultry is culled.
The Government, he said, had also allocated RM13mil to improve the Veterinary Research Institute’s capacity to produce bird flu vaccine for local use.
Dr Chua said his ministry had asked for RM60mil more to stock up enough antiviral drugs for at least 5% of the country’s population.
Surgery may cost more
NST: Surgery may cost more under a fee schedule proposed by surgeons.
It appears that the College of Surgeons of Malaysia may be asking for an increase of more than 10 per cent.
Surgeons feel they should be paid more due to factors such as risks faced in surgery besides increases in the cost of medical insurance.
There is also the issue of alleged drawbacks in the Malaysian Medical Association's schedule including bias towards insurance agencies and non-inclusion of newer operations and procedures.
A source said the schedule would not differ much from the MMA's schedule which is revised at regular intervals.
Under CSM's proposed schedule, minor operations and procedures such as a biopsy of the cervix would cost between RM300 and RM400.
Surgery involving organs like the heart and pancreas would cost between RM5,000 and RM7,000.
Surgeons are, however, not compelled to follow the schedule which is basically a guideline.
"If there are major complications to a relatively simple operation like appendicitis, then logically, the price would go up," the source told the New Straits Times today.
The source added that the schedule has been submitted to the MMA for study.
CSM is also engaged in discussions with the MMA on the implementation of the schedule.
He said the CSM schedule reduced the MMA's 25 pricing levels to just nine.
It is learnt that specialists in fields such as general surgery, urology, ENT, obstetrics and gynaecology, neurosurgery and plastic surgery worked two years to come up with the proposed schedule.
The source acknowledged that allegations of overcharging may arise, but said that doctors were a responsible lot with the exception of a few black sheep.
The limit set at each level, he said, would prevent overcharging.
"Medicine thrives on trust. If there is no trust, the entire profession will collapse."
It appears that the College of Surgeons of Malaysia may be asking for an increase of more than 10 per cent.
Surgeons feel they should be paid more due to factors such as risks faced in surgery besides increases in the cost of medical insurance.
There is also the issue of alleged drawbacks in the Malaysian Medical Association's schedule including bias towards insurance agencies and non-inclusion of newer operations and procedures.
A source said the schedule would not differ much from the MMA's schedule which is revised at regular intervals.
Under CSM's proposed schedule, minor operations and procedures such as a biopsy of the cervix would cost between RM300 and RM400.
Surgery involving organs like the heart and pancreas would cost between RM5,000 and RM7,000.
Surgeons are, however, not compelled to follow the schedule which is basically a guideline.
"If there are major complications to a relatively simple operation like appendicitis, then logically, the price would go up," the source told the New Straits Times today.
The source added that the schedule has been submitted to the MMA for study.
CSM is also engaged in discussions with the MMA on the implementation of the schedule.
He said the CSM schedule reduced the MMA's 25 pricing levels to just nine.
It is learnt that specialists in fields such as general surgery, urology, ENT, obstetrics and gynaecology, neurosurgery and plastic surgery worked two years to come up with the proposed schedule.
The source acknowledged that allegations of overcharging may arise, but said that doctors were a responsible lot with the exception of a few black sheep.
The limit set at each level, he said, would prevent overcharging.
"Medicine thrives on trust. If there is no trust, the entire profession will collapse."
Health Ministry Outlines Preparation Against Bird Flu
PUTRAJAYA, Nov 10 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry has outlined several stages as preparation in the fight against the bird flu (Avian Influenza).
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the third stage was the most dangerous and warranted the government to declare a state of emergency.
However, he said Malaysia was currently at stage 0, where there was no case of the disease.
"Phase 3 - which hopefully will not happen, is when there is an infection, whether imported or from within the country. This is regarded as the most dangerous stage and a state of emergency could be declared," he told reporters here Thursday after attending the second meeting of the Preparatory Committee for Facing the Threat from Avian Influenza (AI).
Also present was Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Chua outlined the stages as:
Phase 0 - inter epidemic period like the current situation;
Phase 1 - Confirmation that there is a new virus that could spread;
Phase 2 - Confirmation that an epidemic occurred outside Malaysia;
Phase 3 - Infection occurs whether imported or from within Malaysia;
Phase 4 - Second round of infection;
Phase 5 - When the epidemic ends.
He said stage three would mean that the infected area within a radius of three kilometres would be quarantined and ministry staff would be sent from house to house to determine the symptoms.
"Those infected would be sent to hospitals and samples would be sent to the Institute of Medical Research (IMR)," he said.
Chua said those most exposed to the virus such as the police, Veterinary Department staff and Health Ministry staff would be given priority during vaccination.
Meanwhile, Muhyiddin said he considered the worst level would be when 20 percent of fowls, ducks and birds were affected.
Currently, there are 160 million fowls, ducks and birds in the country.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the third stage was the most dangerous and warranted the government to declare a state of emergency.
However, he said Malaysia was currently at stage 0, where there was no case of the disease.
"Phase 3 - which hopefully will not happen, is when there is an infection, whether imported or from within the country. This is regarded as the most dangerous stage and a state of emergency could be declared," he told reporters here Thursday after attending the second meeting of the Preparatory Committee for Facing the Threat from Avian Influenza (AI).
Also present was Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Chua outlined the stages as:
Phase 0 - inter epidemic period like the current situation;
Phase 1 - Confirmation that there is a new virus that could spread;
Phase 2 - Confirmation that an epidemic occurred outside Malaysia;
Phase 3 - Infection occurs whether imported or from within Malaysia;
Phase 4 - Second round of infection;
Phase 5 - When the epidemic ends.
He said stage three would mean that the infected area within a radius of three kilometres would be quarantined and ministry staff would be sent from house to house to determine the symptoms.
"Those infected would be sent to hospitals and samples would be sent to the Institute of Medical Research (IMR)," he said.
Chua said those most exposed to the virus such as the police, Veterinary Department staff and Health Ministry staff would be given priority during vaccination.
Meanwhile, Muhyiddin said he considered the worst level would be when 20 percent of fowls, ducks and birds were affected.
Currently, there are 160 million fowls, ducks and birds in the country.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Promotion For PAP Smear And Mammogram Screening
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 (Bernama) -- The NCI Cancer Hospital (NCICH) in Nilai, as part of its cancer awareness programme for Malaysian women, is offering a special promotion for PAP smear and mammogram screening from Sept 15 to Jan 31.
The initiative is in line with the prime minister's call to reduce cancer treatment costs.
It is also in support of the National Cancer Society of Malaysia's call for the formulation of a national cancer plan that addresses all cancer issues, from prevention and early detection to treatment, supportive and palliative care, the NCICH said in a statement here.
"We believe that early detection saves lives and in the long term, saves costs of cancer treatment," it adds.
NCICH, formerly known as the Nilai Cancer Institute, is a private specialist cancer hospital located at Jalan BBN2/1 in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan.
The statement says that patients diagnosed with early stage cancers have a higher probability of successful treatment.
Interested parties can contact NCICH at 06-850 0999 or log on to www.nci.com.my for more information about the screening promotion.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Association of Malaysia (CAM) will hold the Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research at the Lake Garden here on Nov 20 to raise funds for the Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation (Carif).
"Carif is an independent cancer research organisation in Malaysia dedicated to the development of diagnostic and therapeutic tools against cancer. This is the third year that Carif will be the recipient of funds from the Terry Fox Run," CAM said in a statement here today.
The Terry Fox Run is named in honour of Canadian amputee runner Terry Fox who, at 21, attempted a "Marathon of Hope" across Canada to raise money for cancer research.
The run is a non-competitive event where participants are invited to walk, run or wheel their way along the route for the run.
More information on the run can be obtained from Doreen Buchy of CAM at 012-932 0611.
The initiative is in line with the prime minister's call to reduce cancer treatment costs.
It is also in support of the National Cancer Society of Malaysia's call for the formulation of a national cancer plan that addresses all cancer issues, from prevention and early detection to treatment, supportive and palliative care, the NCICH said in a statement here.
"We believe that early detection saves lives and in the long term, saves costs of cancer treatment," it adds.
NCICH, formerly known as the Nilai Cancer Institute, is a private specialist cancer hospital located at Jalan BBN2/1 in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan.
The statement says that patients diagnosed with early stage cancers have a higher probability of successful treatment.
Interested parties can contact NCICH at 06-850 0999 or log on to www.nci.com.my for more information about the screening promotion.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Association of Malaysia (CAM) will hold the Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research at the Lake Garden here on Nov 20 to raise funds for the Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation (Carif).
"Carif is an independent cancer research organisation in Malaysia dedicated to the development of diagnostic and therapeutic tools against cancer. This is the third year that Carif will be the recipient of funds from the Terry Fox Run," CAM said in a statement here today.
The Terry Fox Run is named in honour of Canadian amputee runner Terry Fox who, at 21, attempted a "Marathon of Hope" across Canada to raise money for cancer research.
The run is a non-competitive event where participants are invited to walk, run or wheel their way along the route for the run.
More information on the run can be obtained from Doreen Buchy of CAM at 012-932 0611.
Moves to improve our varsities
Star: Progressive measures will be adopted to ensure local universities were able to compete internationally. These include the establishment of a search committee to identify the best candidates to head public universities as well as the setting up of a leadership academy to train lecturers.
The move is in response to Malaysian universities’ drop in the recent Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) World University Rankings.
Universiti Malaya’s overall position in the World University Rankings dropped from 89 in 2004 to 169 this year, while Universiti Sains Malaysia, which placed 111 last year did not make it to the top 200.
In announcing the establishment of the search committee, Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Shafie Mohd Salleh said a university’s success was a reflection of the quality of its leadership.
“We must select vice-chancellors who are capable leaders as well as acknowledged academics in their fields and who are committed to making the university a centre of knowledge.
“This does not mean that we are not satisfied with the present vice-chancellors. But we feel more can be done to institutionalise the selection process. The final decision will still rest with the minister,” he said before the ministry’s post-Cabinet meeting yesterday.
When contacted, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Salleh Mohd Yasin said that having a search committee would augur well for local universities that want to become leading institutions.
“Overseas, the appointments of vice-chancellors are largely based on their leadership abilities as well as academic prowess. Now that we are practising meritocracy, we should select the best candidate for the job,” he said, citing the recent decision by the University of Manchester in Britain to select an Australian as its vice-chancellor.
Universiti Malaya vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Hashim Yaacob said he welcomed the proposed establishment of the leadership institute as lecturers were not trained in administrative matters.
“I think it’s a very good idea as we want only the best. This is also true when selecting a vice-chancellor to head a university,” he added.
Dr Shafie announced that the Government aimed to attract foreign academics of high calibre. Other steps include establishing a pool of academics and researchers who were active internationally, creating incentives for successful researchers, and boosting students’ soft skills.
The move is in response to Malaysian universities’ drop in the recent Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) World University Rankings.
Universiti Malaya’s overall position in the World University Rankings dropped from 89 in 2004 to 169 this year, while Universiti Sains Malaysia, which placed 111 last year did not make it to the top 200.
In announcing the establishment of the search committee, Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Shafie Mohd Salleh said a university’s success was a reflection of the quality of its leadership.
“We must select vice-chancellors who are capable leaders as well as acknowledged academics in their fields and who are committed to making the university a centre of knowledge.
“This does not mean that we are not satisfied with the present vice-chancellors. But we feel more can be done to institutionalise the selection process. The final decision will still rest with the minister,” he said before the ministry’s post-Cabinet meeting yesterday.
When contacted, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Salleh Mohd Yasin said that having a search committee would augur well for local universities that want to become leading institutions.
“Overseas, the appointments of vice-chancellors are largely based on their leadership abilities as well as academic prowess. Now that we are practising meritocracy, we should select the best candidate for the job,” he said, citing the recent decision by the University of Manchester in Britain to select an Australian as its vice-chancellor.
Universiti Malaya vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Hashim Yaacob said he welcomed the proposed establishment of the leadership institute as lecturers were not trained in administrative matters.
“I think it’s a very good idea as we want only the best. This is also true when selecting a vice-chancellor to head a university,” he added.
Dr Shafie announced that the Government aimed to attract foreign academics of high calibre. Other steps include establishing a pool of academics and researchers who were active internationally, creating incentives for successful researchers, and boosting students’ soft skills.
Using methadone to kick drug habit
NST: One in two hardcore drug addicts will return to society a clean person within six months of treatment. This is the promise of liquid methadone, a substitute therapy to help them kick the habit.
And in the next five years, some 50,000 hardcore drug addicts who are now using needles and syringes to inject themselves with heroin or morphine four to five times a day, would have been put on liquid methadone.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek is confident that this treatment will yield a success rate of at least 60 per cent.
The cost is RM380 per addict per month compared to RM480 if they are placed in Pusat Serenti and other rehabilitation centres. An estimated 100,000 hardcore drug addicts are now taking drugs intravenously.
"With methadone treatment, we hope to see many addicts returning to society free of drugs within six months," Dr Chua said.
He hoped there would be jobs for them so that they could lead a decent life with the help and moral support of their families and the community.
At present, 1,200 hardcore addicts are undergoing treatment with methadone on a pilot project. They are mostly from Pusat Serenti as well as volunteers.
Dr Chua said the project launched last month was proceeding well. The 1,200 addicts were being treated at selected public and private hospitals and clinics nationwide, he added.
These include the Mental Health and Psychiatric Departments at the Alor Star and Bukit Mertajam hospitals, Klinik Xavier in Butterworth, the Mental Health and Psychiatric Department at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital and the Psychology Medical Department at Universiti Malaya.
Dr Chua said each doctor would be handling between 20 and 30 cases and has to submit a report on the progress and activities of the addicts, including their state of health.
"If the addicts are found to be HIV positive, they would be treated and counselled," he added.
It is hoped that the number of hardcore drug addicts under the treatment will increase to at least 5,000 by June next year.
Dr Chua said the Government was concerned over the increasing number of drug addicts and HIV victims among young people. Last year, there were 19,810 new addicts and 16,862 relapse cases. Of the total, 98 per cent were males and 80 per cent were below 44.
Thirty-three per cent were on heroin, 31 per cent on morphine, 17 per cent on ganja and the rest on party drugs.
Asked why the ministry had started with only 1,200 drug addicts, Dr Chua said this was to study the weaknesses of the programme so that they could be overcome when the number was increased.
"Our biggest problem is trained manpower and we hope to overcome it by training at least 100 personnel every year for the next five years," he said.
And in the next five years, some 50,000 hardcore drug addicts who are now using needles and syringes to inject themselves with heroin or morphine four to five times a day, would have been put on liquid methadone.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek is confident that this treatment will yield a success rate of at least 60 per cent.
The cost is RM380 per addict per month compared to RM480 if they are placed in Pusat Serenti and other rehabilitation centres. An estimated 100,000 hardcore drug addicts are now taking drugs intravenously.
"With methadone treatment, we hope to see many addicts returning to society free of drugs within six months," Dr Chua said.
He hoped there would be jobs for them so that they could lead a decent life with the help and moral support of their families and the community.
At present, 1,200 hardcore addicts are undergoing treatment with methadone on a pilot project. They are mostly from Pusat Serenti as well as volunteers.
Dr Chua said the project launched last month was proceeding well. The 1,200 addicts were being treated at selected public and private hospitals and clinics nationwide, he added.
These include the Mental Health and Psychiatric Departments at the Alor Star and Bukit Mertajam hospitals, Klinik Xavier in Butterworth, the Mental Health and Psychiatric Department at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital and the Psychology Medical Department at Universiti Malaya.
Dr Chua said each doctor would be handling between 20 and 30 cases and has to submit a report on the progress and activities of the addicts, including their state of health.
"If the addicts are found to be HIV positive, they would be treated and counselled," he added.
It is hoped that the number of hardcore drug addicts under the treatment will increase to at least 5,000 by June next year.
Dr Chua said the Government was concerned over the increasing number of drug addicts and HIV victims among young people. Last year, there were 19,810 new addicts and 16,862 relapse cases. Of the total, 98 per cent were males and 80 per cent were below 44.
Thirty-three per cent were on heroin, 31 per cent on morphine, 17 per cent on ganja and the rest on party drugs.
Asked why the ministry had started with only 1,200 drug addicts, Dr Chua said this was to study the weaknesses of the programme so that they could be overcome when the number was increased.
"Our biggest problem is trained manpower and we hope to overcome it by training at least 100 personnel every year for the next five years," he said.
Cleared of bird flu
NST: Test results show that the 11 wild pigeons found dead in Sungai Petani last week were not infected by bird flu.
Similarly, the tests on 100 pigeons which died in Bidor earlier also came out negative.
However, the good news is clouded by the possibility that the number of samples analysed by the Veterinary Research Institute (VRI) may not be enough to come to a definite conclusion that all the birds that died were free of the disease.
VRI director Dr Sharifah Syed Hassan said more random samples of live and especially dead pigeons from Bidor and Sungai Petani should have been given to the institute for it to conclude safely that the pigeon flocks in these two areas were free of the deadly disease.
