Star: PETALING JAYA: Employers who have retained their foreign workers for more than three years need not provide a medical report when renewing their work permits.
According to a May 9 circular issued by the Immigration Department, foreign workers with a clean medical record for three consecutive years would be deemed free from contagious diseases.
The circular stated that employers only need to extend their work permits, unlike the old procedure when a medical report was required for the purpose.
Immigration Enforcement director Datuk Ishak Mohamed confirmed that the circular was sent to all states, and covered foreign workers in the construction, domestic, services and plantation sectors.
Previously, employers had to submit medical reports prepared by the Foreign Workers Medical Examination Monitoring Agency (Fomema).
Employers had to pay between RM150 and RM190 for the Fomema medical report.
Malaysian Medical News: keeping you up to date with news sourced from various online sites, put in one place for your convenience, with a searchable archive
Saturday, May 13, 2006
PM: Not all students who don't return are unpatriotic
Star: BALI: It is wrong to brand all students who do not return immediately after their studies overseas as unpatriotic, said Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
The Prime Minister accepted that many students stayed back to further their training and specialise in the fields they had chosen, while some remained to gain work experience before returning.
Abdullah told Malaysian medical students here that the issue was being hotly debated following the Higher Education Minister’s statement that students should have “a strong sense of nationalism and patriotism, and should return home to serve the country after completing their studies.”
Datuk Mustapa Mohamed made this remark when he met Malaysian students in Ireland early this month.
Abdullah said student groups and parents had responded to Mustapa’s statement.
“They explained that the facilities for the students’ chosen fields are easily available abroad and a longer duration is required to become specialists.
“This reason is munasabah (logical). So under the circumstances we cannot say that these students are unpatriotic,” he told about 70 Malaysian medical students from the Udayana University here during a dialogue yesterday.
The Prime Minister was asked to comment on the “unpatriotic Malaysians” label given to non-returning students and what steps the Government was taking to lure them back to serve the country.
Abdullah said the bigger concern for the Government was students who failed in their studies and yet did not return.
“They are ashamed to come back. These students will also lose their scholarships.
“So they take the easy way out by not returning. They look for employment and some continue their studies on their own later. This is indeed frustrating.” This group of students might not be big, he said, but it was still a loss not only for the nation but also their parents.
That is why the Government keeps urging students abroad to work hard and be exemplary, he said.
The Prime Minister said the doctor-to-population ratio in Malaysia was still not satisfactory when compared to that in developed countries.
“This may affect efficiency and the quality of healthcare. So when we send you abroad, we expect you to come back and serve the citizens who have funded your education. Even those who go abroad on their own will have a place,” he said.
He also advised medical officers sent to rural areas to accept the postings, as Malaysians in those areas needed quality healthcare, too.
Abdullah urged Malaysian students in Indonesia to learn and understand the local culture and respect the law.
“Don’t get involved in activities that create suspicion. Don’t give reason for the authorities here to accuse you of anything.”
The Prime Minister accepted that many students stayed back to further their training and specialise in the fields they had chosen, while some remained to gain work experience before returning.
Abdullah told Malaysian medical students here that the issue was being hotly debated following the Higher Education Minister’s statement that students should have “a strong sense of nationalism and patriotism, and should return home to serve the country after completing their studies.”
Datuk Mustapa Mohamed made this remark when he met Malaysian students in Ireland early this month.
Abdullah said student groups and parents had responded to Mustapa’s statement.
“They explained that the facilities for the students’ chosen fields are easily available abroad and a longer duration is required to become specialists.
“This reason is munasabah (logical). So under the circumstances we cannot say that these students are unpatriotic,” he told about 70 Malaysian medical students from the Udayana University here during a dialogue yesterday.
The Prime Minister was asked to comment on the “unpatriotic Malaysians” label given to non-returning students and what steps the Government was taking to lure them back to serve the country.
Abdullah said the bigger concern for the Government was students who failed in their studies and yet did not return.
“They are ashamed to come back. These students will also lose their scholarships.
“So they take the easy way out by not returning. They look for employment and some continue their studies on their own later. This is indeed frustrating.” This group of students might not be big, he said, but it was still a loss not only for the nation but also their parents.
That is why the Government keeps urging students abroad to work hard and be exemplary, he said.
The Prime Minister said the doctor-to-population ratio in Malaysia was still not satisfactory when compared to that in developed countries.
“This may affect efficiency and the quality of healthcare. So when we send you abroad, we expect you to come back and serve the citizens who have funded your education. Even those who go abroad on their own will have a place,” he said.
He also advised medical officers sent to rural areas to accept the postings, as Malaysians in those areas needed quality healthcare, too.
Abdullah urged Malaysian students in Indonesia to learn and understand the local culture and respect the law.
“Don’t get involved in activities that create suspicion. Don’t give reason for the authorities here to accuse you of anything.”
Friday, May 12, 2006
Malaysia Should Export Its Hospital Support Services, Says Chua
TAIPING, May 11 (Bernama) -- Local companies with the concession to provide support services to government hospitals should start expanding their business to the international level, Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said.
He said Malaysia's success in privatising the services had attracted the interest of many countries which have invited these companies to share their expertise and experience in the area.
"The ministry has received requests from other countries and I have told them that we are ready to provide advisory services in terms of technicalities and expertise, and related to this, we have encouraged three local companies to look at running their business operations there," he said at a press conference after launching the laundry services plant of Faber Medi-Serve in Kamunting, here Thursday.
Among the support services that have been privatised by the ministry since 1997 include clinical waste management, cleaning, maintenance of engineering and biomedical engineering facilities as well as laundry services.
Chua said with the government's plans not to increase the number of hospitals in the Ninth Malaysia Plan, these service providing companies would not be able to expand their businesses in the near future.
The government would be concentrating on upgrading existing facilities and equipment in its network of 135 hospitals under the 9MP, and therefore their opportunity to expand will be limited, he said.
On another note, Chua said the Institute of Medical Research would be carrying out research on Inborn Error of Metabolism (IEM) to prepare a more comprehensive data on the illness.
He said the research would be able to provide more data on the illness in which a patient lacks the enzyme to process protein from food.
He said Malaysia's success in privatising the services had attracted the interest of many countries which have invited these companies to share their expertise and experience in the area.
"The ministry has received requests from other countries and I have told them that we are ready to provide advisory services in terms of technicalities and expertise, and related to this, we have encouraged three local companies to look at running their business operations there," he said at a press conference after launching the laundry services plant of Faber Medi-Serve in Kamunting, here Thursday.
Among the support services that have been privatised by the ministry since 1997 include clinical waste management, cleaning, maintenance of engineering and biomedical engineering facilities as well as laundry services.
Chua said with the government's plans not to increase the number of hospitals in the Ninth Malaysia Plan, these service providing companies would not be able to expand their businesses in the near future.
The government would be concentrating on upgrading existing facilities and equipment in its network of 135 hospitals under the 9MP, and therefore their opportunity to expand will be limited, he said.
On another note, Chua said the Institute of Medical Research would be carrying out research on Inborn Error of Metabolism (IEM) to prepare a more comprehensive data on the illness.
He said the research would be able to provide more data on the illness in which a patient lacks the enzyme to process protein from food.
More clout for health inspectors
Star HEALTH inspectors can now issue summonses directly to errant food operators, vendors and sellers and need not go through the Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP).
This has been made possible with the passing of the Food (Amendment) Bill 2005 yesterday.
Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said that previously all summonses issued had to go through the DPP.
Fong Po Kuan (DAP – Batu Gajah) expressed concern that poor vegetable and meat sellers would be in a fix if summonses were issued on the spot as they would not be able to contest the decision by getting a chemist to test the substance.
Lee said that was not the case as a notice would first be issued to the errant party and a summons would only be issued after a chemist had tested the food substance.
When opposition MPs stood up to talk about the failure of the Tak Nak! campaign, Lee said: “I also see opposition MPs smoking. They too should set an example. The burden is not the Government's alone.”
This has been made possible with the passing of the Food (Amendment) Bill 2005 yesterday.
Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said that previously all summonses issued had to go through the DPP.
Fong Po Kuan (DAP – Batu Gajah) expressed concern that poor vegetable and meat sellers would be in a fix if summonses were issued on the spot as they would not be able to contest the decision by getting a chemist to test the substance.
Lee said that was not the case as a notice would first be issued to the errant party and a summons would only be issued after a chemist had tested the food substance.
When opposition MPs stood up to talk about the failure of the Tak Nak! campaign, Lee said: “I also see opposition MPs smoking. They too should set an example. The burden is not the Government's alone.”
Glen’s gift of sight
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: It was a reunion of sorts for 77-year-old Betty Kamalawathie, who after 25 years met a man who had received her son’s cornea.
Betty says she can almost see Glen when she looks into Natarajan’s eyes.
Glen Laxman Jayawardena was only 14 when he was knocked down by a bus on Jalan Pudu on May 3, 1981. He and three other students were returning home from tuition.
According to his brother, Leslie Tilak, now 45, Glen suffered internal injuries and slipped into a coma at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital. He died at 4am on May 11.
Glen was only 10 when he and the entire Jayawardena family, the parents and five children, pledged their corneas for donation.
"I can almost see him (Glen) when I look into Natarajan’s eye," said Betty when she met G. Natarajan, one of the recipients, after 25 years at a reunion in Leslie’s house in Cheras yesterday.
Natarajan, 64, was 37 years old and working as a rubber tapper when he lost his right eye in an accident in 1979. He had been on the waiting list for two years before receiving Glen’s cornea on May 12.
"We wanted to surprise our mother and through the help of a friend managed to locate Natarajan and made arrangements for him to join us.
"We are Buddhists and since my brother’s death, every year on May 11, my family would visit several temples where we give donations and food," said Leslie.
"Coincidentally, May 11 is also a day before Wesak Day, which makes it all the more meaningful."
He also said the family would publish a book on organ and eye donation, with his mother providing most of the input.
Natarajan, who has eight children and now works as a helper in the Tanjong Malim market, said meeting Glen’s family, especially the mother, was "just great".
"I never thought I would ever see them again. Since receiving the cornea, I have had no problems and till today do not even use spectacles.
"Many people told me a corneal transplant would only last between five and seven years, but I have had no problems," he said.
After Glen died, his corneas were removed at 7am the same day and the first recipient was Sardar Ali Alliah, a watchman in a shoe factory, who was 56 years old at the time. He has since died.
Sardar was born blind in one eye, while the sight in his other eye began failing when he was 50.
"We visited Sardar and Natarajan twice after their transplants, but lost touch with them after that. This is the first time we are meeting Natarajan after 25 years," Leslie said.
According to news reports, Glen was the first Malaysian corneal donor, with previous transplants involving corneas supplied by the International Eye Bank in Colombo.
Since Glen, the oldest organ donor reported in Malaysia was 78 years old, while the youngest was a two- and-a-half-year-old whose kidneys and corneas were donated to other children.
In June 1981, Glen was posthumously bestowed the Guinness Stout Effort Award.
Leslie said the number of organ donors in Malaysia was still very low, and hoped Glen’s story would motivate more people to become donors.
Some 700 people needed corneal transplants last year, but there were only 22 corneal donations.
Betty says she can almost see Glen when she looks into Natarajan’s eyes.
Glen Laxman Jayawardena was only 14 when he was knocked down by a bus on Jalan Pudu on May 3, 1981. He and three other students were returning home from tuition.
According to his brother, Leslie Tilak, now 45, Glen suffered internal injuries and slipped into a coma at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital. He died at 4am on May 11.
Glen was only 10 when he and the entire Jayawardena family, the parents and five children, pledged their corneas for donation.
"I can almost see him (Glen) when I look into Natarajan’s eye," said Betty when she met G. Natarajan, one of the recipients, after 25 years at a reunion in Leslie’s house in Cheras yesterday.
Natarajan, 64, was 37 years old and working as a rubber tapper when he lost his right eye in an accident in 1979. He had been on the waiting list for two years before receiving Glen’s cornea on May 12.
"We wanted to surprise our mother and through the help of a friend managed to locate Natarajan and made arrangements for him to join us.
"We are Buddhists and since my brother’s death, every year on May 11, my family would visit several temples where we give donations and food," said Leslie.
"Coincidentally, May 11 is also a day before Wesak Day, which makes it all the more meaningful."
He also said the family would publish a book on organ and eye donation, with his mother providing most of the input.
Natarajan, who has eight children and now works as a helper in the Tanjong Malim market, said meeting Glen’s family, especially the mother, was "just great".
"I never thought I would ever see them again. Since receiving the cornea, I have had no problems and till today do not even use spectacles.
"Many people told me a corneal transplant would only last between five and seven years, but I have had no problems," he said.