The two states provided only 11 samples consisting of pigeon faeces and live and dead birds.
The Perak Department of Veterinary Services sent one carcass on Saturday and five live birds on Sunday from Bidor while its Kedah counterpart sent four faeces samples yesterday morning and one carcass yesterday evening from Sungai Petani.
Dr Sharifah said the samples were not enough to rule out with certainty the presence of bird flu or other dangerous diseases caused by the Newcastle and the West Nile viruses among all the birds.
"At least five dead and five live pigeons should have been collected from each location for the tests," she told reporters at the institute here today.
She said all seven pigeon carcasses had been sent to the Chemistry Department to determine other factors which might have killed them.
In Kuala Lumpur, the director-general of the Veterinary Services Department, Datuk Dr Hawari Hussein said that Malaysia was tightening controls at the border with Thailand and conducting checks at farms and on wild birds.
"Our chicken and ducks are free of the bird flu.
"We carry out constant sampling drives at chicken and duck farms nationwide," he said.
The director of the conservation division of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Siti Hawa Yassim, said tests on waterfowls was ongoing. So far, the results showed they were free of the disease.
"We are helping the Veterinary Services Department to catch birds in Kuala Gula, the Matang Forest Reserve, Perak, and Tanjung Karang, Kapar and Pulau Ketam, Selangor.
"Tests have been carried out on the Plober, Sandpiper, Stint, Curlew and Snipe species and all samples were found negative," she said.
She said unlike China, the threat posed by wild birds in Malaysia was minimal because their number was very small.
Similarly, the tests on 100 pigeons which died in Bidor earlier also came out negative.
However, the good news is clouded by the possibility that the number of samples analysed by the Veterinary Research Institute (VRI) may not be enough to come to a definite conclusion that all the birds that died were free of the disease.
VRI director Dr Sharifah Syed Hassan said more random samples of live and especially dead pigeons from Bidor and Sungai Petani should have been given to the institute for it to conclude safely that the pigeon flocks in these two areas were free of the deadly disease.
The two states provided only 11 samples consisting of pigeon faeces and live and dead birds.
The Perak Department of Veterinary Services sent one carcass on Saturday and five live birds on Sunday from Bidor while its Kedah counterpart sent four faeces samples yesterday morning and one carcass yesterday evening from Sungai Petani.
Dr Sharifah said the samples were not enough to rule out with certainty the presence of bird flu or other dangerous diseases caused by the Newcastle and the West Nile viruses among all the birds.
"At least five dead and five live pigeons should have been collected from each location for the tests," she told reporters at the institute here today.
She said all seven pigeon carcasses had been sent to the Chemistry Department to determine other factors which might have killed them.
In Kuala Lumpur, the director-general of the Veterinary Services Department, Datuk Dr Hawari Hussein said that Malaysia was tightening controls at the border with Thailand and conducting checks at farms and on wild birds.
"Our chicken and ducks are free of the bird flu.
"We carry out constant sampling drives at chicken and duck farms nationwide," he said.
The director of the conservation division of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Siti Hawa Yassim, said tests on waterfowls was ongoing. So far, the results showed they were free of the disease.
"We are helping the Veterinary Services Department to catch birds in Kuala Gula, the Matang Forest Reserve, Perak, and Tanjung Karang, Kapar and Pulau Ketam, Selangor.
"Tests have been carried out on the Plober, Sandpiper, Stint, Curlew and Snipe species and all samples were found negative," she said.
She said unlike China, the threat posed by wild birds in Malaysia was minimal because their number was very small.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Toilets and cars hot spots for sex
Star: Outside the bedroom, the toilet is the next likely spot for Malaysians to engage in sex, according to the 2005 Durex Global Sex Survey.
Of the 5,409 Malaysians who responded to the survey, 44% claimed they have had sex in the loo. The second and third favoured spots are the car (38%) and parents' bedroom (24%).
The survey, now in its ninth year, also revealed that Malaysians are quite adventurous in pursuing their sexual escapades.
The respondents, who also voted model Amber Chia as the sexiest Malaysian celebrity, comprised 70% males and 30% females.
Those aged 21 to 34 years made up 72% of the respondents while those below 20 made up 15%.
A total 65% of the respondents said they would encourage young people to practise safe sex, against 20% who would tell them to abstain from sex until marriage.
Malaysians are also losing their virginity at an average age of 19 years, compared with 19.3 last year and 20 in 2001.
About 67% of respondents said they only received sex education when they were 15 or older.
When they want to avoid sex, the top excuse used by Malaysians is “I'm tired” (32.6%).
One in 10 respondents also admitted to have had a homosexual experience, 29% had one-night stands, 19% “took the back door”, 14% had extra-marital affairs, and 9% had threesomes.
The survey showed that the average Malaysian has sex 83 times a year, compared with the worldwide average of 103 times.
The Greeks topped the world average with a frequency of 138 times a year, while the Japanese ranked lowest at 45 times a year.
Of the 5,409 Malaysians who responded to the survey, 44% claimed they have had sex in the loo. The second and third favoured spots are the car (38%) and parents' bedroom (24%).
The survey, now in its ninth year, also revealed that Malaysians are quite adventurous in pursuing their sexual escapades.
The respondents, who also voted model Amber Chia as the sexiest Malaysian celebrity, comprised 70% males and 30% females.
Those aged 21 to 34 years made up 72% of the respondents while those below 20 made up 15%.
A total 65% of the respondents said they would encourage young people to practise safe sex, against 20% who would tell them to abstain from sex until marriage.
Malaysians are also losing their virginity at an average age of 19 years, compared with 19.3 last year and 20 in 2001.
About 67% of respondents said they only received sex education when they were 15 or older.
When they want to avoid sex, the top excuse used by Malaysians is “I'm tired” (32.6%).
One in 10 respondents also admitted to have had a homosexual experience, 29% had one-night stands, 19% “took the back door”, 14% had extra-marital affairs, and 9% had threesomes.
The survey showed that the average Malaysian has sex 83 times a year, compared with the worldwide average of 103 times.
The Greeks topped the world average with a frequency of 138 times a year, while the Japanese ranked lowest at 45 times a year.
Government approves RM4mil to buy Tamiflu drug
Star: Malaysia is assured of its stock of the anti-viral Tamiflu drug in the event a bird flu pandemic breaks out.
Health Ministry Disease Control Division director Dr Ramlee Rahmat said the drug manufacturer and supplier had agreed to meet Malaysia’s need.
“The Government has approved about RM4mil to buy the drug and we are in the process of procuring the first batch, which will be enough for 60,000 people,” he told reporters here yesterday.
“Priority will be given to those whose work will expose them to either patients of bird flu or sick animals.
“The drug company has promised to keep enough stock for us.”
Dr Ramlee was commenting on a statement by Swiss pharmaceutical firm Roche that it was halting supplies of Tamiflu to the United States as many people were hoarding the drug.
Malaysia hopes to stockpile enough Tamiflu pills for 10% of its population under a comprehensive plan to get the country prepared for a pandemic.
The plan also involved designating 21 hospitals to care for patients and active surveillance of clinics for atypical influenza cases.
Dr Ramlee also advised Muslims going on pilgrimage to Mecca, especially those aged 60 and above, to be vaccinated against influenza.
Health Ministry Disease Control Division director Dr Ramlee Rahmat said the drug manufacturer and supplier had agreed to meet Malaysia’s need.
“The Government has approved about RM4mil to buy the drug and we are in the process of procuring the first batch, which will be enough for 60,000 people,” he told reporters here yesterday.
“Priority will be given to those whose work will expose them to either patients of bird flu or sick animals.
“The drug company has promised to keep enough stock for us.”
Dr Ramlee was commenting on a statement by Swiss pharmaceutical firm Roche that it was halting supplies of Tamiflu to the United States as many people were hoarding the drug.
Malaysia hopes to stockpile enough Tamiflu pills for 10% of its population under a comprehensive plan to get the country prepared for a pandemic.
The plan also involved designating 21 hospitals to care for patients and active surveillance of clinics for atypical influenza cases.
Dr Ramlee also advised Muslims going on pilgrimage to Mecca, especially those aged 60 and above, to be vaccinated against influenza.
Only one dead pigeon found
Star: No large numbers of bird deaths has been detected in Kedah, and there is no cause for worry about bird flu.
State Veterinary Department director Dr Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam said only one dead wild pigeon was found, in Taman Mutiara, and it had been sent to the Veterinary Research Institute in Ipoh for analysis.
“The outcome of the test will be known tomorrow (today),” he said.
Residents had claimed 11 dead wild pigeons were littered about in the housing estate.
“Our officers combed the area and found only one dead pigeon,” Dr Quaza Nizamuddin said.
“No farmer or anyone had reported any unusual bird death in Kedah to us so far. So, unless the test on the dead pigeon is conclusive, there is no cause for alarm.”
Dr Quaza Nizamuddin was commenting on a newspaper report on Tuesday which stated that the death of more than 11 wild pigeons here were worrying health authorities.
State Veterinary Department director Dr Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam said only one dead wild pigeon was found, in Taman Mutiara, and it had been sent to the Veterinary Research Institute in Ipoh for analysis.
“The outcome of the test will be known tomorrow (today),” he said.
Residents had claimed 11 dead wild pigeons were littered about in the housing estate.
“Our officers combed the area and found only one dead pigeon,” Dr Quaza Nizamuddin said.
“No farmer or anyone had reported any unusual bird death in Kedah to us so far. So, unless the test on the dead pigeon is conclusive, there is no cause for alarm.”
Dr Quaza Nizamuddin was commenting on a newspaper report on Tuesday which stated that the death of more than 11 wild pigeons here were worrying health authorities.
Punish students who smoke in public
NST: Students caught smoking in public should face disciplinary action.
"We should take disciplinary action against these young smokers," suggested the Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk G. Palanivel.
"Now, action is only taken when they smoke in the school compound. It should be extended to include those who smoke outside the compound as well."
The move would further strengthen the anti-smoking campaign, he added.
"We need to be more pro-active in enforcing the campaign. Otherwise it will just be posters on the wall and advertisements in the papers, having little or no effect.
"Times have changed, and our culture with it. In the past, smoking in front of the elders is considered uncouth. Now, parents are sharing cigarettes with their children.
"The campaign must go on and we must improve upon it. Education on the hazards of smoking should start from kindergarten," he added.
"We should take disciplinary action against these young smokers," suggested the Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk G. Palanivel.
"Now, action is only taken when they smoke in the school compound. It should be extended to include those who smoke outside the compound as well."
The move would further strengthen the anti-smoking campaign, he added.
"We need to be more pro-active in enforcing the campaign. Otherwise it will just be posters on the wall and advertisements in the papers, having little or no effect.
"Times have changed, and our culture with it. In the past, smoking in front of the elders is considered uncouth. Now, parents are sharing cigarettes with their children.
"The campaign must go on and we must improve upon it. Education on the hazards of smoking should start from kindergarten," he added.
More grads may remain in Ireland
NST: More Malaysian studying medicine in Ireland may not return to work in Malaysia.
"From the kind of questions they asked, you know already," Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said when he spoke of his recent visit to the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland and the University College Ireland where he met some 500 Malaysian students.
"Some of them asked me: 'If I finish, but I don't want to return, can or not'?"
"I asked them 'why not?' and they said they could earn good money working as locum, getting between euro300 and euro400 a day (RM1,327 and RM1,770)," Dr Chua said.
"They were disappointed to hear me say that in Malaysia a doctor in public service will earn over RM3,000 a month. They are also worried about working long hours."
The New Sunday Times reported that some 100 Malaysians who earned their basic medical degrees in Ireland had stayed on to work as locum. Many were on Mara scholarships.
Dr Chua found this out after a visit to the two Irish universities.
Today, he said he had no problem with doctors who remained in Ireland to continue their studies in a specialised programme.
His criticism was directed at those who had finished their basic degree and done housemanship.
"They change their student visas to work visas and continue working when they should either return to serve Malaysia, or continue with a postgraduate programme."
"From the kind of questions they asked, you know already," Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said when he spoke of his recent visit to the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland and the University College Ireland where he met some 500 Malaysian students.
"Some of them asked me: 'If I finish, but I don't want to return, can or not'?"
"I asked them 'why not?' and they said they could earn good money working as locum, getting between euro300 and euro400 a day (RM1,327 and RM1,770)," Dr Chua said.
"They were disappointed to hear me say that in Malaysia a doctor in public service will earn over RM3,000 a month. They are also worried about working long hours."
The New Sunday Times reported that some 100 Malaysians who earned their basic medical degrees in Ireland had stayed on to work as locum. Many were on Mara scholarships.
Dr Chua found this out after a visit to the two Irish universities.
Today, he said he had no problem with doctors who remained in Ireland to continue their studies in a specialised programme.
His criticism was directed at those who had finished their basic degree and done housemanship.
"They change their student visas to work visas and continue working when they should either return to serve Malaysia, or continue with a postgraduate programme."
Chua: No more dengue soon
NST: Start the countdown. In a month's time, the current dengue outbreak in Malaysia could be over.
This bold prediction was made by Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek after he received an update on the disease which has so far killed 85 people and given anxiety attacks to many others around the country.
The number of dengue cases last week was 542, down from 824 cases the week before and a long way off the 1,172 cases four weeks ago. Usually, an epidemic is declared when there are more than 1,000 cases a week.
"We are proud of this, but the people must continue to be vigilant because it is still the rainy season.
"If we can maintain the downward trend, then all dengue cases may cease in a month's time," Dr Chua said.
Dengue is carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Symptoms include fever, severe headache, joint and muscular pains, vomiting and rashes.
Last week, two people died of dengue, bringing to 85 the number of people who have died from the disease this year. This is an increase by four cases over the same period last year.
The cumulative number of cases this year was 33,492 compared to 26,252 last year.
Health Ministry Disease Control Division director Dr Ramlee Rahmat said the latest deaths last week were that of a 3-month-old baby girl from Desa Baiduri, Penang and a 67-year-old man from Tanah Merah, Kelantan.
"There are still 228 patients in hospitals but it is a marked decrease from five weeks ago.
"In five weeks we have seen a drop in the number of cases, so it is a sign that the national dengue rate is going down," Dr Ramlee said today.
He said the Health Ministry and local authorities would continue monitoring dengue hotspots and conduct fogging to prevent mosquitoes from breeding by killing the Aedes mosquito and its larvae.
"We urge people to co-operate by leaving their windows open whenever the fogging machine comes around, so that the pesticide can clean out any larvae in the house."
He said there were also reports about households turning away officials on fogging rounds.
"People complain they don't like the smell and they don't want to contaminate their food.
"But there are simple steps to follow like covering the food.
"The smell also won't last long as the chemicals are water-based," he said.
This bold prediction was made by Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek after he received an update on the disease which has so far killed 85 people and given anxiety attacks to many others around the country.
The number of dengue cases last week was 542, down from 824 cases the week before and a long way off the 1,172 cases four weeks ago. Usually, an epidemic is declared when there are more than 1,000 cases a week.
"We are proud of this, but the people must continue to be vigilant because it is still the rainy season.
"If we can maintain the downward trend, then all dengue cases may cease in a month's time," Dr Chua said.
Dengue is carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Symptoms include fever, severe headache, joint and muscular pains, vomiting and rashes.
Last week, two people died of dengue, bringing to 85 the number of people who have died from the disease this year. This is an increase by four cases over the same period last year.
The cumulative number of cases this year was 33,492 compared to 26,252 last year.
Health Ministry Disease Control Division director Dr Ramlee Rahmat said the latest deaths last week were that of a 3-month-old baby girl from Desa Baiduri, Penang and a 67-year-old man from Tanah Merah, Kelantan.
"There are still 228 patients in hospitals but it is a marked decrease from five weeks ago.
"In five weeks we have seen a drop in the number of cases, so it is a sign that the national dengue rate is going down," Dr Ramlee said today.
He said the Health Ministry and local authorities would continue monitoring dengue hotspots and conduct fogging to prevent mosquitoes from breeding by killing the Aedes mosquito and its larvae.
"We urge people to co-operate by leaving their windows open whenever the fogging machine comes around, so that the pesticide can clean out any larvae in the house."
He said there were also reports about households turning away officials on fogging rounds.
"People complain they don't like the smell and they don't want to contaminate their food.
"But there are simple steps to follow like covering the food.
"The smell also won't last long as the chemicals are water-based," he said.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
MMA unhappy with sale of small packs
Sun2Surf: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) is unhappy with the government's decision to postpone the ban on the sale of small cigarette packs to 2010 when it was due to be banned this year.
Its president, Datuk Dr Teoh Siang Chin, said the move is contrary to the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which was ratified by the prime minister last August.
"The FCTC states that each party shall endeavour to prohibit the sale of cigarettes individually or in small packets, which increase the affordability of such products to minors," he said in a statement yesterday.
Teoh said the problem of smoking has to be combated on the personal, family, socio-economic and pharmacological fronts.
Cigarette smoking is the single most avoidable cause of premature death and disability through cancer, heart disease and lung disorders, he said.
It must be seen as a chronic dependency disease that starts in adolescence.
"Though many smokers repeatedly try to quit, success is less than 3% in the UK, and is no better here," he said.
Teoh said Malaysia has one of the highest rates of smokers in the world "with almost 50% of adult males habituated".
He urged the government to stop the Expo Tembakau '05, to be held later this month.
"It is nothing less than blatant advertising by the tobacco industry," he said.
"We urge the government to stop this event as it will result in confusing signals to the public."
Its president, Datuk Dr Teoh Siang Chin, said the move is contrary to the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which was ratified by the prime minister last August.
"The FCTC states that each party shall endeavour to prohibit the sale of cigarettes individually or in small packets, which increase the affordability of such products to minors," he said in a statement yesterday.
Teoh said the problem of smoking has to be combated on the personal, family, socio-economic and pharmacological fronts.
Cigarette smoking is the single most avoidable cause of premature death and disability through cancer, heart disease and lung disorders, he said.
It must be seen as a chronic dependency disease that starts in adolescence.
"Though many smokers repeatedly try to quit, success is less than 3% in the UK, and is no better here," he said.
Teoh said Malaysia has one of the highest rates of smokers in the world "with almost 50% of adult males habituated".
He urged the government to stop the Expo Tembakau '05, to be held later this month.
"It is nothing less than blatant advertising by the tobacco industry," he said.
"We urge the government to stop this event as it will result in confusing signals to the public."
How Sarawak diabetes register can grow faster
Star: A Sarawak Diabetes Register is being compiled by the state Health Department to find out the number of people suffering from the disease.
State Health director Dr Yao Sik King said progress on the register was slow as the department depended on doctors and clinics to provide the necessary information.
“Unlike dengue, there is no law compelling doctors to notify us of diabetes cases, so we depend very much on their goodwill to inform us of any case,” she told a press conference here yesterday.
Dr Yao urged healthcare providers in the public and private sectors to inform the department whenever they diagnosed a patient with diabetes to enable the register to be compiled accurately.
Fewer than 20,000 diabetes patients have been included in the register, a figure described by Dr Yao as far below the estimated prevalence rate of 8%.
“Based on this rate, 180,000 to 190,000 Sarawakians could be suffering from diabetes. So we still have a long way to go in compiling the register,” she said.
Work on the register began one-and-a-half years ago with the objective of determining the number of diabetics in Sarawak so that prevention campaigns and treatment could be targeted more effectively.
Earlier, Dr Yao announced that Sarawak would host the national-level World Diabetes Day celebration themed “Diabetes and Foot Care” on Nov 14.
Among the activities lined up for the event, to be launched by Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, are radio talks and public lectures on diabetes as well as free diabetes screenings for the public.
State Health director Dr Yao Sik King said progress on the register was slow as the department depended on doctors and clinics to provide the necessary information.
“Unlike dengue, there is no law compelling doctors to notify us of diabetes cases, so we depend very much on their goodwill to inform us of any case,” she told a press conference here yesterday.
Dr Yao urged healthcare providers in the public and private sectors to inform the department whenever they diagnosed a patient with diabetes to enable the register to be compiled accurately.
Fewer than 20,000 diabetes patients have been included in the register, a figure described by Dr Yao as far below the estimated prevalence rate of 8%.
“Based on this rate, 180,000 to 190,000 Sarawakians could be suffering from diabetes. So we still have a long way to go in compiling the register,” she said.
Work on the register began one-and-a-half years ago with the objective of determining the number of diabetics in Sarawak so that prevention campaigns and treatment could be targeted more effectively.
Earlier, Dr Yao announced that Sarawak would host the national-level World Diabetes Day celebration themed “Diabetes and Foot Care” on Nov 14.
Among the activities lined up for the event, to be launched by Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, are radio talks and public lectures on diabetes as well as free diabetes screenings for the public.
No need for health screening
Star: Malaysia has no plan to introduce health screening for people coming from countries hit by bird flu in the absence of proof of human-to-human transmission of the virus.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said there was as yet no need for such screening as was the case during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) scare.
“People must have a correct perspective of avian flu – it is a disease transmitted by chickens or other poultry.
“If it is proven that the disease can be transmitted between humans, which I hope will never happen, that would be a different story,” he said yesterday on his arrival here for a one-day visit.
Dr Chua said the Government had formulated various measures to deal with the disease should an outbreak occur.
He said the 21 hospitals nationwide designated as avian flu treatment centres would have facilities such as isolation wards, while the Institute for Medical Research was fully prepared to test those infected.
The ministry, he added, was planning to acquire the drug oseltamivir, also known as Tamiflu, for treatment of avian flu.
Dr Chua said based on World Health Organisation guidelines, about a quarter of a country’s population would be struck by avian flu should there be a worldwide pandemic.
It would cost the Government an estimated RM400mil just to stock enough Tamiflu supplies for that many people, he added.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said there was as yet no need for such screening as was the case during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) scare.
“People must have a correct perspective of avian flu – it is a disease transmitted by chickens or other poultry.
“If it is proven that the disease can be transmitted between humans, which I hope will never happen, that would be a different story,” he said yesterday on his arrival here for a one-day visit.
Dr Chua said the Government had formulated various measures to deal with the disease should an outbreak occur.
He said the 21 hospitals nationwide designated as avian flu treatment centres would have facilities such as isolation wards, while the Institute for Medical Research was fully prepared to test those infected.
The ministry, he added, was planning to acquire the drug oseltamivir, also known as Tamiflu, for treatment of avian flu.
Dr Chua said based on World Health Organisation guidelines, about a quarter of a country’s population would be struck by avian flu should there be a worldwide pandemic.
It would cost the Government an estimated RM400mil just to stock enough Tamiflu supplies for that many people, he added.
Tak Nak effort being negated
Star: Certain cigarette manufacturers are apparently negating the Government's efforts to reduce the number of smokers.
They have put extra cigarettes into each pack and introduced twin packs with new prices as a “promotion.”
An irate Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek described these moves as “sabotaging” the nation’s efforts to promote a healthy lifestyle.
“This is done at the expense of the people’s health. If the need arises, we may fix a minimum price for a specific number of cigarettes in a pack.
“The companies' actions are tantamount to reducing the price of cigarettes through promotion and it defeats the Government’s drive for a smoke-free society,” he said in a recent interview.
Following the tobacco tax increases announced under Budget 2006 in September, two RM7.50 packs of a certain brand were being sold at RM14 while 23-stick packs of another brand were being sold at RM5.50 (the price of a 20-stick pack).
Dr Chua said he had received complaints that some cigarette manufacturers were engaged in a price war.
“It is all right for cigarette companies to compete with each other, but selling more cigarettes for the same price is encouraging smoking and not promoting a healthy lifestyle,” he added.
According to British American Tobacco corporate and regulatory affairs director James Blakelock, the company held special promotions during the festive season.
A cigarette retailer, however, said cigarette manufacturers would soon be engage in a price war.
“If they put more cigarettes into a packet but sell it at the same price, it will work against the Government’s purpose of deterring people from smoking,” he added.
On the introduction of graphic warning labels on cigarette packs to discourage smoking, Dr Chua said he would be meeting with tobacco companies soon.
Singapore, Thailand, Canada, Australia and the European Union already have picture-based warnings on their cigarette packs.
They have put extra cigarettes into each pack and introduced twin packs with new prices as a “promotion.”
An irate Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek described these moves as “sabotaging” the nation’s efforts to promote a healthy lifestyle.
“This is done at the expense of the people’s health. If the need arises, we may fix a minimum price for a specific number of cigarettes in a pack.
“The companies' actions are tantamount to reducing the price of cigarettes through promotion and it defeats the Government’s drive for a smoke-free society,” he said in a recent interview.
Following the tobacco tax increases announced under Budget 2006 in September, two RM7.50 packs of a certain brand were being sold at RM14 while 23-stick packs of another brand were being sold at RM5.50 (the price of a 20-stick pack).
Dr Chua said he had received complaints that some cigarette manufacturers were engaged in a price war.
“It is all right for cigarette companies to compete with each other, but selling more cigarettes for the same price is encouraging smoking and not promoting a healthy lifestyle,” he added.
According to British American Tobacco corporate and regulatory affairs director James Blakelock, the company held special promotions during the festive season.
A cigarette retailer, however, said cigarette manufacturers would soon be engage in a price war.
“If they put more cigarettes into a packet but sell it at the same price, it will work against the Government’s purpose of deterring people from smoking,” he added.
On the introduction of graphic warning labels on cigarette packs to discourage smoking, Dr Chua said he would be meeting with tobacco companies soon.
Singapore, Thailand, Canada, Australia and the European Union already have picture-based warnings on their cigarette packs.
Sharp drop in organ pledges
NST: A small group of staff at the main government hospitals in state capitals may have a search-and-find mission before them next year.
They may be required to identify potential organ donors and convince their families to allow the donation.
Each hospital may have an organ co-ordinator working with a tissue and organ procurement team of four or five hospital staff.
This is among the strategies that the Health Ministry is considering in the face of a dismal number of organ donations so far.
There have been only 5,780 pledges so far this year compared to 8,866 last year. Nearly 90,000 people have signed up for organs donations to date.
Only 16 organ donations were made last year with just six so far this year.
Health Ministry medical development division director Datuk Dr Noorimi Morad said the procurement team would identify brain-dead patients and inform the organ co-ordinator.
The co-ordinator would locate the potential donor's family to convince them to honour the pledge.
Dr Noorimi said the ministry hoped this would help increase the number of cadaveric donor organs.
"The number of cadaveric organs for transplants has dropped. This is worrying and we have to do something to change Malaysians' perception of organ donation."
She said it was important for all hospitals to have an organ co-ordinator so that he or she could effectively communicate and convince the family of brain-dead patients to donate their organs.
"Communication with family members is crucial. Co-ordinators must convince them on the importance of donating the organs of their brain-dead relatives to save the lives of others," she told the New Straits Times.
She said there were many young children and those in productive age who urgently needed lungs, hearts, kidneys and livers.
There are some 300 people, including newborns and children, awaiting liver transplants, heart (six), lung or heart-lung (10), kidney (more than 6,000) and hundreds for heart valves, cornea, skin and bones.
Dr Noorimi was saddened that many were dying young as they could not get organs for transplant.
"The ministry had trained staff for organ donations but over the years, some were transferred, some retired and some got promoted.
"Now, there is a need to sent a few more staff for special courses on how to go about creating organ donation awareness among Malaysians," she said.
The ministry, she said, was targeting Muslim donors as many of those waiting for transplants were of the faith.
Of the 90,007 people who have pledged their organs, 58,190 were Chinese, 20,076 Indians, and 9,033 Malays with the rest from other ethnic backgrounds.
Dr Noorimi felt too little had been done to get more Muslims to pledge and donate organs.
"I will meet soon with all those involved, including the organ co-ordinators and transplant teams from various hospitals, to discuss new approaches and strategies to get more cadaveric organs," she said.
At present, Dr Lela Yasmin Mansor is the main co-ordinator for the National Transplant Resources Centre at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
She oversees all organ related activities and campaigns, including harvesting of organs nationwide.
The National Lung Transplant co-ordinator for the Health Ministry is Datin Dr Aziah Ahmad Mahayiddin while the National Heart Institute (IJN) heart transplant co-ordinator is Sister Ramayee Sinnasamy.
The liver transplant team is headed by Selayang Hospital's Liver Transplant Unit consultant Dr Harjit Singh.
Kidneys are harvested by transplant teams from the Kuala Lumpur and Selayang hospitals while bones and and skins are taken by teams from Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Malaya Medical Centre and Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
Corneas are usually harvested by the respective hospitals.
Dr Noorimi hoped families of accident victims would seriously consider donating the organs of their loved ones although they would be going through pain and sorrow at their loss.
They may be required to identify potential organ donors and convince their families to allow the donation.
Each hospital may have an organ co-ordinator working with a tissue and organ procurement team of four or five hospital staff.
This is among the strategies that the Health Ministry is considering in the face of a dismal number of organ donations so far.
There have been only 5,780 pledges so far this year compared to 8,866 last year. Nearly 90,000 people have signed up for organs donations to date.
Only 16 organ donations were made last year with just six so far this year.
Health Ministry medical development division director Datuk Dr Noorimi Morad said the procurement team would identify brain-dead patients and inform the organ co-ordinator.
The co-ordinator would locate the potential donor's family to convince them to honour the pledge.
Dr Noorimi said the ministry hoped this would help increase the number of cadaveric donor organs.
"The number of cadaveric organs for transplants has dropped. This is worrying and we have to do something to change Malaysians' perception of organ donation."
She said it was important for all hospitals to have an organ co-ordinator so that he or she could effectively communicate and convince the family of brain-dead patients to donate their organs.
"Communication with family members is crucial. Co-ordinators must convince them on the importance of donating the organs of their brain-dead relatives to save the lives of others," she told the New Straits Times.
She said there were many young children and those in productive age who urgently needed lungs, hearts, kidneys and livers.
There are some 300 people, including newborns and children, awaiting liver transplants, heart (six), lung or heart-lung (10), kidney (more than 6,000) and hundreds for heart valves, cornea, skin and bones.
Dr Noorimi was saddened that many were dying young as they could not get organs for transplant.
"The ministry had trained staff for organ donations but over the years, some were transferred, some retired and some got promoted.
"Now, there is a need to sent a few more staff for special courses on how to go about creating organ donation awareness among Malaysians," she said.
The ministry, she said, was targeting Muslim donors as many of those waiting for transplants were of the faith.
Of the 90,007 people who have pledged their organs, 58,190 were Chinese, 20,076 Indians, and 9,033 Malays with the rest from other ethnic backgrounds.
Dr Noorimi felt too little had been done to get more Muslims to pledge and donate organs.
"I will meet soon with all those involved, including the organ co-ordinators and transplant teams from various hospitals, to discuss new approaches and strategies to get more cadaveric organs," she said.
At present, Dr Lela Yasmin Mansor is the main co-ordinator for the National Transplant Resources Centre at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
She oversees all organ related activities and campaigns, including harvesting of organs nationwide.
The National Lung Transplant co-ordinator for the Health Ministry is Datin Dr Aziah Ahmad Mahayiddin while the National Heart Institute (IJN) heart transplant co-ordinator is Sister Ramayee Sinnasamy.
The liver transplant team is headed by Selayang Hospital's Liver Transplant Unit consultant Dr Harjit Singh.
Kidneys are harvested by transplant teams from the Kuala Lumpur and Selayang hospitals while bones and and skins are taken by teams from Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Malaya Medical Centre and Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
Corneas are usually harvested by the respective hospitals.
Dr Noorimi hoped families of accident victims would seriously consider donating the organs of their loved ones although they would be going through pain and sorrow at their loss.
One signature can save 4 lives
NST: MAZLAN Hassan is a familiar face at talks arranged by the National Heart Institute, (IJN) and the Health Ministry. When he takes the stage, he tells people why they should sign a pledge to give their organs should they die.
He is alive today because someone made that pledge.
"I hope that by sharing what I went through, I can reach out to others and encourage them to fill in an organ donor form.
"People need to know that three or four lives can be saved by just one donor who pledges his heart, lungs, kidneys, eyes and other organs," he said.
Five years ago, Mazlan was diagnosed with heart failure.
He did not smoke and led a relatively healthy life, but he believes heart disease runs in his family. He had already lost his father and younger sister to it.
At 39, he all but gave up on life. Weak and easily tired, he could not eat.
"Sleeping was a nightmare, every time I lay down, I felt as if I was drowning, I couldn't breathe," he said.
IJN doctors said his only hope was a heart transplant.
"When I heard that, I lost all hope. I knew how hard it is to get suitable heart donors," said Mazlan.
At one point, he thought it would be better if he just died.
It was his wife Fazidah Hamid, 41, who anchored him, and helped him through the storm of pain and depression.
"She was really patient."
Then came a second chance at life for this father of three young boys.
Spared the lengthy and agonising wait that many others endure, Mazlan had a match to a suitable donor after just eight months.
Three weeks after the successful transplant on July 14, 2001, he was allowed to go home, and four years down the road he remains in good health.
For the rest of his life, he must take medicine to prevent his body from rejecting the heart he was given. But that's a small price for Mazlan, now 44, to pay.
He wants to watch his sons Mohd Nazrin, 14, Mohd Nazim, 10, and Mohd Haziq, 7, grow up into young men.
"I want them to be successful of course, but more importantly, I want them to be good human beings."
He is alive today because someone made that pledge.
"I hope that by sharing what I went through, I can reach out to others and encourage them to fill in an organ donor form.
"People need to know that three or four lives can be saved by just one donor who pledges his heart, lungs, kidneys, eyes and other organs," he said.