After Glen died, his corneas were removed at 7am the same day and the first recipient was Sardar Ali Alliah, a watchman in a shoe factory, who was 56 years old at the time. He has since died.
Sardar was born blind in one eye, while the sight in his other eye began failing when he was 50.
"We visited Sardar and Natarajan twice after their transplants, but lost touch with them after that. This is the first time we are meeting Natarajan after 25 years," Leslie said.
According to news reports, Glen was the first Malaysian corneal donor, with previous transplants involving corneas supplied by the International Eye Bank in Colombo.
Since Glen, the oldest organ donor reported in Malaysia was 78 years old, while the youngest was a two- and-a-half-year-old whose kidneys and corneas were donated to other children.
In June 1981, Glen was posthumously bestowed the Guinness Stout Effort Award.
Leslie said the number of organ donors in Malaysia was still very low, and hoped Glen’s story would motivate more people to become donors.
Some 700 people needed corneal transplants last year, but there were only 22 corneal donations.
86 warded over cholera in Kota Belud
Star: KOTA KINABALU: Eighty-six villagers in the Sabah district of Kota Belud, some 60km from here, have landed in the district hospital, 44 of them confirmed to be suffering from cholera.
Usukan state assemblyman Japlin Akim said the remaining 42 villagers were under observation as tests showed they could be cholera carriers.
All those affected were from Kampung Kuala Abai or Kampung Suang Punggur, which came under the constituency of Japlin, the state Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Food Industries.
He said 49 medical personnel from the districts of Papar and Kuala Penyu were rushed to Kota Belud to assist their counterparts at the district hospital.
Some patients at the isolation wards were seen sleeping on the floor due to insufficient beds.
“Apart from providing treatment, medical teams are also advising the people on preventive measures, including general cleanliness,” Japlin said, adding that there were no casualties.
Among those waiting at the Kota Belud hospital yesterday was Kampung Kuala Abai housewife Paidah Sungku, 38, whose husband, Dalim Asil, 40, was being treated for cholera.
She said the outbreak began on May 2 when two villagers were admitted to the hospital after being found suffering from the disease.
Paidah said medical personnel went to her village on Sunday to conduct tests on the villagers, including taking stool samples.
They returned two days later and asked those infected to immediately go to the hospital for treatment.
Kota Belud hospital director Dr Nelson Maison said the outbreak was under control.
The outbreak came exactly a year after about 100 pupils and a cook in Semporna district were admitted to hospital for the disease.
The Semporna outbreak was detected in May last year when the cook at SK Bubul II, who was suffering from fever, diarrhoea and vomiting, was rushed to the hospital.
Subsequently, 106 pupils from the school and seven students from the nearby SMK Kabongan II were also admitted.
Authorities in the district ordered the canteens in both schools to close.
Usukan state assemblyman Japlin Akim said the remaining 42 villagers were under observation as tests showed they could be cholera carriers.
All those affected were from Kampung Kuala Abai or Kampung Suang Punggur, which came under the constituency of Japlin, the state Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Food Industries.
He said 49 medical personnel from the districts of Papar and Kuala Penyu were rushed to Kota Belud to assist their counterparts at the district hospital.
Some patients at the isolation wards were seen sleeping on the floor due to insufficient beds.
“Apart from providing treatment, medical teams are also advising the people on preventive measures, including general cleanliness,” Japlin said, adding that there were no casualties.
Among those waiting at the Kota Belud hospital yesterday was Kampung Kuala Abai housewife Paidah Sungku, 38, whose husband, Dalim Asil, 40, was being treated for cholera.
She said the outbreak began on May 2 when two villagers were admitted to the hospital after being found suffering from the disease.
Paidah said medical personnel went to her village on Sunday to conduct tests on the villagers, including taking stool samples.
They returned two days later and asked those infected to immediately go to the hospital for treatment.
Kota Belud hospital director Dr Nelson Maison said the outbreak was under control.
The outbreak came exactly a year after about 100 pupils and a cook in Semporna district were admitted to hospital for the disease.
The Semporna outbreak was detected in May last year when the cook at SK Bubul II, who was suffering from fever, diarrhoea and vomiting, was rushed to the hospital.
Subsequently, 106 pupils from the school and seven students from the nearby SMK Kabongan II were also admitted.
Authorities in the district ordered the canteens in both schools to close.
Boy’s wish to donate organs fulfilled
Star: PETALING JAYA: Critical organs from an 18-year-old boy were flown from Kelantan to Kuala Lumpur yesterday for immediate transplant to recipients.
The organs – a heart, a liver and kidneys – were harvested following the death of the boy, who suffered from brain cancer.
According to a Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital spokesman, the boy had told his family about a month ago that he wished to donate his organs.
It is understood that his parents then informed the hospital of the boy's intention.
The organs were flown to the Royal Malaysian Air Force Subang base from the airport in Pengkalan Chepa, arriving at about 4.30pm yesterday.
The RMAF had used a plane to transport four doctors and nine paramedics from the National Heart Institute, Kuala Lumpur Hospital and Selayang Hospital to procure the organs.
National Transplant Resource Centre chief transplant coordinator Dr Lela Yasmin Mansor said she was grateful to those involved for their cooperation.
The organs – a heart, a liver and kidneys – were harvested following the death of the boy, who suffered from brain cancer.
According to a Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital spokesman, the boy had told his family about a month ago that he wished to donate his organs.
It is understood that his parents then informed the hospital of the boy's intention.
The organs were flown to the Royal Malaysian Air Force Subang base from the airport in Pengkalan Chepa, arriving at about 4.30pm yesterday.
The RMAF had used a plane to transport four doctors and nine paramedics from the National Heart Institute, Kuala Lumpur Hospital and Selayang Hospital to procure the organs.
National Transplant Resource Centre chief transplant coordinator Dr Lela Yasmin Mansor said she was grateful to those involved for their cooperation.
Improving standard of hospitals the priority
Star: TAIPING: The Health Ministry will concentrate on improving the standard of hospitals under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), said its minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek.
Fewer new hospitals would be built, he said, while more efforts would be placed on upgrading the facilities and infrastructure of the country’s existing 135 hospitals.
“The ministry will only build new hospitals in areas which need them,” he told reporters yesterday after opening an RM8.7mil laundry plant by Faber Medi-Serve Sdn Bhd in Kamunting near here.
The plant, the largest laundry facility in Perak, is expected to provide more than 80% of the laundry needs of government hospitals in the state by next year.
Dr Chua said healthcare support services provided by private concessionaires remained satisfactory, although there was a need to improve the management of clinical wastes and facilities engineering maintenance.
Since 1997, the ministry had privatised five services to three concessionaires, including Faber Medi-Serve, for a period of 15 years, said Dr Chua.
The services, initially costing the Government RM500mil annually, were for clinical waste disposal, facilities engineering maintenance, cleansing and janitorial services, linen and laundry services, and biomedical engineering management.
“The cost of these services has been increasing and has reached almost RM600mil yearly,” he said.
He added that local healthcare support service providers had been encouraged to venture into the overseas market, based on the advice of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
“As the number of hospitals and hospital beds in Malaysia will not increase much in the next five to 10 years, we encourage them to expand overseas,” Dr Chua said, adding that certain countries had sought the ministry’s expertise and experience in the healthcare support services area.
Under the 9MP, efforts would also be made to expand and improve biomedical genetics testing at the Institute for Medical Research.
The institute, he said, was the sole institution in the country with facilities and expertise to conduct tests such as on inborn errors of metabolism, which could cause brain damage and mental retardation if left untreated.
Fewer new hospitals would be built, he said, while more efforts would be placed on upgrading the facilities and infrastructure of the country’s existing 135 hospitals.
“The ministry will only build new hospitals in areas which need them,” he told reporters yesterday after opening an RM8.7mil laundry plant by Faber Medi-Serve Sdn Bhd in Kamunting near here.
The plant, the largest laundry facility in Perak, is expected to provide more than 80% of the laundry needs of government hospitals in the state by next year.
Dr Chua said healthcare support services provided by private concessionaires remained satisfactory, although there was a need to improve the management of clinical wastes and facilities engineering maintenance.
Since 1997, the ministry had privatised five services to three concessionaires, including Faber Medi-Serve, for a period of 15 years, said Dr Chua.
The services, initially costing the Government RM500mil annually, were for clinical waste disposal, facilities engineering maintenance, cleansing and janitorial services, linen and laundry services, and biomedical engineering management.
“The cost of these services has been increasing and has reached almost RM600mil yearly,” he said.
He added that local healthcare support service providers had been encouraged to venture into the overseas market, based on the advice of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
“As the number of hospitals and hospital beds in Malaysia will not increase much in the next five to 10 years, we encourage them to expand overseas,” Dr Chua said, adding that certain countries had sought the ministry’s expertise and experience in the healthcare support services area.
Under the 9MP, efforts would also be made to expand and improve biomedical genetics testing at the Institute for Medical Research.
The institute, he said, was the sole institution in the country with facilities and expertise to conduct tests such as on inborn errors of metabolism, which could cause brain damage and mental retardation if left untreated.
More Students Willing To Discuss AIDS Openly, Says Ong
PETALING JAYA, May 11 (Bernama) -- Students in tertiary learning institutions are now more open in discussing HIV/AIDS related issues, thus breaking the old taboo to keep it discreet, Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat said Thursday.
He said students, including the public, were more keen and creative in organising programmes to disseminate vital information on the dangers of HIV/AIDS which is fast becoming a serious threat in the society.
"Earlier there were a lot of inhibitions to discuss in the public but of late we are seeing a paradigm shift among our students in the higher learning institutions," he said at the closing ceremony of the Inter-Varsity AIDS Conference at Universiti Malaya.
Ong said this was a positive indication of growing awareness among the younger generation on the disease which was prevalent among the younger set.
"Students (involved) should be given incentives, not in terms of money but some kind of merits for their volunteerism in organising HIV/AIDS programmes," he said.
Nine public higher education institutions participated in the four-day awareness promotion programme which ended Thursday.
Citing United Nation's statistics, Ong said some 40 million people had been affected by the disease worldwide, which indicates that HIV/AIDS were not confined to countries like Africa but it is a cross-border issue, which needs serious attention.
He said students, including the public, were more keen and creative in organising programmes to disseminate vital information on the dangers of HIV/AIDS which is fast becoming a serious threat in the society.
"Earlier there were a lot of inhibitions to discuss in the public but of late we are seeing a paradigm shift among our students in the higher learning institutions," he said at the closing ceremony of the Inter-Varsity AIDS Conference at Universiti Malaya.
Ong said this was a positive indication of growing awareness among the younger generation on the disease which was prevalent among the younger set.
"Students (involved) should be given incentives, not in terms of money but some kind of merits for their volunteerism in organising HIV/AIDS programmes," he said.
Nine public higher education institutions participated in the four-day awareness promotion programme which ended Thursday.
Citing United Nation's statistics, Ong said some 40 million people had been affected by the disease worldwide, which indicates that HIV/AIDS were not confined to countries like Africa but it is a cross-border issue, which needs serious attention.
Chinese Women Lag Behind In Breast Feeding
PENANG, May 11 (Bernama) -- Chinese women lagged behind Malays and Indians in breast feeding, according to the second National Health and Morbidity Study.
Health Ministry's Health Development Division deputy senior director Dr Teng Seng Chong, said the 10-year study started in 1996 showed that only 61 per cent of Chinese women breast fed their children compared to 97 per cent Malays and 83 per cent Indians.
The study also showed that 86 per cent of women in the country breast fed their babies, of which 20 per cent did so until their babies were four to six months old without interspersing with infant formula milk or other fluid.
To find out further why Chinese women lagged behind in breast feeding, the third National Health and Morbidity Study which will take off later this year will be skewed toward Chinese women, he said.
Findings from the study will enable the ministry to find ways to inculcate breast feeding among Chinese women, he told reporters here Thursday after awarding Adventist Hospital here full accreditation of the Malaysian Society For Quality In Health (MSQH) and the status of Babies Companion Hospital.
Also present was Adventist Hospital chief executive officer Datuk Teddric John Mohr.
Dr Teng asked private hospitals to promote breast feeding among Chinese women.
Meanwhile, Health Ministry deputy minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad expressed disappointment over the poor response from private hospitals to its Babies Companion Hospital's campaign.
He said to date, only five out of 222 private hospitals and maternity clinics had done so, namely Pantai Medical Centre, Selangor Medical Centre, Damansara Specialist Centre, Ipoh Specialist Centre dan Adventist Hospital.
He said 114 government hospitals had supported the campaign.
ON MSQH status, he said, Adventist Hospital was ahead of 11 private hospitals in Penang in getting the recognition and hoped other hospitals will follow suit. His speech was read by Dr Teng.