Five years ago, Mazlan was diagnosed with heart failure.
He did not smoke and led a relatively healthy life, but he believes heart disease runs in his family. He had already lost his father and younger sister to it.
At 39, he all but gave up on life. Weak and easily tired, he could not eat.
"Sleeping was a nightmare, every time I lay down, I felt as if I was drowning, I couldn't breathe," he said.
IJN doctors said his only hope was a heart transplant.
"When I heard that, I lost all hope. I knew how hard it is to get suitable heart donors," said Mazlan.
At one point, he thought it would be better if he just died.
It was his wife Fazidah Hamid, 41, who anchored him, and helped him through the storm of pain and depression.
"She was really patient."
Then came a second chance at life for this father of three young boys.
Spared the lengthy and agonising wait that many others endure, Mazlan had a match to a suitable donor after just eight months.
Three weeks after the successful transplant on July 14, 2001, he was allowed to go home, and four years down the road he remains in good health.
For the rest of his life, he must take medicine to prevent his body from rejecting the heart he was given. But that's a small price for Mazlan, now 44, to pay.
He wants to watch his sons Mohd Nazrin, 14, Mohd Nazim, 10, and Mohd Haziq, 7, grow up into young men.
"I want them to be successful of course, but more importantly, I want them to be good human beings."
Chicken Little Syndrome
NST: The deaths of more than 11 wild pigeons in Sungai Petani is worrying health authorities.
In 24 hours they will know whether the birds died of avian flu — the disease that has killed 62 people in Asia since 2003. But no one is taking any chances.
Veterinary Services Department director-general Datuk Dr Hawari Hussein said he has already alerted all state directors.
"All the States are prepared for an outbreak and the moment we detect a case, we will activate our preparedness plan," he said.
As for the dead wild pigeons, Dr Hawari said samples had been sent for analysis to the Veterinary Research Institute in Ipoh.
"The death of the wild pigeons is cause for concern," he said, adding that officers had been sent to Sungai Petani to monitor the situation.
Meanwhile, residents in Taman Mutiara, Sungai Petani, claimed the flock of pigeons which used to stay around the shophouses, started dying one by one since last Thursday.
The sight of the carcasses did not alarm them at first until it increased in numbers.
A complaint was lodged with the Sungai Petani Municipal Council which in turn, alerted the local veterinary office.
Both teams turned up at the housing estate today. While veterinary officers picked up stool samples for testing, council workers disinfected the area.
Meanwhile, Kedah Veterinary Department director Dr Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam said test results would be known within 24 hours.
"We are taking this precautionary measure."
"At the moment, there is no indication of a bird flu case in the country but we have to be careful under the current situation," he said.
Since late 2003, bird flu has ravaged poultry stocks across Asia and jumped from birds to humans.
Most of the human deaths have been traced to close contact with infected birds.
World Health Organisation director-general Lee Jong-Wook warned that migratory birds were carrying the virus into domestic poultry flocks around the world.
"If we are unprepared, the next pandemic will cause incalculable human misery," Lee said as he opened a three-day council of war on H5N1 avian flu in Geneva, Switzerland today.
"No society will be exempt and no economy will be unscathed."
In 24 hours they will know whether the birds died of avian flu — the disease that has killed 62 people in Asia since 2003. But no one is taking any chances.
Veterinary Services Department director-general Datuk Dr Hawari Hussein said he has already alerted all state directors.
"All the States are prepared for an outbreak and the moment we detect a case, we will activate our preparedness plan," he said.
As for the dead wild pigeons, Dr Hawari said samples had been sent for analysis to the Veterinary Research Institute in Ipoh.
"The death of the wild pigeons is cause for concern," he said, adding that officers had been sent to Sungai Petani to monitor the situation.
Meanwhile, residents in Taman Mutiara, Sungai Petani, claimed the flock of pigeons which used to stay around the shophouses, started dying one by one since last Thursday.
The sight of the carcasses did not alarm them at first until it increased in numbers.
A complaint was lodged with the Sungai Petani Municipal Council which in turn, alerted the local veterinary office.
Both teams turned up at the housing estate today. While veterinary officers picked up stool samples for testing, council workers disinfected the area.
Meanwhile, Kedah Veterinary Department director Dr Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam said test results would be known within 24 hours.
"We are taking this precautionary measure."
"At the moment, there is no indication of a bird flu case in the country but we have to be careful under the current situation," he said.
Since late 2003, bird flu has ravaged poultry stocks across Asia and jumped from birds to humans.
Most of the human deaths have been traced to close contact with infected birds.
World Health Organisation director-general Lee Jong-Wook warned that migratory birds were carrying the virus into domestic poultry flocks around the world.
"If we are unprepared, the next pandemic will cause incalculable human misery," Lee said as he opened a three-day council of war on H5N1 avian flu in Geneva, Switzerland today.
"No society will be exempt and no economy will be unscathed."
MOSTI To Showcase Virtual Autopsy In Q1 2006
CYBERJAYA, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) will roll out the virtual autopsy concept by the first quarter of next year in an effort to promote the technology in the country.
Minister Datuk Seri Jamaludin Jarjis said the ministry would set up a test bed site in Kuala Lumpur to showcase the technology.
It plans to use its research and development (R&D) allocation to set up the test bed site, he told reporters after the virtual autopsy demonstration, here Tuesday.
Virtual autopsy is a scapel-free procedure that uses the latest in medical imaging technology to provide a complete three-dimensional view of the internal and external side of the human body.
The technique could offer an alternative to the standard invasive procedure that upsets many families and is prohibited by some religions.
"We are holding this showcase to instil confidence in the community and professionals in the technology," Jamaludin said.
The demonstration was jointly organised by MOSTI, Multimedia Development Corporation (MDC), INFOVALLEY Life Sciences Sdn Bhd and Silicon Graphics Inc.
Jamaludin said that the virtual autopsy could help forensic pathologists in performing post-mortem under the virtual autopsy concept for cases of deaths requiring physical post-mortem.
"Most of the communities in the country do not like physical post-mortem done on members of their families. With the virtual autopsy the post-mortem methods in the country will see a change," he said.
Jamaludin said that the ministry will also propose virtual autopsy to the Health Ministry.
He said that there was a possibility that the project would be implemented by the Health Ministry under the e-health flagship.
He said that in order to perform the virtual autopsy, imaging and data processing machines are required.
"Todate, there are 65 imaging machines in the country. What is required now is the processing machines.
"In line with this, we propose that each cluster of hospitals in the Klang Valley, north, south and east Peninsular Malaysia be equipped with data processing machines," he said.
Minister Datuk Seri Jamaludin Jarjis said the ministry would set up a test bed site in Kuala Lumpur to showcase the technology.
It plans to use its research and development (R&D) allocation to set up the test bed site, he told reporters after the virtual autopsy demonstration, here Tuesday.
Virtual autopsy is a scapel-free procedure that uses the latest in medical imaging technology to provide a complete three-dimensional view of the internal and external side of the human body.
The technique could offer an alternative to the standard invasive procedure that upsets many families and is prohibited by some religions.
"We are holding this showcase to instil confidence in the community and professionals in the technology," Jamaludin said.
The demonstration was jointly organised by MOSTI, Multimedia Development Corporation (MDC), INFOVALLEY Life Sciences Sdn Bhd and Silicon Graphics Inc.
Jamaludin said that the virtual autopsy could help forensic pathologists in performing post-mortem under the virtual autopsy concept for cases of deaths requiring physical post-mortem.
"Most of the communities in the country do not like physical post-mortem done on members of their families. With the virtual autopsy the post-mortem methods in the country will see a change," he said.
Jamaludin said that the ministry will also propose virtual autopsy to the Health Ministry.
He said that there was a possibility that the project would be implemented by the Health Ministry under the e-health flagship.
He said that in order to perform the virtual autopsy, imaging and data processing machines are required.
"Todate, there are 65 imaging machines in the country. What is required now is the processing machines.
"In line with this, we propose that each cluster of hospitals in the Klang Valley, north, south and east Peninsular Malaysia be equipped with data processing machines," he said.
Soi Lek dibidas soal pelajar Mara
Utusan:SEREMBAN 7 Nov. - Alumni Kelab UMNO Luar Negara membidas kenyataan Menteri Kesihatan, Datuk r. Chua Soi Lek yang mendakwa lebih 100 pelajar yang kebanyakannya dibiayai oleh Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), tidak pulang ke tanah air sehingga menyebabkan kerajaan menanggung kerugian hingga RM60 juta.
Timbalan Pengerusinya, Datuk Mohamad Rais Zainuddin berkata, kebanyakan pelajar Mara yang didakwa oleh Soi Lek hidup senang lenang di luar negara sebenarnya sedang melanjutkan pengajian dan meningkatkan kepakaran mereka.
Katanya, pelajar terbabit sedang menjalani latihan kedoktoran, kepakaran dan sub-specialist di United Kingdom yang mendapat pengiktirafan antarabangsa.
``Beliau sepatutnya memanggil balik pelajar persendirian yang bekerja sepenuh masa di Ireland, bukannya menyuruh pelajar Mara yang menjalankan latihan kedoktoran di sana pulang ke tanah air.
``Apa yang beliau patut lakukan ialah mendesak pelajar persendirian yang kebanyakannya pelajar berketurunan Cina untuk pulang segera selepas tamat pengajian. ``Tidak timbul isu pelajar ditaja mesti pulang atau tidak ditaja tidak perlu berbuat demikian kerana soal berkhidmat di tanah air adalah soal jati diri dan kesetiaan pelajar persendirian terbabit pada negara,'' katanya di sini hari ini.
Beliau berkata demikian sebagai mengulas kenyataan Soi Lek selepas melawat Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland dan University College Dublin di Ireland yang menempatkan kira-kira 1,000 pelajar Malaysia.
Soi Lek berkata, kebanyakan pelajar perubatan tidak pulang untuk menunaikan syarat perjanjian dan tidak membayar balik duit yang diberikan sebagai biasiswa perubatan.
Beliau mendakwa, selepas menamatkan pengajian, kebanyakan mereka hanya tinggal dengan selesa di luar negara dengan meraih banyak wang dan turut mempengaruhi pelajar Malaysia lain untuk tidak pulang ke tanah air.
Rais yang juga Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Bertindak Tenaga, Air dan Komunikasi Negeri Sembilan berkata, pada masa ini terdapat 1,137 pelajar Malaysia di Ireland dengan 1,032 daripada mereka sedang mengikuti pengajian perubatan.
``Daripada pecahan itu, 395 pelajar di bawah tajaan Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA), pinjaman Mara (392), tajaan Petronas (13) dan pembiayaan persendirian (207).
``Hanya pelajar JPA yang wajib pulang ke Malaysia selepas menamatkan pengajian untuk melakukan housemanship selama tiga tahun mengikut Akta Perubatan 1971.
``Bagi pelajar Mara dan lain-lain mereka tidak perlu melakukan housemanship tetapi perlu bayar hutang pinjaman,'' katanya.
Timbalan Pengerusinya, Datuk Mohamad Rais Zainuddin berkata, kebanyakan pelajar Mara yang didakwa oleh Soi Lek hidup senang lenang di luar negara sebenarnya sedang melanjutkan pengajian dan meningkatkan kepakaran mereka.
Katanya, pelajar terbabit sedang menjalani latihan kedoktoran, kepakaran dan sub-specialist di United Kingdom yang mendapat pengiktirafan antarabangsa.
``Beliau sepatutnya memanggil balik pelajar persendirian yang bekerja sepenuh masa di Ireland, bukannya menyuruh pelajar Mara yang menjalankan latihan kedoktoran di sana pulang ke tanah air.
``Apa yang beliau patut lakukan ialah mendesak pelajar persendirian yang kebanyakannya pelajar berketurunan Cina untuk pulang segera selepas tamat pengajian. ``Tidak timbul isu pelajar ditaja mesti pulang atau tidak ditaja tidak perlu berbuat demikian kerana soal berkhidmat di tanah air adalah soal jati diri dan kesetiaan pelajar persendirian terbabit pada negara,'' katanya di sini hari ini.
Beliau berkata demikian sebagai mengulas kenyataan Soi Lek selepas melawat Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland dan University College Dublin di Ireland yang menempatkan kira-kira 1,000 pelajar Malaysia.
Soi Lek berkata, kebanyakan pelajar perubatan tidak pulang untuk menunaikan syarat perjanjian dan tidak membayar balik duit yang diberikan sebagai biasiswa perubatan.
Beliau mendakwa, selepas menamatkan pengajian, kebanyakan mereka hanya tinggal dengan selesa di luar negara dengan meraih banyak wang dan turut mempengaruhi pelajar Malaysia lain untuk tidak pulang ke tanah air.
Rais yang juga Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Bertindak Tenaga, Air dan Komunikasi Negeri Sembilan berkata, pada masa ini terdapat 1,137 pelajar Malaysia di Ireland dengan 1,032 daripada mereka sedang mengikuti pengajian perubatan.
``Daripada pecahan itu, 395 pelajar di bawah tajaan Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA), pinjaman Mara (392), tajaan Petronas (13) dan pembiayaan persendirian (207).
``Hanya pelajar JPA yang wajib pulang ke Malaysia selepas menamatkan pengajian untuk melakukan housemanship selama tiga tahun mengikut Akta Perubatan 1971.
``Bagi pelajar Mara dan lain-lain mereka tidak perlu melakukan housemanship tetapi perlu bayar hutang pinjaman,'' katanya.
Monday, November 07, 2005
Diabetes -- Common Illness Causing Deaths To M'sians
KUCHING, Nov 7 (Bernama) -- Diabetes, the fourth killer ailment in developed countries, has now become a common illness that causes deaths to Malaysians.
State Health Director Dr Yao Sik King said many Malaysians, who led a sedentary lifestyle and did not exercise, were not aware they have diabetes.
According to the 1996 National Health and Morbidity Survey, about 8.3 per cent of the adult Malaysians or approximately 800,000 people, aged above 30, suffer from the killer disease, he said.
"In Sarawak, based on the eight per cent estimate, between 180,000 and 190,000 of its 2.3 million population are diabetics," he told a media conference to mark World Diabetes Day 2005.
Kuching will host this year's World Diabetes Day, observed every year on Nov 14. Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud will launch the national-level event themed "Diabetes and Foot Care."
Dr Yao said it was hard to get the actual number of diabetics as it was not a notifiable disease to the Health Department.
It was also not compulsory for diabetics, clinics and healthcare providers to register the sufferers with the authorities, he said.
Dr Yao said currently 194 million people in the world suffer from diabetes, a serious chronic disease. The figure is expected to swell to 330 million by 2025.
He attributed the increase in diabetics to population growth, increase in senior citizens, urbanisation, consumption of unhealthy food and lack of exercise.
Dr Yao said in Malaysia, Impaired Glucose Tolerance -- a condition if not controlled could lead to diabetes -- was high among the adults, with about 400,000 probable diabetics.
He said diabetes could lead to complications like heart problems, stroke, kidney failure, impotency and leg amputation.
The risk of leg amputation among diabetics was 30 per cent more than normal people while impotency due to damaged nerves was prevalent in more than one-third of male diabetics, he said.
Dr Yao said diabetes is the main cause of kidney failures among the people in developing countries.
In Malaysia, the National Renal Registry data showed diabetes was the prime cause of end-stage kidney failures, with 44 per cent new patients requiring dialysis are diabetics, he added.
State Health Director Dr Yao Sik King said many Malaysians, who led a sedentary lifestyle and did not exercise, were not aware they have diabetes.
According to the 1996 National Health and Morbidity Survey, about 8.3 per cent of the adult Malaysians or approximately 800,000 people, aged above 30, suffer from the killer disease, he said.
"In Sarawak, based on the eight per cent estimate, between 180,000 and 190,000 of its 2.3 million population are diabetics," he told a media conference to mark World Diabetes Day 2005.
Kuching will host this year's World Diabetes Day, observed every year on Nov 14. Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud will launch the national-level event themed "Diabetes and Foot Care."
Dr Yao said it was hard to get the actual number of diabetics as it was not a notifiable disease to the Health Department.
It was also not compulsory for diabetics, clinics and healthcare providers to register the sufferers with the authorities, he said.
Dr Yao said currently 194 million people in the world suffer from diabetes, a serious chronic disease. The figure is expected to swell to 330 million by 2025.
He attributed the increase in diabetics to population growth, increase in senior citizens, urbanisation, consumption of unhealthy food and lack of exercise.
Dr Yao said in Malaysia, Impaired Glucose Tolerance -- a condition if not controlled could lead to diabetes -- was high among the adults, with about 400,000 probable diabetics.
He said diabetes could lead to complications like heart problems, stroke, kidney failure, impotency and leg amputation.
The risk of leg amputation among diabetics was 30 per cent more than normal people while impotency due to damaged nerves was prevalent in more than one-third of male diabetics, he said.