On the accreditation given to Adventist Hospital for the second time for the period 2005 to 2008, he said, the hospital met the high quality of service set and matched the international standard.
He said, to date 52 government hospitals and 16 private hospitals had been accorded the MSQH.
Health Ministry's Health Development Division deputy senior director Dr Teng Seng Chong, said the 10-year study started in 1996 showed that only 61 per cent of Chinese women breast fed their children compared to 97 per cent Malays and 83 per cent Indians.
The study also showed that 86 per cent of women in the country breast fed their babies, of which 20 per cent did so until their babies were four to six months old without interspersing with infant formula milk or other fluid.
To find out further why Chinese women lagged behind in breast feeding, the third National Health and Morbidity Study which will take off later this year will be skewed toward Chinese women, he said.
Findings from the study will enable the ministry to find ways to inculcate breast feeding among Chinese women, he told reporters here Thursday after awarding Adventist Hospital here full accreditation of the Malaysian Society For Quality In Health (MSQH) and the status of Babies Companion Hospital.
Also present was Adventist Hospital chief executive officer Datuk Teddric John Mohr.
Dr Teng asked private hospitals to promote breast feeding among Chinese women.
Meanwhile, Health Ministry deputy minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad expressed disappointment over the poor response from private hospitals to its Babies Companion Hospital's campaign.
He said to date, only five out of 222 private hospitals and maternity clinics had done so, namely Pantai Medical Centre, Selangor Medical Centre, Damansara Specialist Centre, Ipoh Specialist Centre dan Adventist Hospital.
He said 114 government hospitals had supported the campaign.
ON MSQH status, he said, Adventist Hospital was ahead of 11 private hospitals in Penang in getting the recognition and hoped other hospitals will follow suit. His speech was read by Dr Teng.
On the accreditation given to Adventist Hospital for the second time for the period 2005 to 2008, he said, the hospital met the high quality of service set and matched the international standard.
He said, to date 52 government hospitals and 16 private hospitals had been accorded the MSQH.
Mercy Facing Shortage Of Paramedics
KUALA TERENGGANU, May 11 (Bernama) -- Mercy Malaysia (Mercy) is facing a shortage of paramedics which hinders its effort in assembling relief teams, said its deputy president, Dr Mohamed Ikram Mohamed Salleh.
He said paramedics made up less than two per cent of Mercy's 4,000 volunteers.
Dr Mohamed Ikram said of the 4,000 volunteers, 30 per cent were medical personnel.
"Our priority is to enlist more paramedics as well as nurses. We are bogged down whenever we want to assemble relief teams because we don't have enough paramedics and nurses," he told reporters at the state-level World Health Day celebration here Thursday.
The celebration was launched by the state health, unity, consumer affairs and environment committee chairman Toh Chin Yaw. Also present was Terengganu health director Dr Mohd Kamil Hassan.
Dr Mohamed Ikram said a lot of paramedics and nurses failed to turn up for relief work because they were not released by their employers.
"They work on shifts and they couldn't get their colleagues to relief them when we need them," he said.
He said Mercy was planning to spread its wings nationwide to enable it to enlist more paramedics and nurses as volunteers, and Terengganu branch was in the pipeline.
At present Mercy has offices in Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan, Penang, Sabah dan Sarawak.
Those interested to join Mercy can call 03-4256992 for further information.
He said paramedics made up less than two per cent of Mercy's 4,000 volunteers.
Dr Mohamed Ikram said of the 4,000 volunteers, 30 per cent were medical personnel.
"Our priority is to enlist more paramedics as well as nurses. We are bogged down whenever we want to assemble relief teams because we don't have enough paramedics and nurses," he told reporters at the state-level World Health Day celebration here Thursday.
The celebration was launched by the state health, unity, consumer affairs and environment committee chairman Toh Chin Yaw. Also present was Terengganu health director Dr Mohd Kamil Hassan.
Dr Mohamed Ikram said a lot of paramedics and nurses failed to turn up for relief work because they were not released by their employers.
"They work on shifts and they couldn't get their colleagues to relief them when we need them," he said.
He said Mercy was planning to spread its wings nationwide to enable it to enlist more paramedics and nurses as volunteers, and Terengganu branch was in the pipeline.
At present Mercy has offices in Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan, Penang, Sabah dan Sarawak.
Those interested to join Mercy can call 03-4256992 for further information.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Doc scores with thyroid project
The Star :CHICAGO: Malaysian doctor Dr Khoo Teck Kim of Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, received the third place Poster Session Award at the congress of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.
Dr Khoo presented a study in collaboration with Dr Claire Baker, Dr Haitham S. Abu-Lebdeh and Dr Robert Wermers, showing that parathyroid hormone (PTH) may be suppressible in primary hyperparathyroidism.
“This is certainly a pleasant surprise as there were many high quality presentations at the conference,” said Dr Khoo.
In his study, Dr Khoo demonstrated how PTH could be undetectable when diagnosing primary hyperparathyroidism, especially when other contributing causes to hypercalcemia (elevated calcium level) were present.
The study concluded that repeated PTH and serum calcium levels should be considered when the initial laboratory evaluation of hypercalcium was unclear, especially when secondary contributing factors could cause changes in calcium metabolism.
Dr Khoo’s poster presentation was peer reviewed and awarded by the AACE panel of judges out of 58 fellows.
One hundred and ninety-nine abstracts were submitted to the 2006 AACE Poster Presentation, of which 171 were accepted.
AACE is a professional medical organisation with more than 5,300 members in the United States and 85 other countries.
Founded in 1991, it is dedicated to the optimal care of patients with endocrine problems.
The first prize went to Dr Mia Chavez Fojas of the Philippines for Complications and Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Newly-Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetics in Manila.
Dr Peter Joseph Mazzaglia, of Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, was second for his work on The Changing Presentation of Hyperparathyroidism Over Three Decades.
Dr Khoo presented a study in collaboration with Dr Claire Baker, Dr Haitham S. Abu-Lebdeh and Dr Robert Wermers, showing that parathyroid hormone (PTH) may be suppressible in primary hyperparathyroidism.
“This is certainly a pleasant surprise as there were many high quality presentations at the conference,” said Dr Khoo.
In his study, Dr Khoo demonstrated how PTH could be undetectable when diagnosing primary hyperparathyroidism, especially when other contributing causes to hypercalcemia (elevated calcium level) were present.
The study concluded that repeated PTH and serum calcium levels should be considered when the initial laboratory evaluation of hypercalcium was unclear, especially when secondary contributing factors could cause changes in calcium metabolism.
Dr Khoo’s poster presentation was peer reviewed and awarded by the AACE panel of judges out of 58 fellows.
One hundred and ninety-nine abstracts were submitted to the 2006 AACE Poster Presentation, of which 171 were accepted.
AACE is a professional medical organisation with more than 5,300 members in the United States and 85 other countries.
Founded in 1991, it is dedicated to the optimal care of patients with endocrine problems.
The first prize went to Dr Mia Chavez Fojas of the Philippines for Complications and Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Newly-Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetics in Manila.
Dr Peter Joseph Mazzaglia, of Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, was second for his work on The Changing Presentation of Hyperparathyroidism Over Three Decades.
Penang Water Supply Corp wins health, safety award
BT: THE Penang Water Supply Corp Sdn Bhd (PBAPP) has won the OHSAS (Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series) 18001:1999 award for treatment and supply of water as well as for customer services.
It is the first water company in the country to receive the certification for its whole chain of water supply services.
The certificate, issued by SGS International, is recognised by the Switzerland Accreditation Body.
The certification was presented by SGS (M) Sdn Bhd division manager Armanjit Singh to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rashid Abdullah, who is also PBAPP deputy chairman, in Penang on Tuesday.
PBA Holdings Bhd director Datuk Adlan Mohamed Daud and PBAPP general manager Datuk Liew Chook San jointly witnessed the ceremony.
PBA Holdings is the state's water supplier. It owns 100 per cent of PBAPP which holds an exclusive licence to source, treat and supply water, and to bill consumers in Penang.
PBAPP recently implemented a health and safety system aimed at protecting its employees and lowering the risk of accident at the workplace which would affect water supply to the state's 1.47 million users.
The OHSAS 18001:1999 certification is the third such international certification accreditated to PBAPP since 2003.
In 2003, PBAPP received the ISO 9001:2000 certification for quality management while last year, PBAPP received the ISO 14001:2004 certification for effective management and treatment of raw water and supply of drinking water from the Teluk Bahang dam treated at its Batu Ferringhi plant.
It is the first water company in the country to receive the certification for its whole chain of water supply services.
The certificate, issued by SGS International, is recognised by the Switzerland Accreditation Body.
The certification was presented by SGS (M) Sdn Bhd division manager Armanjit Singh to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rashid Abdullah, who is also PBAPP deputy chairman, in Penang on Tuesday.
PBA Holdings Bhd director Datuk Adlan Mohamed Daud and PBAPP general manager Datuk Liew Chook San jointly witnessed the ceremony.
PBA Holdings is the state's water supplier. It owns 100 per cent of PBAPP which holds an exclusive licence to source, treat and supply water, and to bill consumers in Penang.
PBAPP recently implemented a health and safety system aimed at protecting its employees and lowering the risk of accident at the workplace which would affect water supply to the state's 1.47 million users.
The OHSAS 18001:1999 certification is the third such international certification accreditated to PBAPP since 2003.
In 2003, PBAPP received the ISO 9001:2000 certification for quality management while last year, PBAPP received the ISO 14001:2004 certification for effective management and treatment of raw water and supply of drinking water from the Teluk Bahang dam treated at its Batu Ferringhi plant.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
IIUM To Set Up Dentistry Faculty This Year
KUALA LUMPUR, May 10 (Bernama) — The International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) is in the midst of establishing the Kulliyyah or Faculty of Dentistry to fulfill Malaysia’s future needs of qualified dentists.
The faculty, expected to be set up this year, will be offering a five-year Bachelors’ Degree in Dentistry and Dental Surgery programme.
Deputy Rector (Academic and Research) of the university, Associate Professor Dr Mohd Azmi Omar said the faculty will have an initial intake of 40 students in July next year.
“About this time next year we will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Health Ministry,” he told Bernama in an interview, Wednesday.
The MoU is to formalise the utilisation of the facilities of government hospitals and community polyclinics for the teaching and training of the students in the dentistry field.
Dr Azmi said like the medical clinical programme, the dentistry programme would have a ratio of one staff to four students.
The medical faculties of IIUM namely Medicine, Pharmacy, Allied Health, Nursing and soon to be opened Dentistry — are housed in its campus in Kuantan.
It is the second campus after its main campus in Gombak, which houses the older faculties and other arts-based faculties plus the Kulliyyahs of Engineering and Science.
Currently there are about 1,150 students pursuing various medical degree programmes at the university’s Kuantan Medical Campus.
The third campus is the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC) in Damansara, and the fourth is the Matriculation Centre in Petaling Jaya. IIUM currently has 13 faculties offering undergraduate and post graduate degrees and dentistry will be its 14th faculty.
The faculty, expected to be set up this year, will be offering a five-year Bachelors’ Degree in Dentistry and Dental Surgery programme.
Deputy Rector (Academic and Research) of the university, Associate Professor Dr Mohd Azmi Omar said the faculty will have an initial intake of 40 students in July next year.
“About this time next year we will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Health Ministry,” he told Bernama in an interview, Wednesday.
The MoU is to formalise the utilisation of the facilities of government hospitals and community polyclinics for the teaching and training of the students in the dentistry field.
Dr Azmi said like the medical clinical programme, the dentistry programme would have a ratio of one staff to four students.
The medical faculties of IIUM namely Medicine, Pharmacy, Allied Health, Nursing and soon to be opened Dentistry — are housed in its campus in Kuantan.
It is the second campus after its main campus in Gombak, which houses the older faculties and other arts-based faculties plus the Kulliyyahs of Engineering and Science.
Currently there are about 1,150 students pursuing various medical degree programmes at the university’s Kuantan Medical Campus.
The third campus is the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC) in Damansara, and the fourth is the Matriculation Centre in Petaling Jaya. IIUM currently has 13 faculties offering undergraduate and post graduate degrees and dentistry will be its 14th faculty.
Go For Healthier Lifestyle To Reduce Kidney Failure
KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 (Bernama) -- Malaysians need to go for healthier lifestyle to reduce the number of kidney failures in the country, Deputy Minister of Tourism Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai said Tuesday.
" The public must change their lifestyle especially on diet and exercises," he said at the launching of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF)'s 'Colours for Charity' campaign to raise RM2 million.
The funds raised would go towards setting up more dialysis centres to assist more than 800 kidney patients in the country. Currently, the NKF has 19 dialysis centres all over Malaysia.
According to the NKF, some 2,500 new cases of kidney failure were diagnosed in Malaysia.
Lim said if this goes unchecked, Malaysia will be on the top list in Asia with the highest kidney failure patients to population ratio.
"I believe this is not an accolade we wish to achieve. The public must work hard-in-hand with the government and health-oriented organisations such as the NKF to prevent this from occurring.
Meanwhile, NKF's Chief Executive Officer Goh Seng Chuan told reporters that in conjunction with the campaign, the organisation had also conducted a nationwide health screening at all its centres every first and third Sunday of the month starting from Feb 19.
He said statistics showed that more than 50 per cent of kidney failure cases were caused by diabetes and high blood pressure, and as a national body, NKF was taking steps to identify those with increased risk of chronic kidney diseases.
He also hoped that this campaign would create public awareness that prevention was better than cure.
" The public must change their lifestyle especially on diet and exercises," he said at the launching of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF)'s 'Colours for Charity' campaign to raise RM2 million.
The funds raised would go towards setting up more dialysis centres to assist more than 800 kidney patients in the country. Currently, the NKF has 19 dialysis centres all over Malaysia.
According to the NKF, some 2,500 new cases of kidney failure were diagnosed in Malaysia.
Lim said if this goes unchecked, Malaysia will be on the top list in Asia with the highest kidney failure patients to population ratio.
"I believe this is not an accolade we wish to achieve. The public must work hard-in-hand with the government and health-oriented organisations such as the NKF to prevent this from occurring.
Meanwhile, NKF's Chief Executive Officer Goh Seng Chuan told reporters that in conjunction with the campaign, the organisation had also conducted a nationwide health screening at all its centres every first and third Sunday of the month starting from Feb 19.
He said statistics showed that more than 50 per cent of kidney failure cases were caused by diabetes and high blood pressure, and as a national body, NKF was taking steps to identify those with increased risk of chronic kidney diseases.
He also hoped that this campaign would create public awareness that prevention was better than cure.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Safety, Effectiveness Of Medical Devices To Be Regulated
KAJANG, May 9 (Bernama) -- Legislation is being drafted to ensure the safety and effectiveness of medical devices sold and used in the country, Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said.
He said the Medical Devices Bill 2006 was in the final stage of drafting and might be tabled in Parliament at the end of the year.
If adopted, the legislation would allow medical practitioners three years to learn and understand the terms and regulations before it was enforced, he said in his speech to open a syringe manufacturing plant owned by Muzamal Sdn Bhd at Balakong, here Tuesday.
He said a framework was being prepared to determine the method of regulating the use of medical devices based on recommendations by international bodies like the Global Harmonisation Task Force.
"Development of a regulating programme based on international standards and compatible with the system practised by Malaysia's trading partners will reduce trade obstacles and enable Malaysian-made medical devices to compete and penetrate global markets," he said.
Dr Chua said the ministry had introduced an initial measure to regulate medical devices by implementing an online system of Voluntary Registration for Medical Devices Establishment (MeDVER) since Jan 12 to enable companies to obtain information and advisory service to prepare for the enforcement of the new law.
He said 154 manufacturers, importers and distributors of medical devices had registered with MeDVER.
At a news conference later, Dr Chua said the medical devices industry recorded more than RM4.6 billion in export during the first 11 months of last year.
He said the Medical Devices Bill 2006 was in the final stage of drafting and might be tabled in Parliament at the end of the year.
If adopted, the legislation would allow medical practitioners three years to learn and understand the terms and regulations before it was enforced, he said in his speech to open a syringe manufacturing plant owned by Muzamal Sdn Bhd at Balakong, here Tuesday.
He said a framework was being prepared to determine the method of regulating the use of medical devices based on recommendations by international bodies like the Global Harmonisation Task Force.
"Development of a regulating programme based on international standards and compatible with the system practised by Malaysia's trading partners will reduce trade obstacles and enable Malaysian-made medical devices to compete and penetrate global markets," he said.
Dr Chua said the ministry had introduced an initial measure to regulate medical devices by implementing an online system of Voluntary Registration for Medical Devices Establishment (MeDVER) since Jan 12 to enable companies to obtain information and advisory service to prepare for the enforcement of the new law.
He said 154 manufacturers, importers and distributors of medical devices had registered with MeDVER.
At a news conference later, Dr Chua said the medical devices industry recorded more than RM4.6 billion in export during the first 11 months of last year.
Medicines being sold at exorbitant prices, says survey
NST: PETALING JAYA: Many patients are being made to pay exorbitant prices for their medicines.
A survey has found that brand-name medicines for major diseases can cost between 20 and 100 times more than the lowest-priced generic alternatives.
These include drugs to treat hypertension such as Furosemide, which costs 50 times more; Captopril, 15 times more; and Nifedipine Retard, 30 times.
The painkiller Diclofenac is 30 times more costly, while the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin costs 110 times more than its generic equivalents.
Other drugs priced higher than they should be among the 48 commonly used ones covered by the survey are Fluoxetine (for treating depression), Glibenclamide (diabetes) and Ranitidine and Omeprazole (ulcers).
In short, the survey shows that drug prices in Malaysia are far above the international reference pricing, a guide on how much medicines should cost.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Health Action International (HAI), drugs are too expensive when they are priced five times the cost.
"We’re not against legitimate profit-making.
"Five to 10 times is okay, but 100 times raises eyebrows," said Zaheer Ud Din Babar, the lead researcher of the "Medicine Prices Availability, Affordability and Price Components in Malaysia" survey.
Conducted by University College Sedaya International and Universiti Sains Malaysia in collaboration with WHO and HAI last year, the survey revealed that profit margins and mark-ups were particularly high at clinics and private retailers.
Zaheer suggested separating the prescribing and dispensing functions for better control over prices, noting that prices were kicked up at every level from manufacturer to pharmacy.
"The Government should not be blamed. It is trying to provide cheap drugs to Malaysia by eliminating taxes. We have to look at pharmacies and doctors."
"The Government should set and regulate mark-ups by fixing price margins for wholesalers and retailers."
Zaheer said the soon-to-be implemented National Medicines Policy would help, but there was a pressing need for a national pricing policy for medicines which cost more in Malaysia than in many other developing countries, including India and Sri Lanka.
"The healthcare system in Malaysia is good but there is a need to promote generics and strengthen the pharmaceutical industry so that they can produce more generics."
A survey has found that brand-name medicines for major diseases can cost between 20 and 100 times more than the lowest-priced generic alternatives.
These include drugs to treat hypertension such as Furosemide, which costs 50 times more; Captopril, 15 times more; and Nifedipine Retard, 30 times.
The painkiller Diclofenac is 30 times more costly, while the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin costs 110 times more than its generic equivalents.
Other drugs priced higher than they should be among the 48 commonly used ones covered by the survey are Fluoxetine (for treating depression), Glibenclamide (diabetes) and Ranitidine and Omeprazole (ulcers).
In short, the survey shows that drug prices in Malaysia are far above the international reference pricing, a guide on how much medicines should cost.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Health Action International (HAI), drugs are too expensive when they are priced five times the cost.
"We’re not against legitimate profit-making.
"Five to 10 times is okay, but 100 times raises eyebrows," said Zaheer Ud Din Babar, the lead researcher of the "Medicine Prices Availability, Affordability and Price Components in Malaysia" survey.
Conducted by University College Sedaya International and Universiti Sains Malaysia in collaboration with WHO and HAI last year, the survey revealed that profit margins and mark-ups were particularly high at clinics and private retailers.
Zaheer suggested separating the prescribing and dispensing functions for better control over prices, noting that prices were kicked up at every level from manufacturer to pharmacy.
"The Government should not be blamed. It is trying to provide cheap drugs to Malaysia by eliminating taxes. We have to look at pharmacies and doctors."
"The Government should set and regulate mark-ups by fixing price margins for wholesalers and retailers."
Zaheer said the soon-to-be implemented National Medicines Policy would help, but there was a pressing need for a national pricing policy for medicines which cost more in Malaysia than in many other developing countries, including India and Sri Lanka.
"The healthcare system in Malaysia is good but there is a need to promote generics and strengthen the pharmaceutical industry so that they can produce more generics."
Institute finds virus behind flu outbreaks
Star: KUALA LUMPUR: The Institute for Medical Research has isolated the influenza virus that caused outbreaks in Malaysia in 2004 and last year.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the isolation of the influenza B strain, named B/Malaysia/2505/2004, would pave the way to create the 2006/2007 influenza vaccine.
“The World Health Organisation has recognised the institute's work, which will be used for the new vaccine for the rest of the world,” he told reporters during his visit to the research centre here yesterday.
Dr Chua was earlier briefed on issues covering infectious disease; allergy and immunisation; environmental and health research; and global information hub on integrated medicine by institute director Ng Kok Han and research officials.
Infectious Diseases Research Centre director Dr Nor Shahidah Khairullah said the isolated virus was sent to the WHO global laboratory in Australia, which carried out genetic analysis and found it to be unique from that of the rest of the world.
“It is a breakthrough because we managed to isolate a virus which is different, and the rest of the world is using it in a vaccine formulation.
“This shows that Malaysia has the capacity and expertise to contribute to the world's epidemiology of influenza. It shows that our infrastructure for research and development in terms of surveillance for diagnostic testing for virology is very good.”
She said the isolated virus had been distributed to vaccine manufacturers, including Glaxo SmithKline and Sanofi Aventis, which would produce vaccines to be sold worldwide.
Nor Shahidah said there would be two formulations of the vaccine, which would be available in April or May and in October.
She said influenza B was not as severe as influenza A but could cause death in young children, older persons and those suffering from other illnesses such as diabetes, asthma and heart problems.
The symptoms of influenza B include fever, headache, sore throat, aches and pain.
Earlier, Dr Chua said the ministry was looking at the possibility of turning the IMR into a statutory body to improve its efficiency.
“We are talking to consultants on the pros and cons of it,” he said, adding that a report on the proposal would be ready within six months.
The IMR, established in 1900, has a staff of 548.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the isolation of the influenza B strain, named B/Malaysia/2505/2004, would pave the way to create the 2006/2007 influenza vaccine.
“The World Health Organisation has recognised the institute's work, which will be used for the new vaccine for the rest of the world,” he told reporters during his visit to the research centre here yesterday.
Dr Chua was earlier briefed on issues covering infectious disease; allergy and immunisation; environmental and health research; and global information hub on integrated medicine by institute director Ng Kok Han and research officials.
Infectious Diseases Research Centre director Dr Nor Shahidah Khairullah said the isolated virus was sent to the WHO global laboratory in Australia, which carried out genetic analysis and found it to be unique from that of the rest of the world.
“It is a breakthrough because we managed to isolate a virus which is different, and the rest of the world is using it in a vaccine formulation.
“This shows that Malaysia has the capacity and expertise to contribute to the world's epidemiology of influenza. It shows that our infrastructure for research and development in terms of surveillance for diagnostic testing for virology is very good.”
She said the isolated virus had been distributed to vaccine manufacturers, including Glaxo SmithKline and Sanofi Aventis, which would produce vaccines to be sold worldwide.
Nor Shahidah said there would be two formulations of the vaccine, which would be available in April or May and in October.
She said influenza B was not as severe as influenza A but could cause death in young children, older persons and those suffering from other illnesses such as diabetes, asthma and heart problems.
The symptoms of influenza B include fever, headache, sore throat, aches and pain.
Earlier, Dr Chua said the ministry was looking at the possibility of turning the IMR into a statutory body to improve its efficiency.
“We are talking to consultants on the pros and cons of it,” he said, adding that a report on the proposal would be ready within six months.
The IMR, established in 1900, has a staff of 548.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Armed forces medical unit creates history
NST It will be the first time the team operates independently of the armed forces contingent.
The team will serve six months under the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (Minurso).
Present to see the 20-member team off at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport was Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
The team of six doctors, a dentist, a nursing officer and an administration officer, backed by 10 support staff, was selected over units from other countries for their impressive record in several international humanitarian and medical missions.
Najib said they would be operating under extreme conditions, especially from danger posed by the weather, sandstorms and landmines.
"But I do not see why the team, with all their training and experience, would not be able to face these challenges and do the nation, especially the armed forces, proud," he added.
Team leader Lt Kol (Dr) Adnan Abdullah said the team would be providing medical care to about 450 military personnel and civilians under the UN banner.
The team will serve six months under the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (Minurso).
Present to see the 20-member team off at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport was Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
The team of six doctors, a dentist, a nursing officer and an administration officer, backed by 10 support staff, was selected over units from other countries for their impressive record in several international humanitarian and medical missions.
Najib said they would be operating under extreme conditions, especially from danger posed by the weather, sandstorms and landmines.
"But I do not see why the team, with all their training and experience, would not be able to face these challenges and do the nation, especially the armed forces, proud," he added.