Dr Yao said diabetes is the main cause of kidney failures among the people in developing countries.
In Malaysia, the National Renal Registry data showed diabetes was the prime cause of end-stage kidney failures, with 44 per cent new patients requiring dialysis are diabetics, he added.
Doctor with a heart seeks lung donor
Star: Being a consultant respiratory physician, Dr Ashari Yunus’s Hari Raya wish was not surprising – that one of his patients in the waiting list would get a lung transplant.
This was no ordinary wish, as it would be the first time that such a procedure would be carried out locally.
But by the look of things, Dr Ashari, who has been readying himself for the task since March, might have to wait much longer.
The good doctor has already been disheartened five times over the past year and a half, when attempts to enlist a lung donor failed.
But the 45-year-old physician attached with the Institute of Respiratory Illnesses (IPR) refuses to give up, saying the search must continue.
“I do not know how long I am going to wait, but I will be patient. It’s always difficult to start the first (transplant),” he added in a telephone interview from Kuala Lumpur.
Dr Ashari explained that lung transplants were the latest involving organ transplants, adding that cornea transplants had begun in the country since the 1960s and had been well accepted by society.
He said many were unaware that lungs, like other organs, can be donated for transplants.
Dr Ashari has been visiting hospitals and attending events to explain the procedure. He has also been meeting up with patients to put them in the waiting list, which has 10 people now.
“The patients are showing patience, and so am I,” he added.
For patients living in the Klang Valley, he makes it a point to check on them every fortnight.
“I do not want their condition to deteriorate,” he stressed.
For pledge forms and other enquiries, call the Transplant Resources Centre at 1-800-88-9080 or 03-2694 2704 / 5, Ipoh Hospital at 05-522 2324, Penang Hospital at 04-200 2436, or e-mail ntrs@hkl.gov.my
This was no ordinary wish, as it would be the first time that such a procedure would be carried out locally.
But by the look of things, Dr Ashari, who has been readying himself for the task since March, might have to wait much longer.
The good doctor has already been disheartened five times over the past year and a half, when attempts to enlist a lung donor failed.
But the 45-year-old physician attached with the Institute of Respiratory Illnesses (IPR) refuses to give up, saying the search must continue.
“I do not know how long I am going to wait, but I will be patient. It’s always difficult to start the first (transplant),” he added in a telephone interview from Kuala Lumpur.
Dr Ashari explained that lung transplants were the latest involving organ transplants, adding that cornea transplants had begun in the country since the 1960s and had been well accepted by society.
He said many were unaware that lungs, like other organs, can be donated for transplants.
Dr Ashari has been visiting hospitals and attending events to explain the procedure. He has also been meeting up with patients to put them in the waiting list, which has 10 people now.
“The patients are showing patience, and so am I,” he added.
For patients living in the Klang Valley, he makes it a point to check on them every fortnight.
“I do not want their condition to deteriorate,” he stressed.
For pledge forms and other enquiries, call the Transplant Resources Centre at 1-800-88-9080 or 03-2694 2704 / 5, Ipoh Hospital at 05-522 2324, Penang Hospital at 04-200 2436, or e-mail ntrs@hkl.gov.my
First batch in Socso rehabilitation programme shows good results
Star: A worker who was on 13 years' medical leave has been certified as fit to work after undergoing Socso’s Return To Work rehabilitation programme.
He is among 81 workers with medical leave more than one year long who had joined the pilot programme.
Of the number, 52 workers, or 65%, were found to be fit to rejoin the workforce. All 81 workers, who suffer from neck or back pain, have been receiving Socso benefits.
There are currently 9,000 workers on paid medical leave in the country and Socso payouts for temporary disability benefits have already exceeded RM71mil. Under such benefits, a worker receives about 80% of his salary for the duration of the medical leave.
Human Resource Minister Datuk Dr Fong Chan Onn said that following the positive results of the pilot group, the Return To Work programme would soon be expanded to rehabilitate workers suffering from other treatable ailments and disabilities.
“About 65% of those who participated in the programme reported considerable reduction in neck and back pain,” he said.
The workers had undergone physical rehabilitation twice a week between February and September this year. A second group of workers are now undergoing a similar programme.
“From the initial finding, the programme has been very successful and we hope to expand it nationwide in stages, and also include workers with injuries to the limbs and head,” he added.
Dr Fong also said the project would also look into psychological rehabilitation to prepare rehabilitated workers to rejoin the workforce as some participants had not been working for years.
He is among 81 workers with medical leave more than one year long who had joined the pilot programme.
Of the number, 52 workers, or 65%, were found to be fit to rejoin the workforce. All 81 workers, who suffer from neck or back pain, have been receiving Socso benefits.
There are currently 9,000 workers on paid medical leave in the country and Socso payouts for temporary disability benefits have already exceeded RM71mil. Under such benefits, a worker receives about 80% of his salary for the duration of the medical leave.
Human Resource Minister Datuk Dr Fong Chan Onn said that following the positive results of the pilot group, the Return To Work programme would soon be expanded to rehabilitate workers suffering from other treatable ailments and disabilities.
“About 65% of those who participated in the programme reported considerable reduction in neck and back pain,” he said.
The workers had undergone physical rehabilitation twice a week between February and September this year. A second group of workers are now undergoing a similar programme.
“From the initial finding, the programme has been very successful and we hope to expand it nationwide in stages, and also include workers with injuries to the limbs and head,” he added.
Dr Fong also said the project would also look into psychological rehabilitation to prepare rehabilitated workers to rejoin the workforce as some participants had not been working for years.
Forgotten mental inmates
NST: Four inmates at the Sentosa Mental Hospital were languishing at the facility for years until hospital director Dr Abdul Kadir Abu Bakar intervened to seek their release.
Two were released last month while the other two are slated to enjoy freedom as soon as the courts rule in their favour on the hospital’s advice.
Chang Kui Hing, 76, better known to inmates as Ong Nga, was released on Oct 5 with Lai Oi Shin, 31, following eight days later.
Ong Nga, who had been at the hospital for 44 years after being accused of killing his wife in Bandar Sri Aman on Dec 24, 1961, was granted a discharge on Sept 30.
He has elected to remain at the hospital, the only home he has known for four decades.
Hospital authorities, to their credit, have allowed him to do so.
Lai, who is mentally impaired, was committed to the hospital in 1993 for a month for planting an unwanted kiss on a 19-year-old girl.
The month stretched to 12 years with freedom only savoured on Oct 13.
Two other inmates expected to be released soon are a 66-year-old woman, who has been at the hospital for 44 years, and a 42-year-old man who has been there for 16 years.
The woman was sent to the facility after being accused of poisoning her husband while the man had been accused of rape and murder.
If they had not been mentally ill and had pleaded guilty, they would have walked out of prison within 12 years, the maximum sentence for manslaughter.
Dr Abdul Kadir said he was also seeking the release over time of a group of 16 who have been at the hospital for years.
They had been found guilty by courts but also determined to be mentally ill.
Dr Kadir said he had recommended six of them for release since 2003 when he was posted to the hospital.
"Every month I have been presenting them before the Board of Visitors to be examined on their suitability for release."
He said the 16 were at the hospital at the pleasure of state rulers with their release only possible through an appeal by their family or the hospital.
Meanwhile, hospital senior psychiatrist, Dr Rafizzah Abdul Rahman, said Dr Abdul Kadir had introduced the review of cases under the "Sentosa Team Assessment and Rehabilitation" (Star) programme.
Under the programme, the hospital regularly reviews inmates' file for re-assessment.
They would then be categorised according to risk with those in the low-risk category assessed to ascertain if they should be recommended for release.
It was under this exercise that the cases of Ong Nga, Lai and the other two were recommended for release.
In fact, it was found that Ong Nga was recommended for release in 1986.
But his next-of-kin, a daughter given up for adoption, declined to take him.
Dr Rafizzah said Ong Nga could not be released on his own cognisance.
"Outside support is important so they (the family) could support him and make sure he is not a danger to society," she said.
Two were released last month while the other two are slated to enjoy freedom as soon as the courts rule in their favour on the hospital’s advice.
Chang Kui Hing, 76, better known to inmates as Ong Nga, was released on Oct 5 with Lai Oi Shin, 31, following eight days later.
Ong Nga, who had been at the hospital for 44 years after being accused of killing his wife in Bandar Sri Aman on Dec 24, 1961, was granted a discharge on Sept 30.
He has elected to remain at the hospital, the only home he has known for four decades.
Hospital authorities, to their credit, have allowed him to do so.
Lai, who is mentally impaired, was committed to the hospital in 1993 for a month for planting an unwanted kiss on a 19-year-old girl.
The month stretched to 12 years with freedom only savoured on Oct 13.
Two other inmates expected to be released soon are a 66-year-old woman, who has been at the hospital for 44 years, and a 42-year-old man who has been there for 16 years.
The woman was sent to the facility after being accused of poisoning her husband while the man had been accused of rape and murder.
If they had not been mentally ill and had pleaded guilty, they would have walked out of prison within 12 years, the maximum sentence for manslaughter.
Dr Abdul Kadir said he was also seeking the release over time of a group of 16 who have been at the hospital for years.
They had been found guilty by courts but also determined to be mentally ill.
Dr Kadir said he had recommended six of them for release since 2003 when he was posted to the hospital.
"Every month I have been presenting them before the Board of Visitors to be examined on their suitability for release."
He said the 16 were at the hospital at the pleasure of state rulers with their release only possible through an appeal by their family or the hospital.
Meanwhile, hospital senior psychiatrist, Dr Rafizzah Abdul Rahman, said Dr Abdul Kadir had introduced the review of cases under the "Sentosa Team Assessment and Rehabilitation" (Star) programme.
Under the programme, the hospital regularly reviews inmates' file for re-assessment.
They would then be categorised according to risk with those in the low-risk category assessed to ascertain if they should be recommended for release.
It was under this exercise that the cases of Ong Nga, Lai and the other two were recommended for release.
In fact, it was found that Ong Nga was recommended for release in 1986.
But his next-of-kin, a daughter given up for adoption, declined to take him.
Dr Rafizzah said Ong Nga could not be released on his own cognisance.
"Outside support is important so they (the family) could support him and make sure he is not a danger to society," she said.
Nutritionists to be attached to schools
NST: Malaysia is considering putting nutritionists in schools to monitor what students eat.
This is the Education and Health Ministries’ plan to cultivate good eating habits among young Malaysians.
Education Ministry schools division director Salleh Mohd Hussein said the ministry had discussed with the Health Ministry on providing a nutritionist for schools to advise pupils and get feedback on their health and diets.
"It was the idea of the schools division and the Health Ministry is preparing the proposal. We are thinking about focusing perhaps on boarding schools first, and then go batch by batch. We may target schools with an enrolment of 2,000 students or more," he said.
He said it would not be possible to provide a nutritionist in schools where enrolment was low, such as in states like Sabah or Sarawak. For these schools, teachers may be roped in to help out, he added.
He said despite recent developments in Britain, where British authorities recently imposed a ban on vending machines selling fizzy drinks, chocolates and potato chips in all schools, Malaysia would not be following the move.
The Education Ministry had already come out with an updated book on guidelines for school canteen operators last year he said, which outlines specifically what food is suitable, which is not encouraged or prohibited in school canteens.
Under the guidelines, food which is acceptable includes rice, nasi lemak, boiled eggs and porridge, popia, curry puffs and sandwiches, while anything containing excess oil, fat, sugar and preservatives is not encouraged, such as instant noodles, drinks with artificial colouring and carbonated soft drinks.
Prohibited food items include those sold with toys or made to look like toys, as well as sweets, jeruk and snacks that contain artificial additives and colouring.
Currently it is the Health Ministry that carries out inspection in canteens, mostly on sanitary and hygiene checks, Salleh said, and it was found that most schools did not flout guidelines.
The British move recently follows a similar exercise in France a few weeks earlier, with vending machines being replaced by water fountains in some schools.
The Consumers Association of Penang has been calling for the ban on vending machines dispensing junk food and drinks in schools for years.
It is estimated that at least one in five Malaysians, or 20 per cent of the population, is overweight.
A Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia study conducted among 1,026 schoolchildren aged 7 to 10 in 1998 showed that 12.5 per cent of boys and five per cent of girls were obese.
"We are aware of the complaints that have been made by parents and consumer groups who have voiced their opinions. We have found that problems of obesity among children actually start with habits at home and not the hours spent in the school canteen," Salleh said.
This is the Education and Health Ministries’ plan to cultivate good eating habits among young Malaysians.
Education Ministry schools division director Salleh Mohd Hussein said the ministry had discussed with the Health Ministry on providing a nutritionist for schools to advise pupils and get feedback on their health and diets.
"It was the idea of the schools division and the Health Ministry is preparing the proposal. We are thinking about focusing perhaps on boarding schools first, and then go batch by batch. We may target schools with an enrolment of 2,000 students or more," he said.
He said it would not be possible to provide a nutritionist in schools where enrolment was low, such as in states like Sabah or Sarawak. For these schools, teachers may be roped in to help out, he added.
He said despite recent developments in Britain, where British authorities recently imposed a ban on vending machines selling fizzy drinks, chocolates and potato chips in all schools, Malaysia would not be following the move.
The Education Ministry had already come out with an updated book on guidelines for school canteen operators last year he said, which outlines specifically what food is suitable, which is not encouraged or prohibited in school canteens.
Under the guidelines, food which is acceptable includes rice, nasi lemak, boiled eggs and porridge, popia, curry puffs and sandwiches, while anything containing excess oil, fat, sugar and preservatives is not encouraged, such as instant noodles, drinks with artificial colouring and carbonated soft drinks.
Prohibited food items include those sold with toys or made to look like toys, as well as sweets, jeruk and snacks that contain artificial additives and colouring.
Currently it is the Health Ministry that carries out inspection in canteens, mostly on sanitary and hygiene checks, Salleh said, and it was found that most schools did not flout guidelines.
The British move recently follows a similar exercise in France a few weeks earlier, with vending machines being replaced by water fountains in some schools.
The Consumers Association of Penang has been calling for the ban on vending machines dispensing junk food and drinks in schools for years.
It is estimated that at least one in five Malaysians, or 20 per cent of the population, is overweight.
A Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia study conducted among 1,026 schoolchildren aged 7 to 10 in 1998 showed that 12.5 per cent of boys and five per cent of girls were obese.
"We are aware of the complaints that have been made by parents and consumer groups who have voiced their opinions. We have found that problems of obesity among children actually start with habits at home and not the hours spent in the school canteen," Salleh said.
Self-diagnosis for HIV not recommended, says Chua
NST: Self-diagnosis for HIV is not recommended since the accuracy of the test kits cannot be verified.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said today while self-test kits for minor ailments and pregnancy are common, tests for life threatening diseases such as AIDS and HIV are much more complicated.
Commenting on the move by an American company, Orasure Technology Inc, to seek the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval for a home version of its OraQuick test which is already marketed to doctors and healthcare providers, Dr Chua said: "My advice to Malaysians is — do a proper and accurate HIV test in hospitals and clinics which have the facilities."
He said the results obtained would be accurate and those found to be HIV-positive could immediately receive treatment and counselling.
Dr Chua added he was aware of HIV test kits sold in the market which promised results within minutes but said he was unsure of its accuracy.
He said those in high risk groups should go for regular blood screening to ascertain whether they were HIV positive.
"We must stop the spread of the disease," said Dr Chua, adding that the government was concerned with the HIV/AIDS situation in the country which according to a UN study had reached generalised epidemic proportions with 81,000 Malaysians becoming infected.
The Health Ministry had reported that about 65,000 Malaysians had been diagnosed with HIV since 1996. Of them, 9,444 developed full-blown AIDS and 7,195 died but NGOs say the figures are much higher.
The Government will implement the needle exchange and condom handout programme for drug addicts in January in its latest attempt to contain the spread of HIV/AIDS.
The syringe exchange and condom handout to drug users fall under the Harm Reduction Programme under which the ministry has also embarked on supplying methadone, a synthetic drug, to treat hardcore drug addicts.
Some 1,200 intravenous drug users have started on methadone last month.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said today while self-test kits for minor ailments and pregnancy are common, tests for life threatening diseases such as AIDS and HIV are much more complicated.
Commenting on the move by an American company, Orasure Technology Inc, to seek the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval for a home version of its OraQuick test which is already marketed to doctors and healthcare providers, Dr Chua said: "My advice to Malaysians is — do a proper and accurate HIV test in hospitals and clinics which have the facilities."
He said the results obtained would be accurate and those found to be HIV-positive could immediately receive treatment and counselling.
Dr Chua added he was aware of HIV test kits sold in the market which promised results within minutes but said he was unsure of its accuracy.
He said those in high risk groups should go for regular blood screening to ascertain whether they were HIV positive.
"We must stop the spread of the disease," said Dr Chua, adding that the government was concerned with the HIV/AIDS situation in the country which according to a UN study had reached generalised epidemic proportions with 81,000 Malaysians becoming infected.