Team leader Lt Kol (Dr) Adnan Abdullah said the team would be providing medical care to about 450 military personnel and civilians under the UN banner.
Integrated Medicine Hub Expected To Be Operational Year-end
KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 (Bernama) -- The Global Information Hub on Integrated Medicine (InfoHub), a central electronic database with the latest information on integrated medicine, is expected to be operational by the end of this year.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said that the Institute of Medical Research (IMR) had been given the responsibility to develop InfoHub, which had gained support from Commonwealth nations.
"We are confident that it can be launched by the end of this year ... We will then invite the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) to launch this global information hub," he told reporters after the working visit to IMR here, Monday.
Chua said the InfoHub was envisioned to promote and enhance the practice of traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) towards establishing integrated medicine together with allopathic medicine in contemporary health care, through global communication and education with the availability of valid and up-to-date information.
"This way, consumers will be able to get information on TCM in an easier and faster way," he said.
Chua said the establishment of InfoHub could provide a specialised information service of TCM information to consumers and professionals as the practice in Malaysia still lacked vital information certified by the appropriate body.
Earlier, Chua, accompanied by IMR Director Dr Ng Kok Han, the Ministry's Health Director General Datuk Dr Ismail Merican and Health Deputy Director General (Technical) Datuk Dr M. S. Pillay, was given a briefing on various researches under IMR.
Meanwhile, Chua said that IMR being the oldest research institute in this country since its establishment in 1900, had been successful in many researches especially on infectious diseases.
He said with the help of IMR, malaria cases were reduced from 300,000 cases yearly in the 80's to 5,000 cases yearly, today.
Chua said besides the target to eradicate malaria by 2015, IMR also expected to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis disease in this country by 2013 (global target-2020).
"Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), we will work on developing IMR so that it will produce more successes in Research and Development.
"However there are several issues that need to be handled first. We are discussing how IMR can be more effective in achieving the government's wishes," he added.
Chua said one possibility was turning the IMR into a statutory body and the consultants were expected to submit their report in six months.
"Another issue is the training of staff ... The number of Phd holders in IMR's workforce today is only 18 per cent, while we should have reached 70 per cent (of Phd holders among our researchers)," he added.
There are 548 staff currently at the IMR.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said that the Institute of Medical Research (IMR) had been given the responsibility to develop InfoHub, which had gained support from Commonwealth nations.
"We are confident that it can be launched by the end of this year ... We will then invite the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) to launch this global information hub," he told reporters after the working visit to IMR here, Monday.
Chua said the InfoHub was envisioned to promote and enhance the practice of traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) towards establishing integrated medicine together with allopathic medicine in contemporary health care, through global communication and education with the availability of valid and up-to-date information.
"This way, consumers will be able to get information on TCM in an easier and faster way," he said.
Chua said the establishment of InfoHub could provide a specialised information service of TCM information to consumers and professionals as the practice in Malaysia still lacked vital information certified by the appropriate body.
Earlier, Chua, accompanied by IMR Director Dr Ng Kok Han, the Ministry's Health Director General Datuk Dr Ismail Merican and Health Deputy Director General (Technical) Datuk Dr M. S. Pillay, was given a briefing on various researches under IMR.
Meanwhile, Chua said that IMR being the oldest research institute in this country since its establishment in 1900, had been successful in many researches especially on infectious diseases.
He said with the help of IMR, malaria cases were reduced from 300,000 cases yearly in the 80's to 5,000 cases yearly, today.
Chua said besides the target to eradicate malaria by 2015, IMR also expected to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis disease in this country by 2013 (global target-2020).
"Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), we will work on developing IMR so that it will produce more successes in Research and Development.
"However there are several issues that need to be handled first. We are discussing how IMR can be more effective in achieving the government's wishes," he added.
Chua said one possibility was turning the IMR into a statutory body and the consultants were expected to submit their report in six months.
"Another issue is the training of staff ... The number of Phd holders in IMR's workforce today is only 18 per cent, while we should have reached 70 per cent (of Phd holders among our researchers)," he added.
There are 548 staff currently at the IMR.
October date for hospital
Star: KUALA LUMPUR: The RM880mil Sungai Buloh Hospital will open in October, said Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek.
He said the hospital with 620 beds, 32 hospital wards and 22 operation theatres would specialise in traumathology and infectious diseases, besides providing common medical treatment.
The Public Works Department, he added, would hand over the Certificate of Fitness for the hospital to the Health Department today.
“The Government has built five new hospitals within three years to ease congestion at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital,” he said.
Apart from the Sungai Buloh Hospital, the other four hospitals are in Serdang, Putrajaya, Selayang and Ampang.
He said the hospitals, with a total 2,800 beds, would each specialise in a particular field of medicine, besides providing normal medical treatment to patients.
Putrajaya Hospital would eventually specialise in endocrinology, thyroid and cancer treatment; Selayang in liver, eyes and hands surgery; Serdang in urology, nephrology, cardiology and cardio thoracic surgery and Ampang in hematology.
“KL Hospital will specialise in paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology,” he told reporters after closing a three-day floral festivalin Sungai Buloh yesterday.
On another matter, Dr Chua said the ministry would also upgrade the National Leprosy Control Centre in Sungai Buloh.
“There are now 312 leprosy patients, 90% of them over 60 years old. Most said they did not have visitors other than hospital staff and volunteers from non-governmental organisations.”
He said about 1,500 patients were abandoned at government hospitals annually by their families who provided false information such as their home address.
“Usually, they are mentally ill or HIV patients. Their families just abandon them in hospitals and leave the responsibility to the Government.
“This does not reflect a caring society,” he said, adding that the Government was able to trace the home addresses of some patients.
He said the hospital with 620 beds, 32 hospital wards and 22 operation theatres would specialise in traumathology and infectious diseases, besides providing common medical treatment.
The Public Works Department, he added, would hand over the Certificate of Fitness for the hospital to the Health Department today.
“The Government has built five new hospitals within three years to ease congestion at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital,” he said.
Apart from the Sungai Buloh Hospital, the other four hospitals are in Serdang, Putrajaya, Selayang and Ampang.
He said the hospitals, with a total 2,800 beds, would each specialise in a particular field of medicine, besides providing normal medical treatment to patients.
Putrajaya Hospital would eventually specialise in endocrinology, thyroid and cancer treatment; Selayang in liver, eyes and hands surgery; Serdang in urology, nephrology, cardiology and cardio thoracic surgery and Ampang in hematology.
“KL Hospital will specialise in paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology,” he told reporters after closing a three-day floral festivalin Sungai Buloh yesterday.
On another matter, Dr Chua said the ministry would also upgrade the National Leprosy Control Centre in Sungai Buloh.
“There are now 312 leprosy patients, 90% of them over 60 years old. Most said they did not have visitors other than hospital staff and volunteers from non-governmental organisations.”
He said about 1,500 patients were abandoned at government hospitals annually by their families who provided false information such as their home address.
“Usually, they are mentally ill or HIV patients. Their families just abandon them in hospitals and leave the responsibility to the Government.
“This does not reflect a caring society,” he said, adding that the Government was able to trace the home addresses of some patients.
Lepers Still Shunned By Society
SUNGAI BULOH, May 7 (Bernama) -- Health Minister Dr Chua Soi Lek Sunday voiced his disappointment that the patients at the National Leprosy Centre hardly received visitors.
Dr Chua said the public feared that leprosy is infectious like HIV and therefore they feared visiting them.
Most of the patients at the centre are hardly visited by anyone except for some volunteers, he said this when met by reporters after closing the Flora Fest organised by the Subang MCA division at Lembah Harapan, a leprosy patient enclave here.
Dr Chua said the government had no plans to close the 30 year old centre.
In fact, he said, the centre currently with 312 patients would be upgraded.
Dr Chua said the public feared that leprosy is infectious like HIV and therefore they feared visiting them.
Most of the patients at the centre are hardly visited by anyone except for some volunteers, he said this when met by reporters after closing the Flora Fest organised by the Subang MCA division at Lembah Harapan, a leprosy patient enclave here.
Dr Chua said the government had no plans to close the 30 year old centre.
In fact, he said, the centre currently with 312 patients would be upgraded.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
The price of being beautiful
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: To many women, Siti Nurhaliza is more than a beautiful girl with a beautiful voice.
Three out of 10 women in a survey by a market research company say they want a "fair and lovely" complexion like what Siti Nurhaliza has.
Erra Fazira is the choice of two out of the 10 women and Hong Kong artiste Sammi Cheng has one vote.
To many women, to be fair is to be beautiful.
Account assistant Norhani Sharim said a fair complexion could boost the confidence of women.
"When they feel they are beautiful, they will be more confident in what they do," said Norhani, 27.
The survey by Synovate says many respondents feel they would look younger with a fair complexion and a whiter skin could cover wrinkles, age and dark spots.
Student Nelly Chia, 22, said Malaysian women were being bombarded by advertisements featuring fair-skinned models.
"This gives the connotation that a person has to be fair to be beautiful and to get the complexion, skin-whitening product is the solution."
The survey, conducted in 2004, revealed that 41 per cent of 514 respondents in Malaysia were using skin- whitening products.
But how effective and safe are they?
National Consumer Complaints Centre manager Darshan Singh said the centre received 285 complaints on beauty products and services last year.
Topping the list were complaints about the ineffective services provided by beauty salons.
"Some of the products used by these beauty salons are not registered with the Health Ministry," he said.
For decades, skin care product manufacturers worldwide have been using hydroquinone in their whitening products. However, it was found to be capable of causing skin cancer.
The Health Ministry’s pharmaceutical services deputy director, Dr Ahmad Mahmud, said the substance was classified as a scheduled poison.
Hydroquinone was among the most effective ingredients for lightening pigmentation.
It could also disrupt other biochemical processes and cause skin irritation, inflammation and blue-black blotches.
When housewife Rusini Dzulkifli , 43, began to use a skin-whitening product, she hoped that she would have a fairer complexion in a few weeks.
"After I was satisfied with the result and had the complexion that I wanted, I stopped using it."
A few weeks later, her complexion turned darker than it was before she started using the product.
"My face was itchy and I had to seek treatment from a doctor get my skin back to normal."
Three out of 10 women in a survey by a market research company say they want a "fair and lovely" complexion like what Siti Nurhaliza has.
Erra Fazira is the choice of two out of the 10 women and Hong Kong artiste Sammi Cheng has one vote.
To many women, to be fair is to be beautiful.
Account assistant Norhani Sharim said a fair complexion could boost the confidence of women.
"When they feel they are beautiful, they will be more confident in what they do," said Norhani, 27.
The survey by Synovate says many respondents feel they would look younger with a fair complexion and a whiter skin could cover wrinkles, age and dark spots.
Student Nelly Chia, 22, said Malaysian women were being bombarded by advertisements featuring fair-skinned models.
"This gives the connotation that a person has to be fair to be beautiful and to get the complexion, skin-whitening product is the solution."
The survey, conducted in 2004, revealed that 41 per cent of 514 respondents in Malaysia were using skin- whitening products.
But how effective and safe are they?
National Consumer Complaints Centre manager Darshan Singh said the centre received 285 complaints on beauty products and services last year.
Topping the list were complaints about the ineffective services provided by beauty salons.
"Some of the products used by these beauty salons are not registered with the Health Ministry," he said.
For decades, skin care product manufacturers worldwide have been using hydroquinone in their whitening products. However, it was found to be capable of causing skin cancer.
The Health Ministry’s pharmaceutical services deputy director, Dr Ahmad Mahmud, said the substance was classified as a scheduled poison.
Hydroquinone was among the most effective ingredients for lightening pigmentation.
It could also disrupt other biochemical processes and cause skin irritation, inflammation and blue-black blotches.
When housewife Rusini Dzulkifli , 43, began to use a skin-whitening product, she hoped that she would have a fairer complexion in a few weeks.
"After I was satisfied with the result and had the complexion that I wanted, I stopped using it."
A few weeks later, her complexion turned darker than it was before she started using the product.
"My face was itchy and I had to seek treatment from a doctor get my skin back to normal."
Johor to raise diabetes awareness
Star: JOHOR BARU: Diabetes resource centres will be set up in hospitals in all districts to provide facilities to at least 50,000 diabetic patients statewide and also create awareness for those at risk.
State Local Government and Health Committee chairman Datuk Halimah Sadique said that at present there were three centres located in the hospitals at Kluang, Muar and here.
She said hospitals in the remaining five districts – Pontian, Batu Pahat, Segamat, Mersing and Kota Tinggi – would also be furnished with the facility by next year.
According to the Malaysian Diabetes Association (Johor branch), eight per cent of the adult population in the state – between 50,000 and 80,000 people – are suffering from diabetes, and half of the state’s population have not been diagnosed yet.
The functions of the resource centres include conducting lectures to create awareness, offering counselling to diabetics and providing literature to the public to enhance their understanding of the disease.
“The government can organise all kinds of awareness efforts but all these will not work if the people themselves do not change their eating habits and lifestyle," said Halimah after launching the two-day Johor Diabetes Camp in Hutan Bandar yesterday.
State Local Government and Health Committee chairman Datuk Halimah Sadique said that at present there were three centres located in the hospitals at Kluang, Muar and here.
She said hospitals in the remaining five districts – Pontian, Batu Pahat, Segamat, Mersing and Kota Tinggi – would also be furnished with the facility by next year.
According to the Malaysian Diabetes Association (Johor branch), eight per cent of the adult population in the state – between 50,000 and 80,000 people – are suffering from diabetes, and half of the state’s population have not been diagnosed yet.
The functions of the resource centres include conducting lectures to create awareness, offering counselling to diabetics and providing literature to the public to enhance their understanding of the disease.
“The government can organise all kinds of awareness efforts but all these will not work if the people themselves do not change their eating habits and lifestyle," said Halimah after launching the two-day Johor Diabetes Camp in Hutan Bandar yesterday.
Screening for thalassaemia
Star: KUALA LUMPUR: In a move to check the spread of thalassaemia, the Health Ministry will encourage soon-to-be-married couples to go for voluntary screening to check if they are carriers of the disease.
If found to be carriers, they would be counselled and educated about the risk of conceiving children with thalassaemia, said minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek.
Thalassaemia is a hereditary disorder of insufficient haemoglobin in the red blood cells that leads to anaemia.
A pilot project of the programme would start soon in Penang, Kedah, Malacca and Sabah, Dr Chua said in a speech read out by his deputy Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad at the launch of World Thalassaemia Day celebrations here yesterday.
“We are not stopping them from getting married but only to create an awareness and to provide them with the knowledge (about the disease),” Dr Chua said.
The programme is part of a four-pronged comprehensive plan to tackle the disease that also include the provision of free iron chelation therapy (a medical process of removing heavy metal from the bloodstream) for children with thalassaemia, a public education programme to increase awareness and the setting up of a national thalassaemia registry.
There are an estimated 2,500 thalassaemia patients in Malaysia, with 120 to 350 new patients every year.
At a press conference later, Dr Abdul Latiff was asked if Malaysia planned to make it compulsory for couples intending to get married to go for the screening.
He said: “It is a human rights issue. We can persuade them to go for the screening. If they go ahead with their intention to get married after knowing that one of them is a thalassaemia carrier, what can be done?”
“Love is blind. They will not see what’s coming but through the screening they will find out if their future life partner is a carrier of the disease.”
On whether the Government would consider including the use of magnetic resonance imaging to assess cardiac iron in thalassaemia patients in the future, he said: “There is no such plans yet. We will review it based on request from the people.”
If found to be carriers, they would be counselled and educated about the risk of conceiving children with thalassaemia, said minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek.
Thalassaemia is a hereditary disorder of insufficient haemoglobin in the red blood cells that leads to anaemia.
A pilot project of the programme would start soon in Penang, Kedah, Malacca and Sabah, Dr Chua said in a speech read out by his deputy Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad at the launch of World Thalassaemia Day celebrations here yesterday.
“We are not stopping them from getting married but only to create an awareness and to provide them with the knowledge (about the disease),” Dr Chua said.
The programme is part of a four-pronged comprehensive plan to tackle the disease that also include the provision of free iron chelation therapy (a medical process of removing heavy metal from the bloodstream) for children with thalassaemia, a public education programme to increase awareness and the setting up of a national thalassaemia registry.
There are an estimated 2,500 thalassaemia patients in Malaysia, with 120 to 350 new patients every year.
At a press conference later, Dr Abdul Latiff was asked if Malaysia planned to make it compulsory for couples intending to get married to go for the screening.
He said: “It is a human rights issue. We can persuade them to go for the screening. If they go ahead with their intention to get married after knowing that one of them is a thalassaemia carrier, what can be done?”
“Love is blind. They will not see what’s coming but through the screening they will find out if their future life partner is a carrier of the disease.”
On whether the Government would consider including the use of magnetic resonance imaging to assess cardiac iron in thalassaemia patients in the future, he said: “There is no such plans yet. We will review it based on request from the people.”
Lack of hearing and speech experts
Star: KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia needs at least 1,325 audiologists and 5,300 speech-language pathologists. However, the country has only about 80 and 90 respectively.
Senior consultant paediatrician at Ipoh Hospital Dr Amar-Singh said there was a shortage of these professionals.
“Currently, we do not have enough professionals in the area of hearing and speech therapy. The Government should create more opportunities for them,” he said.
Education Ministry parliamentary secretary P. Komala Devi said young people should consider becoming audiologist and speech-language pathologists.
She said these professionals were highly valued as they could help educate policy-makers and school administrators on the importance of early diagnosis and rehabilitation of individuals with hearing or speech-language difficulty.
She said at the launch of first National Better Hearing and Speech Campaign 2006 sponsored by Siemens here yesterday.
She also declared this month as the “Better Hearing & Speech Month.”
Malaysian Association of Speech-Language and Hearing (MASH) president Siti Aminah Kamaludin said the campaign was to raise awareness on various forms of hearing loss and speech-language impairments.
Senior consultant paediatrician at Ipoh Hospital Dr Amar-Singh said there was a shortage of these professionals.
“Currently, we do not have enough professionals in the area of hearing and speech therapy. The Government should create more opportunities for them,” he said.
Education Ministry parliamentary secretary P. Komala Devi said young people should consider becoming audiologist and speech-language pathologists.
She said these professionals were highly valued as they could help educate policy-makers and school administrators on the importance of early diagnosis and rehabilitation of individuals with hearing or speech-language difficulty.
She said at the launch of first National Better Hearing and Speech Campaign 2006 sponsored by Siemens here yesterday.
She also declared this month as the “Better Hearing & Speech Month.”
Malaysian Association of Speech-Language and Hearing (MASH) president Siti Aminah Kamaludin said the campaign was to raise awareness on various forms of hearing loss and speech-language impairments.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
National registry being set up for thalassemia patients
NST KUALA LUMPUR: In a move to tackle the growing number of thalassemia cases, the Health Ministry is setting up a national registry of such patients.
This is part of its four-prong programme to deal with the growing problem.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the web-based registry to capture data on the number of patients and the clinical characteristics and complications caused by the condition is being prepared.
It will be completed by early next year, he added in his speech at the International Thalassemia Day celebration here. It was read by his deputy, Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad.
The pilot project is being conducted at three major hospitals - Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and University Malaya Medical Centre.
This is part of its four-prong programme to deal with the growing problem.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the web-based registry to capture data on the number of patients and the clinical characteristics and complications caused by the condition is being prepared.
It will be completed by early next year, he added in his speech at the International Thalassemia Day celebration here. It was read by his deputy, Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad.
The pilot project is being conducted at three major hospitals - Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and University Malaya Medical Centre.
Johor looks at developing traditional Chinese cures
Star: MUAR: Johor is looking into developing traditional Chinese medicine as alternative therapy.
Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said the state and Shenyang Pharmaceutical University in north-eastern China had agreed to jointly research herbs used by Chinese scientists as traditional medicine.
He said the Chinese university had been conducting research on herbal products for over 75 years and had vast experience in traditional medicine.
“We decided to set up an exchange programme between Shenyang Pharmaceutical University and a university in Johor,” he told reporters after presenting educational aid to students in the Ledang division in Tangkak yesterday.
Abdul Ghani said Johor was rich in bio-diversity, especially herbal plants, and analytical studies could determine their properties and potential.
The mentri besar, who visited north-eastern China last week, said he was also impressed with Dalian, a modern city in Liaoning province.
He said Dalian had become an outsourcing centre for Japanese and Korean companies and he wanted Johor to adopt the city’s approach in developing the state’s outsourcing sector.
Abdul Ghani pointed out that in just over eight years Dalian had clinched some US$20bil (RM72bil) in outsourcing deals from 280 companies.
Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, Johor Baru has been earmarked as a service growth hub for the southern region and the state planned to make its capital an outsourcing centre, he said.
Abdul Ghani said he would propose that all companies within Johor Baru’s outsourcing centre be given incentives similar to those in the Multimedia Super Corridor.
Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said the state and Shenyang Pharmaceutical University in north-eastern China had agreed to jointly research herbs used by Chinese scientists as traditional medicine.
He said the Chinese university had been conducting research on herbal products for over 75 years and had vast experience in traditional medicine.
“We decided to set up an exchange programme between Shenyang Pharmaceutical University and a university in Johor,” he told reporters after presenting educational aid to students in the Ledang division in Tangkak yesterday.
Abdul Ghani said Johor was rich in bio-diversity, especially herbal plants, and analytical studies could determine their properties and potential.
The mentri besar, who visited north-eastern China last week, said he was also impressed with Dalian, a modern city in Liaoning province.
He said Dalian had become an outsourcing centre for Japanese and Korean companies and he wanted Johor to adopt the city’s approach in developing the state’s outsourcing sector.
Abdul Ghani pointed out that in just over eight years Dalian had clinched some US$20bil (RM72bil) in outsourcing deals from 280 companies.
Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, Johor Baru has been earmarked as a service growth hub for the southern region and the state planned to make its capital an outsourcing centre, he said.
Abdul Ghani said he would propose that all companies within Johor Baru’s outsourcing centre be given incentives similar to those in the Multimedia Super Corridor.
We are not mercenary, say Malaysian students
Star: LONDON: Don't get us wrong. We are not mercenary. Money is not the main reason why Malaysian professionals and students choose to remain in Britain.
That is UK Executive Council for Malaysian Students chairman Wan Mohd Firdaus Wan Mohd Fuaad's reply to Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed's advice to Malaysian students that money was not everything and that they should return home after their studies.
On Tuesday, Mustapa said Malaysian students must have a strong sense of nationalism and patriotism.
Firdaus said there was a host of other factors coming into play, including work culture, environment and exposure as well as job challenges and prospects.
“The Government should look at the bigger picture,” he said.
He said Malaysia could be competitive where money was concerned but the powers that be must make a greater effort to attract the students home.
“The Government cannot just expect these people to be nationalistic and patriotic and return to Malaysia when the time comes,” he said.
Firdaus said that from his discussions with Malaysian professionals such as investment bankers and doctors, money constituted only 30% of the pull factor.
He said for instance, an investment banker earning about £50,000 (RM325,000) a year in London would probably get about RM240,000 back in Malaysia.
“Let’s face it. Malaysia is not their turf as they have already established their network and contacts in Europe and the United States.
“However, if they are made to feel wanted back home and to contribute their expertise to improve the country’s economy, they are prepared to sit down and look at the options available,” he added.
In this regard, Firdaus said government-linked companies including Khazanah Holdings and Danaharta and corporations like Tenaga Nasional could be more proactive.
He said that so far, more than 100 professionals and mainly medical students have responded to the survey conducted by the council, which represents 58 Malaysian student societies or about 80% of the 12,000-strong student population in Britain.
“We hope to compile the final report and submit it to Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha by the end of next month,” he said.
London Umno Club chairman Dzariman Ibrahim agreed that work experience, exposure to the latest technology and access to the European market were among the pull factors.
While money was an issue, it was not the main reason for not returning home, he added.
In Petaling Jaya, MCA international affairs bureau chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng said self-sponsored students should not be blamed for not returning after completing their studies overseas.
“Those whose studies were financed by their parents will be thinking about returning the money when they graduate.
“You cannot blame them. These people have spent a lot of money to get a degree and they need to earn it back,” he said. However, he said government-sponsored students were bound by their scholarships to return and work in the country.
“It is their responsibility to serve the country which financially supported them. And they should be prosecuted if they do not come back,” he said.
MCA Club Australia president Chan Wei Ming said verbal encouragement alone would not be enough to draw home those working overseas.
“Patriotism alone will not feed, support or motivate local doctors. You need better opportunities, respect and a better public healthcare system,” he said.
He added that many graduates remained overseas to gain more experience and resources in the hope that they would excel one day in their home country.
Chan said the Government had to do more to attract the brains home.
“A simple speech on nationalism and patriotism without any positive action is akin to baiting sharks with worms,” he said.
That is UK Executive Council for Malaysian Students chairman Wan Mohd Firdaus Wan Mohd Fuaad's reply to Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed's advice to Malaysian students that money was not everything and that they should return home after their studies.
On Tuesday, Mustapa said Malaysian students must have a strong sense of nationalism and patriotism.
Firdaus said there was a host of other factors coming into play, including work culture, environment and exposure as well as job challenges and prospects.
“The Government should look at the bigger picture,” he said.