The Health Ministry had reported that about 65,000 Malaysians had been diagnosed with HIV since 1996. Of them, 9,444 developed full-blown AIDS and 7,195 died but NGOs say the figures are much higher.
The Government will implement the needle exchange and condom handout programme for drug addicts in January in its latest attempt to contain the spread of HIV/AIDS.
The syringe exchange and condom handout to drug users fall under the Harm Reduction Programme under which the ministry has also embarked on supplying methadone, a synthetic drug, to treat hardcore drug addicts.
Some 1,200 intravenous drug users have started on methadone last month.
Scholarship doctors should do postgrad studies locally
NST: Government-funded doctors studying abroad who want to continue with postgraduate studies there should be made to return to attend local universities instead.
Such a policy would bring back these much-needed doctors to fill vacancies in government hospitals, said two leading figures in medical education.
It would also make it tougher for them to break the bonds they signed in return for their scholarships, they said.
Yesterday, Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said up to 100 Malaysian doctors have been working as locum in Ireland when they should have returned to serve out their bonds.
He estimated the Government has spent between RM60 million and RM100 million on these Ireland-trained doctors, who should have served at least 10 years in government hospitals.
Many of them were on Mara scholarships, according to Dr Chua who paid a visit there recently.
Universiti Putra Malaysia’s deputy dean and head of surgery, Professor Dr Yunus Gul, said doctors can pursue post-graduate specialisation in local universities.
"Universities here have the programmes and facilities," he said.
Specialist studies here range from liver and cancer, to obstetrics and gynaecology.
Some narrower sub-specialisations are also available, said Datuk Dr Jeyaindran Sinnadurai, the Royal College of Physician of Ireland’s Dean of Examinations for the region.
Both Dr Yunus and he were critical of doctors who have refused to return from Ireland and who have apparently been encouraging others to do the same.
They urged the Government to act against these doctors and tighten loopholes which allowed them to escape their obligations.
Such a policy would bring back these much-needed doctors to fill vacancies in government hospitals, said two leading figures in medical education.
It would also make it tougher for them to break the bonds they signed in return for their scholarships, they said.
Yesterday, Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said up to 100 Malaysian doctors have been working as locum in Ireland when they should have returned to serve out their bonds.
He estimated the Government has spent between RM60 million and RM100 million on these Ireland-trained doctors, who should have served at least 10 years in government hospitals.
Many of them were on Mara scholarships, according to Dr Chua who paid a visit there recently.
Universiti Putra Malaysia’s deputy dean and head of surgery, Professor Dr Yunus Gul, said doctors can pursue post-graduate specialisation in local universities.
"Universities here have the programmes and facilities," he said.
Specialist studies here range from liver and cancer, to obstetrics and gynaecology.
Some narrower sub-specialisations are also available, said Datuk Dr Jeyaindran Sinnadurai, the Royal College of Physician of Ireland’s Dean of Examinations for the region.
Both Dr Yunus and he were critical of doctors who have refused to return from Ireland and who have apparently been encouraging others to do the same.
They urged the Government to act against these doctors and tighten loopholes which allowed them to escape their obligations.
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Dead pigeons cause scare in Malaysia but tests rule out bird flu
MSN:KUALA LUMPUR -- The sight of about 100 dead pigeons recently caused a bird flu scare in a western Malaysian town, but tests showed they had not contracted the virus, an Agriculture Ministry official said Sunday.
Hawari Hussein, director general of the ministry's Veterinary Services department, said veterinary officials hope further tests will establish what killed the pigeons in Bidor, about 120 kilometers north of Kuala Lumpur.
"The test results confirm that it's not avian flu," Hawari told the Associated Press.
Hawari said he did not know when the birds died. Local officials were not immediately available to comment Sunday.
The Sunday Star newspaper suggested that someone may have poisoned the pigeons after they became a nuisance in the area. Hawari said the next set of tests would determine if this was the case.
Authorities, however, were not taking any chances and have ordered all clinics in the town to be on alert for people with bird flu symptoms including a high fever, cough and breathing problems, the paper reported, citing Perak state health committee chairman Tan Chin Meng.
Malaysia officially declared itself free of bird flu in January, six weeks after more than 18,000 birds were culled after the virus showed up in chickens in north peninsular Malaysia bordering Thailand.
Since late 2003, the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu has ravaged poultry stocks and killed at least 62 people in Southeast Asia, according to the World Health Organization. No human infections have been reported in Malaysia. (AP)
Hawari Hussein, director general of the ministry's Veterinary Services department, said veterinary officials hope further tests will establish what killed the pigeons in Bidor, about 120 kilometers north of Kuala Lumpur.
"The test results confirm that it's not avian flu," Hawari told the Associated Press.
Hawari said he did not know when the birds died. Local officials were not immediately available to comment Sunday.
The Sunday Star newspaper suggested that someone may have poisoned the pigeons after they became a nuisance in the area. Hawari said the next set of tests would determine if this was the case.
Authorities, however, were not taking any chances and have ordered all clinics in the town to be on alert for people with bird flu symptoms including a high fever, cough and breathing problems, the paper reported, citing Perak state health committee chairman Tan Chin Meng.
Malaysia officially declared itself free of bird flu in January, six weeks after more than 18,000 birds were culled after the virus showed up in chickens in north peninsular Malaysia bordering Thailand.
Since late 2003, the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu has ravaged poultry stocks and killed at least 62 people in Southeast Asia, according to the World Health Organization. No human infections have been reported in Malaysia. (AP)
CCTV cameras in hospitals soon
NST: The theft of a gold nose stud from a 93-year-old woman at the Muar Hospital has paid unexpected dividends.
The Health Ministry plans to install closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in all government hospitals as part of an overall programme to beef up security in these buildings.
Its minister, Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek, said he would table the proposal in the Cabinet.
"If the Cabinet approves the proposal, it will be implemented nationwide," he told reporters.
He said security at most hospitals and medical facilities was lax as guards were often not properly trained.
Dr Chua said this when commenting on the plight of Packiam Chinnapan who lost her mookuthi (nose stud) to a bogus doctor at the hospital here last Saturday.
The ornament, which she has worn for the past 75 years, was part of the dowry she received from the family of her late husband in 1930.
Dr Chua said nurses and other medical staff should be trained to detect unfamiliar faces moving in and out of wards, especially after visiting hours.
"The ministry has set up a committee under parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon to review hospital security and revamp the system.
"The committee will take about a month to come up with recommendations," he said.
Dr Chua said it was difficult to monitor movement of people in hospitals, especially when some received between 8,000 and l0,000 visitors daily.
"This is one of the reasons why we insist on strictly enforcing the rule on visiting hours.
"We appeal to the public to co-operate," he said.
Meanwhile, Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said he was touched by Packiam’s loss.
"I truly feel sorry for her," Ghani said at his Hari Raya open house in Sungai Mati here.
"It was a cruel and heartless thing to do, robbing an old woman of something so close to her heart."
Johor MIC Youth chief M. Asojan, also Gambir Assemblyman, said the party’s Youth wing had been directed to help Packiam.
The Health Ministry plans to install closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in all government hospitals as part of an overall programme to beef up security in these buildings.
Its minister, Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek, said he would table the proposal in the Cabinet.
"If the Cabinet approves the proposal, it will be implemented nationwide," he told reporters.
He said security at most hospitals and medical facilities was lax as guards were often not properly trained.
Dr Chua said this when commenting on the plight of Packiam Chinnapan who lost her mookuthi (nose stud) to a bogus doctor at the hospital here last Saturday.
The ornament, which she has worn for the past 75 years, was part of the dowry she received from the family of her late husband in 1930.
Dr Chua said nurses and other medical staff should be trained to detect unfamiliar faces moving in and out of wards, especially after visiting hours.
"The ministry has set up a committee under parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon to review hospital security and revamp the system.
"The committee will take about a month to come up with recommendations," he said.
Dr Chua said it was difficult to monitor movement of people in hospitals, especially when some received between 8,000 and l0,000 visitors daily.
"This is one of the reasons why we insist on strictly enforcing the rule on visiting hours.
"We appeal to the public to co-operate," he said.
Meanwhile, Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said he was touched by Packiam’s loss.
"I truly feel sorry for her," Ghani said at his Hari Raya open house in Sungai Mati here.
"It was a cruel and heartless thing to do, robbing an old woman of something so close to her heart."
Johor MIC Youth chief M. Asojan, also Gambir Assemblyman, said the party’s Youth wing had been directed to help Packiam.
RM100 million down the drain
NST: This is a story of money down the drain. As many as 100 Malaysians educated in Ireland at a cost of between RM60 million and RM100 million to become doctors have turned their backs on the country.
If this news is not depressing enough, there are suggestions that they are encouraging other Malaysian students not to return home but to make a living in Europe’s fastest growing economy.
This discovery was made by Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek who recently visited the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland and University College Dublin in Ireland, where more than 1,000 Malaysians are pursuing undergraduate or post-graduate programmes in medicine.
"They have not only evaded the compulsory service and the government bond but have become a bad influence on other Malaysians pursuing medical degrees overseas," he said.
Many of the 100 doctors studied on Mara scholarships.
Dr Chua said his information was gleaned from discussions he had with Malaysian students last month. The 100 doctors had been working in Ireland, mainly doing locum, for between one and 11 years.
"This came as a real shock to me. They are supposed to have completed their programme and returned home to serve the nation," he told the New Sunday Times.
It can cost up to RM1 million to do a medical degree in Britain and Ireland. Those on government scholarships have to serve a bond of seven years.
This is in addition to the three years of compulsory service in government hospitals.
To compound matters, he was told by the undergraduates and post-graduates that this group of 100 Malaysians were influencing others on scholarships not to return home.
"They don’t come back to fulfil the condition of their bond, they don’t pay back the money given as scholarship to do medicine, they just conveniently stay overseas and earn good money, and they influence other Malaysians not to return home."
Dr Chua said he would bring up this issue to the Cabinet’s attention at its weekly meeting on Wednesday.
During his visit to Ireland, Dr Chua was conferred a fellowship by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI), the first health minister ever from the region to receive such honour.
The fellowship was in recognition of his significant contributions and commitment to the development of healthcare in Malaysia and for developing post-graduate medical education.
If this news is not depressing enough, there are suggestions that they are encouraging other Malaysian students not to return home but to make a living in Europe’s fastest growing economy.
This discovery was made by Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek who recently visited the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland and University College Dublin in Ireland, where more than 1,000 Malaysians are pursuing undergraduate or post-graduate programmes in medicine.
"They have not only evaded the compulsory service and the government bond but have become a bad influence on other Malaysians pursuing medical degrees overseas," he said.
Many of the 100 doctors studied on Mara scholarships.
Dr Chua said his information was gleaned from discussions he had with Malaysian students last month. The 100 doctors had been working in Ireland, mainly doing locum, for between one and 11 years.
"This came as a real shock to me. They are supposed to have completed their programme and returned home to serve the nation," he told the New Sunday Times.
It can cost up to RM1 million to do a medical degree in Britain and Ireland. Those on government scholarships have to serve a bond of seven years.
This is in addition to the three years of compulsory service in government hospitals.
To compound matters, he was told by the undergraduates and post-graduates that this group of 100 Malaysians were influencing others on scholarships not to return home.
"They don’t come back to fulfil the condition of their bond, they don’t pay back the money given as scholarship to do medicine, they just conveniently stay overseas and earn good money, and they influence other Malaysians not to return home."
Dr Chua said he would bring up this issue to the Cabinet’s attention at its weekly meeting on Wednesday.
During his visit to Ireland, Dr Chua was conferred a fellowship by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI), the first health minister ever from the region to receive such honour.
The fellowship was in recognition of his significant contributions and commitment to the development of healthcare in Malaysia and for developing post-graduate medical education.
Health Dept To Investigate Fomema Claim On Irregularities
KEPALA BATAS, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- The Health Department will investigate case by case the suspension of panel clinics by Fomema for failure to comply with standard operating procedures, Director General of Health Datuk Dr Ismail Merican said Saturday.
The Health Ministry has a special division that liaises with Fomema, the Foreign Workers Medical Examination and Monitoring Agency, and it would seek further information on the claim, he told reporters at the Prime Minister's Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house, here.
Press reports on Saturday quoted Fomema as saying that it had suspended the services of 91 clinics and 42 x-ray centres for failing to adhere to the standard operating procedures.
"If there are doctors or clinics that had resorted to irregularities, we support the action by Fomema," Dr Ismail said.
He also said that if the investigation found that doctors had violated ethics, the department would request action by the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC).
Dr Ismail said the department would also rectify weaknesses in the regulations permitting clinics to conduct health checks on foreign workers.
The Health Ministry has a special division that liaises with Fomema, the Foreign Workers Medical Examination and Monitoring Agency, and it would seek further information on the claim, he told reporters at the Prime Minister's Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house, here.
Press reports on Saturday quoted Fomema as saying that it had suspended the services of 91 clinics and 42 x-ray centres for failing to adhere to the standard operating procedures.
"If there are doctors or clinics that had resorted to irregularities, we support the action by Fomema," Dr Ismail said.
He also said that if the investigation found that doctors had violated ethics, the department would request action by the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC).
Dr Ismail said the department would also rectify weaknesses in the regulations permitting clinics to conduct health checks on foreign workers.
MoH Supports Fomema's Action To Suspend Errant Clinics
MUAR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry supports Fomema's move to suspend more than 100 clinics on its panel under a nationwide clean-up exercise to check irregularities in the examination of foreign workers.
Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said his ministry also encouraged Fomema to report the discrepancies to the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) so that stern action could be taken against the clinics.
He said the action by doctors to forge medical reports of foreign workers brought into the country was unprofessional and disciplinary action can be taken against them for tarnishing the image of the medical profession, he told reporters at the Hari Raya open house hosted by Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman at his residence in Sungai Mati here Saturday.
Dr Chua was responding to newspaper reports that the clinics were found guilty for not maintaining a proper register of medical examinations, operating x-ray machines without a licence, submitting identical x-rays for more than one worker and not keeping any records of specimens collected.
Fomema is an independent agency responsible for monitoring and coordinating the medical examination of foreign workers, a requirement for renewal of work permits by the immigration department.
Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said his ministry also encouraged Fomema to report the discrepancies to the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) so that stern action could be taken against the clinics.
He said the action by doctors to forge medical reports of foreign workers brought into the country was unprofessional and disciplinary action can be taken against them for tarnishing the image of the medical profession, he told reporters at the Hari Raya open house hosted by Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman at his residence in Sungai Mati here Saturday.
Dr Chua was responding to newspaper reports that the clinics were found guilty for not maintaining a proper register of medical examinations, operating x-ray machines without a licence, submitting identical x-rays for more than one worker and not keeping any records of specimens collected.
Fomema is an independent agency responsible for monitoring and coordinating the medical examination of foreign workers, a requirement for renewal of work permits by the immigration department.
Saturday, November 05, 2005
Penang baby is latest dengue victim in state
Star: A three-month-old baby girl has become the latest dengue fatality in Penang.
Ooi Hooi Xin, who was down with a fever for four days, died at a private hospital on Monday.
Her father Eng Thye, 37, a salesman and elder sister Hooi Kee, 11, and brother Keat Seng, four, were warded for dengue at the same hospital on that day.
Eng Thye’s wife Toh Kwee Hong, 35, said the condition of her husband and Hooi Kee was said to be unstable and that they were under strict observation. The younger child had recovered and would soon be discharged.
The family is from Desa Baiduri in Bandar Baru Air Itam, a dengue hotspot.
So far seven people are believed to have died from dengue in Penang.
Toh said she took her baby to a clinic when the child became feverish last Thursday.
She added that when the fever did not go down the next day, she rushed the baby to a private hospital.
“My baby was not admitted that day. Three days later, she suddenly turned blue and had difficulty breathing,” Toh said yesterday.
“I took her to the same hospital again but she died a few hours later.”
The couple also has a two-year-old daughter, Hooi Ying, who is being looked after by a babysitter.
Six confirmed dengue cases were recorded this week, according to the state dengue operations centre.
A six-year-old girl from Bandar Baru Air Itam is warded at the Penang Hospital and a 39-year-old lorry driver from Bagan Lallang, Butterworth, at the Seberang Jaya Hospital. Both are in intensive care and reported to be in stable conditon.
Ooi Hooi Xin, who was down with a fever for four days, died at a private hospital on Monday.
Her father Eng Thye, 37, a salesman and elder sister Hooi Kee, 11, and brother Keat Seng, four, were warded for dengue at the same hospital on that day.
Eng Thye’s wife Toh Kwee Hong, 35, said the condition of her husband and Hooi Kee was said to be unstable and that they were under strict observation. The younger child had recovered and would soon be discharged.
The family is from Desa Baiduri in Bandar Baru Air Itam, a dengue hotspot.