He said Malaysia could be competitive where money was concerned but the powers that be must make a greater effort to attract the students home.
“The Government cannot just expect these people to be nationalistic and patriotic and return to Malaysia when the time comes,” he said.
Firdaus said that from his discussions with Malaysian professionals such as investment bankers and doctors, money constituted only 30% of the pull factor.
He said for instance, an investment banker earning about £50,000 (RM325,000) a year in London would probably get about RM240,000 back in Malaysia.
“Let’s face it. Malaysia is not their turf as they have already established their network and contacts in Europe and the United States.
“However, if they are made to feel wanted back home and to contribute their expertise to improve the country’s economy, they are prepared to sit down and look at the options available,” he added.
In this regard, Firdaus said government-linked companies including Khazanah Holdings and Danaharta and corporations like Tenaga Nasional could be more proactive.
He said that so far, more than 100 professionals and mainly medical students have responded to the survey conducted by the council, which represents 58 Malaysian student societies or about 80% of the 12,000-strong student population in Britain.
“We hope to compile the final report and submit it to Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha by the end of next month,” he said.
London Umno Club chairman Dzariman Ibrahim agreed that work experience, exposure to the latest technology and access to the European market were among the pull factors.
While money was an issue, it was not the main reason for not returning home, he added.
In Petaling Jaya, MCA international affairs bureau chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng said self-sponsored students should not be blamed for not returning after completing their studies overseas.
“Those whose studies were financed by their parents will be thinking about returning the money when they graduate.
“You cannot blame them. These people have spent a lot of money to get a degree and they need to earn it back,” he said. However, he said government-sponsored students were bound by their scholarships to return and work in the country.
“It is their responsibility to serve the country which financially supported them. And they should be prosecuted if they do not come back,” he said.
MCA Club Australia president Chan Wei Ming said verbal encouragement alone would not be enough to draw home those working overseas.
“Patriotism alone will not feed, support or motivate local doctors. You need better opportunities, respect and a better public healthcare system,” he said.
He added that many graduates remained overseas to gain more experience and resources in the hope that they would excel one day in their home country.
Chan said the Government had to do more to attract the brains home.
“A simple speech on nationalism and patriotism without any positive action is akin to baiting sharks with worms,” he said.
Cardiac facilities among best-planned in country
Star: KUCHING: Facilities to handle heart problems are among the best in the country as far as speciality fields in Malaysia are concerned, Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said.
He said the country had three cardiac centres – in Penang, Johor and Kuching – with 15 cardiologists, nine cardiac anaesthesiologists and 14 perfusionists (people who operate heart-lung machines).
“There are also a number of people in the queue for these training programmes,” he said at the opening of the fourth Biennial Meeting on Cardiopulmonary Bypass here yesterday.
His speech was read out by state Assistant Minister of Public Health Dr Soon Choon Teck.
Dr Chua said the ministry was setting up a new cardiac centre in Serdang to cater for the central region of Peninsular Malaysia.
The centre in Penang handles the northern region, Johor (southern region) and Kuching (Sarawak and Sabah).
“I am proud to say that this is one of the most well-planned speciality fields,” he said.
The three-day conference was organised by the Sarawak General Hospital in collaboration with the Health Ministry.
He said the country had three cardiac centres – in Penang, Johor and Kuching – with 15 cardiologists, nine cardiac anaesthesiologists and 14 perfusionists (people who operate heart-lung machines).
“There are also a number of people in the queue for these training programmes,” he said at the opening of the fourth Biennial Meeting on Cardiopulmonary Bypass here yesterday.
His speech was read out by state Assistant Minister of Public Health Dr Soon Choon Teck.
Dr Chua said the ministry was setting up a new cardiac centre in Serdang to cater for the central region of Peninsular Malaysia.
The centre in Penang handles the northern region, Johor (southern region) and Kuching (Sarawak and Sabah).
“I am proud to say that this is one of the most well-planned speciality fields,” he said.
The three-day conference was organised by the Sarawak General Hospital in collaboration with the Health Ministry.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Malaysian Health Authorities Grant Soy Protein Heart Claim
NPI center: ST. LOUIS, MO, May 04, 2006 -- Malaysian authorities have ruled its nation's food manufacturers can claim foods containing soy protein help reduce a person's cholesterol.
The nutrient function claim decision was announced after The Solae Company, a leading researcher and manufacturer of soy protein food ingredients, petitioned Malaysian authorities to allow a heart health claim already approved in varying specificity by seven other nations.
With the decision, food manufacturers in Malaysia may begin using the nutrient function claim on the labels of foods and beverages containing at least five grams of soy protein per serving, in conjunction with a statement explaining the amount required to reduce cholesterol in blood is 25 grams a day.
"Malaysian authorities approved this claim after thoroughly examining 46 studies collected and submitted by our company," said Greg Paul, Ph.D., director of global health and nutrition at The Solae Company. "Their decision was made based upon an enormous and still growing body of data showing the heart health benefits of soy protein. It's the weight of this scientific evidence that has led so many other countries to authorize similar claims."
High cholesterol is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which kills more than 16 million people worldwide each year and accounts for some 30 percent of all deaths. A number of studies have shown that consuming 25 grams of soy protein a day within a low fat, low cholesterol diet reduces a person's cholesterol level by approximately five percent, translating to a 10 percent reduction in a person's risk for developing heart disease.
Researchers have found other ways in which soy protein may help reduce a person's risk for cardiovascular disease. Blood clots, for example, can completely block an artery already narrowed by atherosclerosis, a condition that causes a build up of waxy plaque inside blood vessels. Research findings suggest that certain properties found in soy foods may help prevent these blockages, reducing a person's chances of heart attack or stroke. Other studies have indicated soy protein may be linked with lower blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney failure.
"Researchers continue to explore the positive benefits associated with soy protein, but more study is needed," said Dr. Paul. "As an industry leader, we will continue to invest in nutrition research that helps consumers make more informed decisions about what they eat."
The nutrient function claim decision was announced after The Solae Company, a leading researcher and manufacturer of soy protein food ingredients, petitioned Malaysian authorities to allow a heart health claim already approved in varying specificity by seven other nations.
With the decision, food manufacturers in Malaysia may begin using the nutrient function claim on the labels of foods and beverages containing at least five grams of soy protein per serving, in conjunction with a statement explaining the amount required to reduce cholesterol in blood is 25 grams a day.
"Malaysian authorities approved this claim after thoroughly examining 46 studies collected and submitted by our company," said Greg Paul, Ph.D., director of global health and nutrition at The Solae Company. "Their decision was made based upon an enormous and still growing body of data showing the heart health benefits of soy protein. It's the weight of this scientific evidence that has led so many other countries to authorize similar claims."
High cholesterol is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which kills more than 16 million people worldwide each year and accounts for some 30 percent of all deaths. A number of studies have shown that consuming 25 grams of soy protein a day within a low fat, low cholesterol diet reduces a person's cholesterol level by approximately five percent, translating to a 10 percent reduction in a person's risk for developing heart disease.
Researchers have found other ways in which soy protein may help reduce a person's risk for cardiovascular disease. Blood clots, for example, can completely block an artery already narrowed by atherosclerosis, a condition that causes a build up of waxy plaque inside blood vessels. Research findings suggest that certain properties found in soy foods may help prevent these blockages, reducing a person's chances of heart attack or stroke. Other studies have indicated soy protein may be linked with lower blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney failure.
"Researchers continue to explore the positive benefits associated with soy protein, but more study is needed," said Dr. Paul. "As an industry leader, we will continue to invest in nutrition research that helps consumers make more informed decisions about what they eat."
MMC suspends three doctors
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) has suspended three doctors for improper conduct so far this year.
Figures till the end of March show that there are 172 complaints against doctors which have yet to be resolved.
The MMC found Dr Syed Zainal Husin Wafa of Klinik Wafa guilty of pre-signing blank employment medical examination documents meant for 57 patients. His suspension ends on Aug 8.
Dr R. Ravindran of Klinik Ravi & Surgeri in Sepang was charged with neglect and disregard of his professional responsibilities for allowing an unregistered employee to prescribe medication to patients, which contravenes The Poisons Act 1952. His suspension ends on Sept 7.
Dr Stanzil Pious of Klinik Asia, Pasir Gudang, was found guilty of two charges. The first, for which he has been suspended until Sept 23, is failing to provide identifying features in three X-ray films seized from his clinic.
The second was for permitting an unqualified person to operate an X-ray machine, for which he was reprimanded.
"The cases involving Dr Syed Zainal and Dr Ravindran were the result of public complaints. Dr Stanzil’s clinic was inspected by the Health Ministry’s engineering section which detected the wrongdoings," a source said.
MMC president Datuk Dr Ismail Merican, who announced the suspensions in a Press statement, said it was an offence under the Medical Act for suspended medical practitioners to practise medicine. They are also not allowed to use the title "doctor".
A source said doctors had 30 days to appeal to the High Court but the three had not done so. There are 14 cases now on appeal.
Last year, of the 189 outstanding complaints, 100 were resolved or thrown out. In 2004, of the 224 outstanding complaints, 73 were resolved or dismissed.
Figures till the end of March show that there are 172 complaints against doctors which have yet to be resolved.
The MMC found Dr Syed Zainal Husin Wafa of Klinik Wafa guilty of pre-signing blank employment medical examination documents meant for 57 patients. His suspension ends on Aug 8.
Dr R. Ravindran of Klinik Ravi & Surgeri in Sepang was charged with neglect and disregard of his professional responsibilities for allowing an unregistered employee to prescribe medication to patients, which contravenes The Poisons Act 1952. His suspension ends on Sept 7.
Dr Stanzil Pious of Klinik Asia, Pasir Gudang, was found guilty of two charges. The first, for which he has been suspended until Sept 23, is failing to provide identifying features in three X-ray films seized from his clinic.
The second was for permitting an unqualified person to operate an X-ray machine, for which he was reprimanded.
"The cases involving Dr Syed Zainal and Dr Ravindran were the result of public complaints. Dr Stanzil’s clinic was inspected by the Health Ministry’s engineering section which detected the wrongdoings," a source said.
MMC president Datuk Dr Ismail Merican, who announced the suspensions in a Press statement, said it was an offence under the Medical Act for suspended medical practitioners to practise medicine. They are also not allowed to use the title "doctor".
A source said doctors had 30 days to appeal to the High Court but the three had not done so. There are 14 cases now on appeal.
Last year, of the 189 outstanding complaints, 100 were resolved or thrown out. In 2004, of the 224 outstanding complaints, 73 were resolved or dismissed.
No need to get that MC endorsed
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: The days of civil servants spending hours getting medical certificates issued by private doctors endorsed at government hospitals are over. With immediate effect, civil servants will only have to do so if they have taken more than 15 days of medical leave that year.
Public Service Department director-general Datuk Seri Ismail Adam, in a circular, said the new ruling applied to employees of State Governments, statutory bodies and local councils.
The rule was a recognition of higher standards in private medical practice.
Ismail said those admitted at private hospitals for up to 180 days in a year would also no longer be required to get their certificates endorsed.
He said civil servants were eligible for a maximum of 180 days medical leave in a year — 90 days to be approved by the department head and another 90 days by the ministry’s secretary-general.
Only people suffering from chronic illnesses such as cancer are eligible for such leave.
It is a standard procedure for the Government to recommend that civil servants who spend over 180 days in hospital be medically boarded out.
A PSD official said the ruling had been relaxed so that the burden of doctors in the public hospitals could be reduced.
Cuepacs president Datuk Noordin Abdul Hamid thank- ed the Government, adding that the previous ruling was burdensome.
"We thank the Government for relaxing the ruling. Previously, civil servants would have to incur unnecessary cost," he said.
Public Service Department director-general Datuk Seri Ismail Adam, in a circular, said the new ruling applied to employees of State Governments, statutory bodies and local councils.
The rule was a recognition of higher standards in private medical practice.
Ismail said those admitted at private hospitals for up to 180 days in a year would also no longer be required to get their certificates endorsed.
He said civil servants were eligible for a maximum of 180 days medical leave in a year — 90 days to be approved by the department head and another 90 days by the ministry’s secretary-general.
Only people suffering from chronic illnesses such as cancer are eligible for such leave.
It is a standard procedure for the Government to recommend that civil servants who spend over 180 days in hospital be medically boarded out.
A PSD official said the ruling had been relaxed so that the burden of doctors in the public hospitals could be reduced.
Cuepacs president Datuk Noordin Abdul Hamid thank- ed the Government, adding that the previous ruling was burdensome.
"We thank the Government for relaxing the ruling. Previously, civil servants would have to incur unnecessary cost," he said.
Woman claims breast op in China botched
Star: A 40-YEAR-OLD woman who underwent breast augmentation surgery in Chengdu, China,not only ended up poorer but also complained of a botched job.