So far seven people are believed to have died from dengue in Penang.
Toh said she took her baby to a clinic when the child became feverish last Thursday.
She added that when the fever did not go down the next day, she rushed the baby to a private hospital.
“My baby was not admitted that day. Three days later, she suddenly turned blue and had difficulty breathing,” Toh said yesterday.
“I took her to the same hospital again but she died a few hours later.”
The couple also has a two-year-old daughter, Hooi Ying, who is being looked after by a babysitter.
Six confirmed dengue cases were recorded this week, according to the state dengue operations centre.
A six-year-old girl from Bandar Baru Air Itam is warded at the Penang Hospital and a 39-year-old lorry driver from Bagan Lallang, Butterworth, at the Seberang Jaya Hospital. Both are in intensive care and reported to be in stable conditon.
More than 100 clinics suspended over medical exam of foreign workers
Star: Fomema has suspended more than 100 clinics on its panel since the start of this year under a nationwide clean-up exercise to curb irregularities in the examination of foreign workers.
These clinics had been found guilty of not maintaining a proper register of medical examinations, operating X-ray machines without a licence, submitting identical X-rays for more than one worker, and not keeping any records of specimens collected.
Fomena is an independent agency responsible for monitoring and coordinating the medical examination of foreign workers, a requirement for the renewal of work permits by the Immigration Department.
Fomema chief executive officer See Ah Sing said the clinics had been suspended for not complying with its standard operating procedures (SOP).
“We will continue to be vigilant against any malpractice by the clinics and will continue to check on them as part of our ongoing exercise to see that they abide by our SOP.
“Our inspectorate is checking more clinics and we will suspend any that do not meet our requirements,” he said yesterday.
Fomema was established in 1997.
There are more than 3,700 clinics registered with it and the Government can use it to access information on the health status of foreign workers nationwide.
See said Fomema had previously warned the errant clinics to take remedial measures.
“When they failed to address the problems, we had not option but to suspend them,” he said, adding that the status of these clinics would be reviewed.
These clinics had been found guilty of not maintaining a proper register of medical examinations, operating X-ray machines without a licence, submitting identical X-rays for more than one worker, and not keeping any records of specimens collected.
Fomena is an independent agency responsible for monitoring and coordinating the medical examination of foreign workers, a requirement for the renewal of work permits by the Immigration Department.
Fomema chief executive officer See Ah Sing said the clinics had been suspended for not complying with its standard operating procedures (SOP).
“We will continue to be vigilant against any malpractice by the clinics and will continue to check on them as part of our ongoing exercise to see that they abide by our SOP.
“Our inspectorate is checking more clinics and we will suspend any that do not meet our requirements,” he said yesterday.
Fomema was established in 1997.
There are more than 3,700 clinics registered with it and the Government can use it to access information on the health status of foreign workers nationwide.
See said Fomema had previously warned the errant clinics to take remedial measures.
“When they failed to address the problems, we had not option but to suspend them,” he said, adding that the status of these clinics would be reviewed.
Johor set to be herbal hub
NST: With the growing trend towards alternative medicine, Johor is capitalising on the herbal industry with the support of the private sector. Farmers have started to venture into the field to make Johor a major supplier of herbal products.
Besides the already popular tongkat ali and kacip fatimah, farmers have cultivated herbs on a big scale.
A five-year action plan has been drafted to make Johor a global centre for the cultivation, processing and manufacturing of herbal products.
Parcels of land have been identified in Kota Tinggi and other districts for research and development to process and refine the herbs for international markets.
State Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Ahmad Zahri Jamil said the herbal industry had great potential to expand due to the huge demand.
In Peninsular Malaysia and neighbouring islands, between 6,000 and 7,000 species have therapeutic or medicinal properties.
These plants include noni, naga buana, semambu, selasih, putarwali, pegaga, mengkudu, cekur, kunyit, temu, misai kucing, jerangau, gelam, gelenggang, lempoyang, keladi tikus, setawar and ati-ati. Some of the herbs have been processed into tonics, pills and capsules.
Several parties have cultivated herbs on a big scale, such as Nasuha Herbal Farm in Pagoh, Muar, and Che Ru Khor Moral Uplifting Society in Endau, Mersing, run by a Buddhist charity body.
Nasuha farm director Rohaya Ahmad said its 1,500ha plantation produced six to 10 tonnes of raw herbs and spices daily.
"We plant more than 135 types of herbs," she said.
In the 1.2ha herbal farm run by the Che Ru Khor Moral Uplifting Society, fresh herbs are given out free to patients. More than 200 types of herbs are grown on the farm.
Farm committee chairman Lim Kwan Cheang said they send the herbs to more than 200 patients every month.
Besides the already popular tongkat ali and kacip fatimah, farmers have cultivated herbs on a big scale.
A five-year action plan has been drafted to make Johor a global centre for the cultivation, processing and manufacturing of herbal products.
Parcels of land have been identified in Kota Tinggi and other districts for research and development to process and refine the herbs for international markets.
State Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Ahmad Zahri Jamil said the herbal industry had great potential to expand due to the huge demand.
In Peninsular Malaysia and neighbouring islands, between 6,000 and 7,000 species have therapeutic or medicinal properties.
These plants include noni, naga buana, semambu, selasih, putarwali, pegaga, mengkudu, cekur, kunyit, temu, misai kucing, jerangau, gelam, gelenggang, lempoyang, keladi tikus, setawar and ati-ati. Some of the herbs have been processed into tonics, pills and capsules.
Several parties have cultivated herbs on a big scale, such as Nasuha Herbal Farm in Pagoh, Muar, and Che Ru Khor Moral Uplifting Society in Endau, Mersing, run by a Buddhist charity body.
Nasuha farm director Rohaya Ahmad said its 1,500ha plantation produced six to 10 tonnes of raw herbs and spices daily.
"We plant more than 135 types of herbs," she said.
In the 1.2ha herbal farm run by the Che Ru Khor Moral Uplifting Society, fresh herbs are given out free to patients. More than 200 types of herbs are grown on the farm.
Farm committee chairman Lim Kwan Cheang said they send the herbs to more than 200 patients every month.
Delaying motherhood
NST: When Shaila Ram found out she was pregnant, she was ecstatic. She had decided at 38 to start her family, putting it off to focus on her career.
Then her doctors discovered she was suffering from pre-eclampsia. High-blood pressure and abnormal kidney function its symptoms, the disorder could threaten her life and that of her baby.
She was admitted for high blood pressure three times, the last time for almost two weeks and very near to delivery.
"I was physically and emotionally stressed," said the now 45-year-old company executive.
Eventually, the condition forced doctors to deliver her baby, a boy, through a Caesarian section.
These are some of the risks that women take when they get pregnant past their mid-30s, doctors say.
And more Malaysian women are turning to contraceptives to delay motherhood.
Family planning expert Datuk Dr Nor Ashikin Mokhtar said she has seen more first-time mothers in their late 30s and early 40s in the past three years.
Co-chairman of the government's Nur Sejahtera-Women and Family Healthcare Programme, she has also seen rising numbers of women using contraceptives.
The Health Ministry's National Population and Family Planning Board (NPFPB) saw 82,954 women seeking contraception of various kinds last year at its clinics around the country, said Dr Nor Ashikin.
The figures do not include women who seek contraceptives at private hospitals and clinics.
Using contraceptives by itself is not a problem. "It is 100 per cent reversible. A woman can get pregnant within three months once she gets off oral contraceptives.
"Almost all contraceptives result in less morbidity and mortality for women," said the consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist.
But the drawback was that getting pregnant later in life raised the risks of fertility problems, pelvic infections and other conditions, she said.
Fertility problems start occurring after 35 and rise dramatically for women over 40, including fibroids and chromosomal abnormalities resulting in babies with conditions such as Down's syndrome.
Still medical science has seen great advances in this area, making it safer for older women to have children, said Dr Ravi Chandran, president of the Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Malaysia.
"Women who lead a healthy lifestyle may not or only face a slight risk. Diseases that come with age, such as high blood pressure and diabetes can be contained with drugs. Foetal abnormalities can now be tested and diagnosed," said Dr Ravi Chandran.
Shaila's baby has now grown into a healthy seven-year-old. Relieved that there were no other complications, Shaila has decided not to have more children.
"I regret delaying motherhood. I would love to have more children, but I just cannot go through the trauma again."
Then her doctors discovered she was suffering from pre-eclampsia. High-blood pressure and abnormal kidney function its symptoms, the disorder could threaten her life and that of her baby.
She was admitted for high blood pressure three times, the last time for almost two weeks and very near to delivery.
"I was physically and emotionally stressed," said the now 45-year-old company executive.
Eventually, the condition forced doctors to deliver her baby, a boy, through a Caesarian section.
These are some of the risks that women take when they get pregnant past their mid-30s, doctors say.
And more Malaysian women are turning to contraceptives to delay motherhood.
Family planning expert Datuk Dr Nor Ashikin Mokhtar said she has seen more first-time mothers in their late 30s and early 40s in the past three years.
Co-chairman of the government's Nur Sejahtera-Women and Family Healthcare Programme, she has also seen rising numbers of women using contraceptives.
The Health Ministry's National Population and Family Planning Board (NPFPB) saw 82,954 women seeking contraception of various kinds last year at its clinics around the country, said Dr Nor Ashikin.
The figures do not include women who seek contraceptives at private hospitals and clinics.
Using contraceptives by itself is not a problem. "It is 100 per cent reversible. A woman can get pregnant within three months once she gets off oral contraceptives.
"Almost all contraceptives result in less morbidity and mortality for women," said the consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist.
But the drawback was that getting pregnant later in life raised the risks of fertility problems, pelvic infections and other conditions, she said.
Fertility problems start occurring after 35 and rise dramatically for women over 40, including fibroids and chromosomal abnormalities resulting in babies with conditions such as Down's syndrome.
Still medical science has seen great advances in this area, making it safer for older women to have children, said Dr Ravi Chandran, president of the Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Malaysia.
"Women who lead a healthy lifestyle may not or only face a slight risk. Diseases that come with age, such as high blood pressure and diabetes can be contained with drugs. Foetal abnormalities can now be tested and diagnosed," said Dr Ravi Chandran.
Shaila's baby has now grown into a healthy seven-year-old. Relieved that there were no other complications, Shaila has decided not to have more children.
"I regret delaying motherhood. I would love to have more children, but I just cannot go through the trauma again."
About One Per Cent Of Malaysians Are Drug Addicts, Says MCPF
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 (Bernama) -- About one per cent of the population, or 255,725 Malaysians, were found to be drug addicts up to last year, Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said Friday.
He said 80 per cent of them were aged between 15 and 40.
Eradicating the drug menace was crucial in the fight against crime because police statistics showed that 30 to 40 per cent of drug addicts were involved in petty crimes, he said in a statement here.
Calling for a more effective strategy towards making the nation drug free by 2015, he said the entire Malaysian community should work with the government to combat the drug menace.
"As the key to the fight against drug lies in prevention, a national-level prevention strategy is needed to involve the home, society and workplace to help eradicate the problem," he added.
He said 80 per cent of them were aged between 15 and 40.
Eradicating the drug menace was crucial in the fight against crime because police statistics showed that 30 to 40 per cent of drug addicts were involved in petty crimes, he said in a statement here.
Calling for a more effective strategy towards making the nation drug free by 2015, he said the entire Malaysian community should work with the government to combat the drug menace.
"As the key to the fight against drug lies in prevention, a national-level prevention strategy is needed to involve the home, society and workplace to help eradicate the problem," he added.
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Cancer treatment can be made cheaper
Sun: PETALING JAYA: The cost of cancer treatment can be reduced by having a Cancer Treatment Guideline.
National Cancer Society executive director Dr Saunthari Somasundaram says the guideline can be drawn up based on consensus among medical practitioners in both the private and public sectors on which drugs are acceptable for the basic minimum care of cancer patients.
This is because there are hundreds of drugs out there and people tend to believe that the more expensive and the newest is the most effective.
"But this is not so. There are drugs which have been around for a long time which work really well. A lot of new drugs do the same but probably with less side effects.
"We must identify the drugs which give good chances of survival and make these drugs cheaper.
"Once there is a consensus on the type of drugs that is able to provide essential basic treatment for cancer, we can approach pharmaceutical companies on how to make these drugs more affordable," she said.
She was responding to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi recent pledge to make cancer treatment more affordable following his wife's death from cancer.
A consensus will also help bridge the gap between the basic care offered at private hospitals and government hospitals.
"New drugs are coming out constantly. Some doctors in the public sector may want to prescribe a drug which is not on the public hospitals' pharmaceutical list. This means the patient will have to partly pay for the drug or buy it somewhere else," she added.
According to Saunthari, the cost of treatment can range between a few hundred ringgit to few thousand a month depending on the type and stage of cancer.
The later the treatment, the higher the cost.
Hence, the society hopes a National Cancer Plan, which looks at cancer education, prevention and treatment as a whole and in the long term, can be implemented. It is estimated 40,000 Malaysian develop cancer every year.
Malaysian Oncological Society president Dr Harcharan Singh Khera said essential cancer treatment in Malaysia is generally affordable.
"Radiotherapy or chemotherapy are economically priced even in the private sector. The cost of radiotherapy treatment in Malaysia is one of the lowest in the world," he said.
For instance, for low-risk breast cancer, generic drugs are available for chemotherapy and the cost in the private sector would be around RM6,000 for the six cycles needed. For nasal cancer, the total cost would come to RM5,000 to RM6,000 for seven weeks of radiotherapy five days a week.
"In general hospitals, the cost would be almost free," he said.
However, patients who are in the late stages or who have high risk of relapse may opt for drugs which are still under the patent period, which is expensive.
One cycle of chemotherapy for breast cancer may then cost as high as RM4,000 to RM6,000. Some may even go for exceptional treatment, even drugs at the experimental stage.
The costs pile up when other drugs are used to enhance the patient's quality of life by minimising the side effects of the treatment.
The government, Harcharan said, should focus on increasing resources and accelerating the National Health Financing Scheme.
"We can then loosen up funds from those who can afford treatment and channel them into a fund for the lower income group."
The country's 38 oncologists is also way below the WHO recommendation of 100 while there are only two government radiotherapy centres -- one in Kuala Lumpur and another in Kuching.
National Cancer Society executive director Dr Saunthari Somasundaram says the guideline can be drawn up based on consensus among medical practitioners in both the private and public sectors on which drugs are acceptable for the basic minimum care of cancer patients.
This is because there are hundreds of drugs out there and people tend to believe that the more expensive and the newest is the most effective.
"But this is not so. There are drugs which have been around for a long time which work really well. A lot of new drugs do the same but probably with less side effects.
"We must identify the drugs which give good chances of survival and make these drugs cheaper.
"Once there is a consensus on the type of drugs that is able to provide essential basic treatment for cancer, we can approach pharmaceutical companies on how to make these drugs more affordable," she said.
She was responding to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi recent pledge to make cancer treatment more affordable following his wife's death from cancer.
A consensus will also help bridge the gap between the basic care offered at private hospitals and government hospitals.
"New drugs are coming out constantly. Some doctors in the public sector may want to prescribe a drug which is not on the public hospitals' pharmaceutical list. This means the patient will have to partly pay for the drug or buy it somewhere else," she added.
According to Saunthari, the cost of treatment can range between a few hundred ringgit to few thousand a month depending on the type and stage of cancer.
The later the treatment, the higher the cost.
Hence, the society hopes a National Cancer Plan, which looks at cancer education, prevention and treatment as a whole and in the long term, can be implemented. It is estimated 40,000 Malaysian develop cancer every year.
Malaysian Oncological Society president Dr Harcharan Singh Khera said essential cancer treatment in Malaysia is generally affordable.
"Radiotherapy or chemotherapy are economically priced even in the private sector. The cost of radiotherapy treatment in Malaysia is one of the lowest in the world," he said.
For instance, for low-risk breast cancer, generic drugs are available for chemotherapy and the cost in the private sector would be around RM6,000 for the six cycles needed. For nasal cancer, the total cost would come to RM5,000 to RM6,000 for seven weeks of radiotherapy five days a week.
"In general hospitals, the cost would be almost free," he said.
However, patients who are in the late stages or who have high risk of relapse may opt for drugs which are still under the patent period, which is expensive.
One cycle of chemotherapy for breast cancer may then cost as high as RM4,000 to RM6,000. Some may even go for exceptional treatment, even drugs at the experimental stage.
The costs pile up when other drugs are used to enhance the patient's quality of life by minimising the side effects of the treatment.
The government, Harcharan said, should focus on increasing resources and accelerating the National Health Financing Scheme.
"We can then loosen up funds from those who can afford treatment and channel them into a fund for the lower income group."
The country's 38 oncologists is also way below the WHO recommendation of 100 while there are only two government radiotherapy centres -- one in Kuala Lumpur and another in Kuching.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
HealthPraxisAsia’s – First International Medical + Dental Symposia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (PRWEB) November 2, 2005 -- HealthPraxisAsia’s First International Medical + Dental Symposia takes place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, focusing on the major chronic diseases stalking the global Asian population. The three day symposia will examine Hypertension, Heart Disease, Diabetes and Cancer and the impact of Oral diseases on the overall health of the individual. HealthPraxisAsia’s First International Medical + Dental Symposia is a collaborative effort between The Malaysian Medical Association, and Acutance Sdn Bhd.
“Although Asians suffer from the same diseases as the rest of the world’s population, certain diseases occur peculiarly in Asians. Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and Hepatocellular Carcinoma are two such conditions that will be discussed” says Cyril Jonas, organizer of the symposia.
“HealthPraxisAsia provides the platform for the discussion and evaluation of the various chronic diseases such as Hypertension, Heart Disease, Cancer and Diabetes, and examines their possible causes and ethnic affinity, the current treatments, breakthroughs and new technologies. The practitioner will be presented with the most relevant information directly applicable in clinical practice” he says.
This Continuing Medical Education and Continuing Professional Development event, consists of nine symposiums that brings together experts both international and Malaysian. It serves as the platform for interactive sessions for the dissemination and exchange of information on the subject of Asian Health. A free oral and poster presentation is incorporated into the schedule.
HealthPraxisAsia’s First international Medical + Dental Symposia targets clinicians, all professionals of the medical and oral health communities, pharmacologists, researchers in bio-medical technology, nutrition and related disciplines. Members of the various Asian Health Coalitions around the world are encouraged to participate. University students in the final year of their relevant disciplines will be admitted for a nominal fee.
The registration fee is US$ 300 for the full three days of the symposia. Delegates from ASEAN member countries need only pay US$260.
The symposia takes place at the Carlton Conference Center at The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur from the 16 -18 December 2005
“Although Asians suffer from the same diseases as the rest of the world’s population, certain diseases occur peculiarly in Asians. Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and Hepatocellular Carcinoma are two such conditions that will be discussed” says Cyril Jonas, organizer of the symposia.
“HealthPraxisAsia provides the platform for the discussion and evaluation of the various chronic diseases such as Hypertension, Heart Disease, Cancer and Diabetes, and examines their possible causes and ethnic affinity, the current treatments, breakthroughs and new technologies. The practitioner will be presented with the most relevant information directly applicable in clinical practice” he says.
This Continuing Medical Education and Continuing Professional Development event, consists of nine symposiums that brings together experts both international and Malaysian. It serves as the platform for interactive sessions for the dissemination and exchange of information on the subject of Asian Health. A free oral and poster presentation is incorporated into the schedule.
HealthPraxisAsia’s First international Medical + Dental Symposia targets clinicians, all professionals of the medical and oral health communities, pharmacologists, researchers in bio-medical technology, nutrition and related disciplines. Members of the various Asian Health Coalitions around the world are encouraged to participate. University students in the final year of their relevant disciplines will be admitted for a nominal fee.
The registration fee is US$ 300 for the full three days of the symposia. Delegates from ASEAN member countries need only pay US$260.
The symposia takes place at the Carlton Conference Center at The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur from the 16 -18 December 2005
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Dengue Death Toll Rises To 83
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 (Bernama) -- Two more deaths last week took the dengue death toll to 83 this year.
A statement by the Health Ministry's Disease Control Division for the period of Oct 23-29 said an 18-year-old girl died in Segamat, Johor.
It said the girl was admitted to Segamat Hospital on Oct 19 but died on Oct 23 of dengue fever.
The second death was that of a four-year-old girl from Jempol, Negeri Sembilan on Oct 29 due to dengue haemorrhagic fever. She was admitted to Seremban Hospital on Oct 27.
The statement said 75 deaths from dengue fever were reported at the same time last year.
Overall, a total of 824 dengue fever cases were reported last week, a drop of 240 cases or 22.6 per cent compared to 1,064 cases in the previous week.
Up to last Saturday, the accumulated dengue fever cases this year stood at 32,950 cases, including 1,635 cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever, an increase of 33.4 per cent compared to 24,699 cases during the same period last year.
Up to Oct 22, a total of 9,381 cases were confirmed positive -- 8,897 dengue fever and 484 dengue haemorrhagic fever cases.
Three states recorded an increase of cases last week -- Pahang at 43 cases compared to 39 the previous week, Sarawak at 35 cases from 25 and Perlis at 13 cases from nine.
Selangor recorded the highest total accumulated cases with 11,049 cases and 24 deaths; Kuala Lumpur, 4,875 cases and 14 deaths; Penang, 2,976 cases and six deaths, and Perak, 2,559 cases and six deaths.
A statement by the Health Ministry's Disease Control Division for the period of Oct 23-29 said an 18-year-old girl died in Segamat, Johor.
It said the girl was admitted to Segamat Hospital on Oct 19 but died on Oct 23 of dengue fever.
The second death was that of a four-year-old girl from Jempol, Negeri Sembilan on Oct 29 due to dengue haemorrhagic fever. She was admitted to Seremban Hospital on Oct 27.
The statement said 75 deaths from dengue fever were reported at the same time last year.
Overall, a total of 824 dengue fever cases were reported last week, a drop of 240 cases or 22.6 per cent compared to 1,064 cases in the previous week.
Up to last Saturday, the accumulated dengue fever cases this year stood at 32,950 cases, including 1,635 cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever, an increase of 33.4 per cent compared to 24,699 cases during the same period last year.
Up to Oct 22, a total of 9,381 cases were confirmed positive -- 8,897 dengue fever and 484 dengue haemorrhagic fever cases.
Three states recorded an increase of cases last week -- Pahang at 43 cases compared to 39 the previous week, Sarawak at 35 cases from 25 and Perlis at 13 cases from nine.
Selangor recorded the highest total accumulated cases with 11,049 cases and 24 deaths; Kuala Lumpur, 4,875 cases and 14 deaths; Penang, 2,976 cases and six deaths, and Perak, 2,559 cases and six deaths.
On the trail of quack cures
NST: The lure of a fast buck has turned a number of medical doctors into "aesthetic specialists", making tons of money in questionable practices.
They are dabbling in fields like cosmetic surgery, vitamin C therapy and Botulinum toxin (botox) treatment for wrinkles.
Their other "specialities" include:
• the use of laser equipment for which they are not trained;
• treating patients with herbal cures;
• cleansing the body of toxins using chelating agents; and,
• trying to cure ailments with body resonance using dubious electronic equipment.
While the treatment may not guarantee results, the doctors are guaranteed monthly incomes of RM30,000 to RM40,000 from their "specialities", which, in some instances, take a mere three days to master.
Some have downgraded the practice of conventional medicine, which yields between RM10,000 and RM15,000 a month, for their newfound specialities.
But their days of abandoning careers they took years to master may be over soon.
The Malaysian Medical Council is on their trail following public complaints of treatment that went wrong and promises not kept.
In some cases, patients were in worse condition after treatment, or developed new complaints.
MMC president Datuk Dr Ismail Merican said those involved in questionable practices had breached the law as they were registered only to practise evidence-based medicine.
"They have gone against the code of professional conduct, which is an offence under the law," he told the New Straits Times.
He said non-evidence-based practices meant treatment not yet sufficiently documented and replicated through scientifically sound research procedures.
Dr Ismail said MMC officials would be going undercover to investigate complaints against registered medical practitioners.
The director-general of Health said a doctor needed to undergo formal training recognised by the MMC or the Academy of Medicine to practise in a specialised field.
But he said there were doctors who attended short courses and claimed to be "aesthetic medicine specialists" or specialists in other fields.
He said non-evidence-based medicine was potentially harmful as patients were vulnerable to promises of new cures which might endanger their lives.
On Aug 14, the NST highlighted the issue of medical practitioners injecting patients with Vitamin C with the promise of a lighter complexion, anti-aging benefits and general good health.
Prices range from RM100 for a jab to RM2,700 for a series of seven "special" injections which include collagen and placental extracts.
The side-effects of the injections include localised inflammation of the veins, thinning of bones, kidney problems and allergic reactions.
While some side-effects may be temporary and not serious, others can kill.
Dr Ismail, who believed that Vitamin C administered intravenously was of no real benefit, believed women were being duped into parting with their money by baseless claims.
"The perception that Vitamin C helps overall wellness needs to be proved by facts."
Dr Ismail cited an incident last year when a 60-year-old man scheduled for a coronary bypass had opted for "chelation therapy" on the advice of friends, and subsequently died.
Dr Ismail said it was also a serious offence for a person to use the title "Dr" when practising traditional and complementary medicine such as homoeopathy or traditional Chinese, Malay or Indian medicine.
Dr Ismail advised the public to report cases of doctors practising non-evidence-based medicine by calling the MMC at 03-8883-1400.The lure of a fast buck has turned a number of medical doctors into "aesthetic specialists", making tons of money in questionable practices.
They are dabbling in fields like cosmetic surgery, vitamin C therapy and Botulinum toxin (botox) treatment for wrinkles.
Their other "specialities" include:
• the use of laser equipment for which they are not trained;
• treating patients with herbal cures;
• cleansing the body of toxins using chelating agents; and,
• trying to cure ailments with body resonance using dubious electronic equipment.
While the treatment may not guarantee results, the doctors are guaranteed monthly incomes of RM30,000 to RM40,000 from their "specialities", which, in some instances, take a mere three days to master.
Some have downgraded the practice of conventional medicine, which yields between RM10,000 and RM15,000 a month, for their newfound specialities.
But their days of abandoning careers they took years to master may be over soon.
The Malaysian Medical Council is on their trail following public complaints of treatment that went wrong and promises not kept.
In some cases, patients were in worse condition after treatment, or developed new complaints.
MMC president Datuk Dr Ismail Merican said those involved in questionable practices had breached the law as they were registered only to practise evidence-based medicine.
"They have gone against the code of professional conduct, which is an offence under the law," he told the New Straits Times.
He said non-evidence-based practices meant treatment not yet sufficiently documented and replicated through scientifically sound research procedures.
Dr Ismail said MMC officials would be going undercover to investigate complaints against registered medical practitioners.
The director-general of Health said a doctor needed to undergo formal training recognised by the MMC or the Academy of Medicine to practise in a specialised field.
But he said there were doctors who attended short courses and claimed to be "aesthetic medicine specialists" or specialists in other fields.
He said non-evidence-based medicine was potentially harmful as patients were vulnerable to promises of new cures which might endanger their lives.
On Aug 14, the NST highlighted the issue of medical practitioners injecting patients with Vitamin C with the promise of a lighter complexion, anti-aging benefits and general good health.
Prices range from RM100 for a jab to RM2,700 for a series of seven "special" injections which include collagen and placental extracts.
The side-effects of the injections include localised inflammation of the veins, thinning of bones, kidney problems and allergic reactions.
While some side-effects may be temporary and not serious, others can kill.
Dr Ismail, who believed that Vitamin C administered intravenously was of no real benefit, believed women were being duped into parting with their money by baseless claims.
"The perception that Vitamin C helps overall wellness needs to be proved by facts."
Dr Ismail cited an incident last year when a 60-year-old man scheduled for a coronary bypass had opted for "chelation therapy" on the advice of friends, and subsequently died.
Dr Ismail said it was also a serious offence for a person to use the title "Dr" when practising traditional and complementary medicine such as homoeopathy or traditional Chinese, Malay or Indian medicine.
Dr Ismail advised the public to report cases of doctors practising non-evidence-based medicine by calling the MMC at 03-8883-1400.
They are dabbling in fields like cosmetic surgery, vitamin C therapy and Botulinum toxin (botox) treatment for wrinkles.
Their other "specialities" include:
• the use of laser equipment for which they are not trained;
• treating patients with herbal cures;
• cleansing the body of toxins using chelating agents; and,
• trying to cure ailments with body resonance using dubious electronic equipment.
While the treatment may not guarantee results, the doctors are guaranteed monthly incomes of RM30,000 to RM40,000 from their "specialities", which, in some instances, take a mere three days to master.
Some have downgraded the practice of conventional medicine, which yields between RM10,000 and RM15,000 a month, for their newfound specialities.
But their days of abandoning careers they took years to master may be over soon.
The Malaysian Medical Council is on their trail following public complaints of treatment that went wrong and promises not kept.
In some cases, patients were in worse condition after treatment, or developed new complaints.
MMC president Datuk Dr Ismail Merican said those involved in questionable practices had breached the law as they were registered only to practise evidence-based medicine.
"They have gone against the code of professional conduct, which is an offence under the law," he told the New Straits Times.
He said non-evidence-based practices meant treatment not yet sufficiently documented and replicated through scientifically sound research procedures.
Dr Ismail said MMC officials would be going undercover to investigate complaints against registered medical practitioners.
The director-general of Health said a doctor needed to undergo formal training recognised by the MMC or the Academy of Medicine to practise in a specialised field.
But he said there were doctors who attended short courses and claimed to be "aesthetic medicine specialists" or specialists in other fields.
He said non-evidence-based medicine was potentially harmful as patients were vulnerable to promises of new cures which might endanger their lives.
On Aug 14, the NST highlighted the issue of medical practitioners injecting patients with Vitamin C with the promise of a lighter complexion, anti-aging benefits and general good health.
Prices range from RM100 for a jab to RM2,700 for a series of seven "special" injections which include collagen and placental extracts.
The side-effects of the injections include localised inflammation of the veins, thinning of bones, kidney problems and allergic reactions.
While some side-effects may be temporary and not serious, others can kill.
Dr Ismail, who believed that Vitamin C administered intravenously was of no real benefit, believed women were being duped into parting with their money by baseless claims.
"The perception that Vitamin C helps overall wellness needs to be proved by facts."
Dr Ismail cited an incident last year when a 60-year-old man scheduled for a coronary bypass had opted for "chelation therapy" on the advice of friends, and subsequently died.
Dr Ismail said it was also a serious offence for a person to use the title "Dr" when practising traditional and complementary medicine such as homoeopathy or traditional Chinese, Malay or Indian medicine.
Dr Ismail advised the public to report cases of doctors practising non-evidence-based medicine by calling the MMC at 03-8883-1400.The lure of a fast buck has turned a number of medical doctors into "aesthetic specialists", making tons of money in questionable practices.
They are dabbling in fields like cosmetic surgery, vitamin C therapy and Botulinum toxin (botox) treatment for wrinkles.
Their other "specialities" include:
• the use of laser equipment for which they are not trained;
• treating patients with herbal cures;
• cleansing the body of toxins using chelating agents; and,
• trying to cure ailments with body resonance using dubious electronic equipment.
While the treatment may not guarantee results, the doctors are guaranteed monthly incomes of RM30,000 to RM40,000 from their "specialities", which, in some instances, take a mere three days to master.
Some have downgraded the practice of conventional medicine, which yields between RM10,000 and RM15,000 a month, for their newfound specialities.
But their days of abandoning careers they took years to master may be over soon.
The Malaysian Medical Council is on their trail following public complaints of treatment that went wrong and promises not kept.
In some cases, patients were in worse condition after treatment, or developed new complaints.
MMC president Datuk Dr Ismail Merican said those involved in questionable practices had breached the law as they were registered only to practise evidence-based medicine.
"They have gone against the code of professional conduct, which is an offence under the law," he told the New Straits Times.
He said non-evidence-based practices meant treatment not yet sufficiently documented and replicated through scientifically sound research procedures.
Dr Ismail said MMC officials would be going undercover to investigate complaints against registered medical practitioners.
The director-general of Health said a doctor needed to undergo formal training recognised by the MMC or the Academy of Medicine to practise in a specialised field.
But he said there were doctors who attended short courses and claimed to be "aesthetic medicine specialists" or specialists in other fields.
He said non-evidence-based medicine was potentially harmful as patients were vulnerable to promises of new cures which might endanger their lives.
On Aug 14, the NST highlighted the issue of medical practitioners injecting patients with Vitamin C with the promise of a lighter complexion, anti-aging benefits and general good health.
Prices range from RM100 for a jab to RM2,700 for a series of seven "special" injections which include collagen and placental extracts.
The side-effects of the injections include localised inflammation of the veins, thinning of bones, kidney problems and allergic reactions.
While some side-effects may be temporary and not serious, others can kill.
Dr Ismail, who believed that Vitamin C administered intravenously was of no real benefit, believed women were being duped into parting with their money by baseless claims.
"The perception that Vitamin C helps overall wellness needs to be proved by facts."
Dr Ismail cited an incident last year when a 60-year-old man scheduled for a coronary bypass had opted for "chelation therapy" on the advice of friends, and subsequently died.
Dr Ismail said it was also a serious offence for a person to use the title "Dr" when practising traditional and complementary medicine such as homoeopathy or traditional Chinese, Malay or Indian medicine.
Dr Ismail advised the public to report cases of doctors practising non-evidence-based medicine by calling the MMC at 03-8883-1400.
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