Sin Chew Daily reported that the woman had the surgery through arrangements made by a local beauty salon.
Following the surgery last August, one breast ended up being bigger than the other.
The woman, who spent RM50,000 on the operation, said she then negotiated with the salon for corrective surgery to be done, also in China.
The second operation on April 1 did not help her but instead brought a new problem – a depression on one breast.
The woman, who also underwent liposuction, complained that her weight increased from 52kg to 56 kg.
“I have put on weight and developed a lump on my buttocks after the surgery,” she told a press conference organised by Penang DAP secretary Danny Loh Heng Kiang.
The woman said she and five other women were the first batch of patients sent to China for plastic surgery.
Sin Chew Daily reported that the woman had the surgery through arrangements made by a local beauty salon.
Following the surgery last August, one breast ended up being bigger than the other.
The woman, who spent RM50,000 on the operation, said she then negotiated with the salon for corrective surgery to be done, also in China.
The second operation on April 1 did not help her but instead brought a new problem – a depression on one breast.
The woman, who also underwent liposuction, complained that her weight increased from 52kg to 56 kg.
“I have put on weight and developed a lump on my buttocks after the surgery,” she told a press conference organised by Penang DAP secretary Danny Loh Heng Kiang.
The woman said she and five other women were the first batch of patients sent to China for plastic surgery.
Makna offers cancer patients loan for business
Star: KUALA LUMPUR: The National Cancer Council (Makna) is offering an interest free loan to needy cancer patients to help them start a business.
Council president Datuk Mohd Farid Ariffin said the microcredit facility, ranging between RM3,000 and RM5,000 would be given to those who had recovered from cancer and in need of money to start small businesses.
“We have selected two people for the pilot project which started two months ago.
“Right now we are evaluating the scheme and once the system is perfected, it will be officially launched and cancer patients who are eligible can apply for the loan,'' he told newsmen after closing the “One Sen and Five Sen Campaign'' at SMK Cheras here yesterday.
The campaign which was conducted in two stages – in 2003 and 2004, saw the generosity of the public when about 80 million one sen and five sen coins worth RM467,463.55 were donated.
Mohd Farid said Makna has set-up its own credit control unit to handle the new service.
Council president Datuk Mohd Farid Ariffin said the microcredit facility, ranging between RM3,000 and RM5,000 would be given to those who had recovered from cancer and in need of money to start small businesses.
“We have selected two people for the pilot project which started two months ago.
“Right now we are evaluating the scheme and once the system is perfected, it will be officially launched and cancer patients who are eligible can apply for the loan,'' he told newsmen after closing the “One Sen and Five Sen Campaign'' at SMK Cheras here yesterday.
The campaign which was conducted in two stages – in 2003 and 2004, saw the generosity of the public when about 80 million one sen and five sen coins worth RM467,463.55 were donated.
Mohd Farid said Makna has set-up its own credit control unit to handle the new service.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
We are not shirkers, says Dr Chua
NST: PUTRAJAYA: Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek clarified yesterday the Government is not shirking its responsibility by requiring blood transfusion recipients to sign a consent form.
He said the recently introduced ‘Consent Form for Blood or Blood Component Transfusion’ was not a disclaimer of responsibility but getting an informed consent.
"We are not shirking our responsibility. We are just informing patients of the risk and benefits involved in the transfusion," he said of our front page story on Monday headlined "Blood Contract".
It was reported that the Health Ministry is requiring signed consent from patients needing blood transfusion or blood components.
Dr Chua said: "Its not a disclaimer but an informed consent. There is a risk in transfusions from infectious diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and syphilis and complications may happen."
He said informing patients and family members of the risk was in accordance with medical ethics and the practice of transparency.
"Every doctor must explain to patients all the procedures, processes and treatments that are being recommended for them," said Dr Chua, adding that this was to ensure patients understood what was happening.
Dr Chua said patients had the right to accept or reject the procedures recommended by the doctor.
He said despite testing and screening, there was still the risk of developing the diseases and other complications.
"We have a screening system to ensure that blood supplied is clean and safe. This system has been tested and praised by the World Health Organisation because it is done in accordance with international standards," he said.
He said donors had to fill up a form stating their background. This helped authorities know whether they belong to low- or high-risk groups. Donated blood goes through a stringent process to ensure it is clean and safe for use.
"The Government spends RM200 on screening every bag of blood," said Dr Chua.
Every year, he said, some 440,000 people donated blood, but those from about 5,700 were rejected or destroyed.
Until June last year, there were reports of 25 cases of Malaysians infected with HIV through blood transfusion, with many having received the blood before 1986. Many of the victims were haemophiliacs. "After 1986 when we started doing stringent blood screening, the number of people infected with diseases or suffering complications from blood transfusion had dropped tremendously but sometimes it does occur due to the incubation or window period," he said.
He assured that the risk involved was "very minimal".
Dr Chua said the introduction of the informed consent was also in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s policy of transparency.
He said the recently introduced ‘Consent Form for Blood or Blood Component Transfusion’ was not a disclaimer of responsibility but getting an informed consent.
"We are not shirking our responsibility. We are just informing patients of the risk and benefits involved in the transfusion," he said of our front page story on Monday headlined "Blood Contract".
It was reported that the Health Ministry is requiring signed consent from patients needing blood transfusion or blood components.
Dr Chua said: "Its not a disclaimer but an informed consent. There is a risk in transfusions from infectious diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and syphilis and complications may happen."
He said informing patients and family members of the risk was in accordance with medical ethics and the practice of transparency.
"Every doctor must explain to patients all the procedures, processes and treatments that are being recommended for them," said Dr Chua, adding that this was to ensure patients understood what was happening.
Dr Chua said patients had the right to accept or reject the procedures recommended by the doctor.
He said despite testing and screening, there was still the risk of developing the diseases and other complications.
"We have a screening system to ensure that blood supplied is clean and safe. This system has been tested and praised by the World Health Organisation because it is done in accordance with international standards," he said.
He said donors had to fill up a form stating their background. This helped authorities know whether they belong to low- or high-risk groups. Donated blood goes through a stringent process to ensure it is clean and safe for use.
"The Government spends RM200 on screening every bag of blood," said Dr Chua.
Every year, he said, some 440,000 people donated blood, but those from about 5,700 were rejected or destroyed.
Until June last year, there were reports of 25 cases of Malaysians infected with HIV through blood transfusion, with many having received the blood before 1986. Many of the victims were haemophiliacs. "After 1986 when we started doing stringent blood screening, the number of people infected with diseases or suffering complications from blood transfusion had dropped tremendously but sometimes it does occur due to the incubation or window period," he said.
He assured that the risk involved was "very minimal".
Dr Chua said the introduction of the informed consent was also in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s policy of transparency.
First double lung transplant at IJN
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: The National Heart Institute (IJN) has created history — again.
In collaboration with the Institute of Respiratory Medicine (IRM), it performed the first double lung transplant in Malaysia on April 26.
On Dec 30 last year, IJN performed the first single lung transplant in the country on a 52-year-old police officer.
The double lung transplant recipient is a 37-year-old man from Tampin, Negri Sembilan, who was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis — a condition where the lungs become fibrotic or hardened.
The hardening prevents good exchange of gases during breathing, resulting in low oxygen levels in the blood.
When the man’s condition worsened in 2005, he underwent oxygen therapy at home. The man, who is married with two children, was listed in the double lung transplant waiting list in early April 2006.
The surgery was performed on April 26 by the heart-lung transplant team led by Dr Mohamed Ezani Md Taib, IJN’s clinical director of the heart-lung transplant programme.
He was assisted by 23 people, including cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiac anaesthetists, respiratory physicians from the IRM and paramedical staff.
IJN’s chief executive officer Mohd Radzif Mohd Yunus said: "We received a call from the National Transplant Resource Centre on April 25, informing of a possible multi-organ donor at Damansara Specialist Centre."
He said a team of doctors and paramedical staff from both IJN and IRM left IJN about 8.45pm to assess the donor at the Damansara Specialist Centre.
"After the assessment, the team found that the lungs were suitable and matched one of the patients in the waiting list for double lung transplant. The procurement team harvested the organs and left the hospital about 1am," he added.
The surgery started with the implanting of the right lung about 1.30am and the surgery was completed at 3.30am. The left lung was next implanted and the surgery, which took about 3½ hours, was completed at 7am.
"The whole process ended about 9.30am and the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit where he is being closely monitored by the joint IJN-IRM lung transplant team," said Mohd Radzif.
In collaboration with the Institute of Respiratory Medicine (IRM), it performed the first double lung transplant in Malaysia on April 26.
On Dec 30 last year, IJN performed the first single lung transplant in the country on a 52-year-old police officer.
The double lung transplant recipient is a 37-year-old man from Tampin, Negri Sembilan, who was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis — a condition where the lungs become fibrotic or hardened.
The hardening prevents good exchange of gases during breathing, resulting in low oxygen levels in the blood.
When the man’s condition worsened in 2005, he underwent oxygen therapy at home. The man, who is married with two children, was listed in the double lung transplant waiting list in early April 2006.
The surgery was performed on April 26 by the heart-lung transplant team led by Dr Mohamed Ezani Md Taib, IJN’s clinical director of the heart-lung transplant programme.
He was assisted by 23 people, including cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiac anaesthetists, respiratory physicians from the IRM and paramedical staff.
IJN’s chief executive officer Mohd Radzif Mohd Yunus said: "We received a call from the National Transplant Resource Centre on April 25, informing of a possible multi-organ donor at Damansara Specialist Centre."
He said a team of doctors and paramedical staff from both IJN and IRM left IJN about 8.45pm to assess the donor at the Damansara Specialist Centre.
"After the assessment, the team found that the lungs were suitable and matched one of the patients in the waiting list for double lung transplant. The procurement team harvested the organs and left the hospital about 1am," he added.
The surgery started with the implanting of the right lung about 1.30am and the surgery was completed at 3.30am. The left lung was next implanted and the surgery, which took about 3½ hours, was completed at 7am.
"The whole process ended about 9.30am and the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit where he is being closely monitored by the joint IJN-IRM lung transplant team," said Mohd Radzif.
PSD scholarship holders must return
NST: PUTRAJAYA: Aside from education loan defaulters who owe the Government millions, the Public Service Department (PSD) also has a problem with overseas scholarship holders who don’t want to come home.
The PSD has stationed at least two officers at embassies and consulates in the countries where sponsored students are studying to look into their welfare and to make sure they come home. The PSD sponsors 1,300 students a year abroad.
"The officers liaise with the embassy and the universities our students are studying at. Their main task is to make sure that students complete their studies and come back home, ready to serve the country.
"In other words, they have to monitor these students and make sure they return for good," said PSD corporate communication unit chief Hasniah Rashid.
Though a few PSD scholars who decided not to return had paid back the money spent on them, Hasniah says PSD views such "reluctance to serve the country" seriously.
PSD spends about RM1 million for a five-year course for a medical student while about RM800,000 is spent on an engineering student, though costs are rising. Hasniah added that the PSD was flexible if students wished to delay their return to get a postgraduate degree or even to get married.
"The maximum postponement allowed is four years. They have to return after that, whether they like it or not," she said, adding that with the deployment of PSD officers abroad, the number of sponsored students who disappeared after completing their studies had been minimal.
Hasniah said that aside from the 1,300 scholarships to study abroad, 5,000 scholarships would be made available next month to those studying at local universities. The PSD also offers about 500 loans a year to students studying abroad. Priority is given to students doing critical courses such as medicine, pharmacy, dentistry and engineering.
On the loan defaulters who owe the Government RM284 million, Hasniah said the department would soon be referring its list of blacklisted students to the Immigration Department.
She recently said they may be stopped at exit points to prevent them from leaving the country.
The department is also working closely with the Inland Revenue Board and National Registration Department to trace 16,000 "hardcore" defaulters.
The PSD has stationed at least two officers at embassies and consulates in the countries where sponsored students are studying to look into their welfare and to make sure they come home. The PSD sponsors 1,300 students a year abroad.
"The officers liaise with the embassy and the universities our students are studying at. Their main task is to make sure that students complete their studies and come back home, ready to serve the country.
"In other words, they have to monitor these students and make sure they return for good," said PSD corporate communication unit chief Hasniah Rashid.
Though a few PSD scholars who decided not to return had paid back the money spent on them, Hasniah says PSD views such "reluctance to serve the country" seriously.
PSD spends about RM1 million for a five-year course for a medical student while about RM800,000 is spent on an engineering student, though costs are rising. Hasniah added that the PSD was flexible if students wished to delay their return to get a postgraduate degree or even to get married.
"The maximum postponement allowed is four years. They have to return after that, whether they like it or not," she said, adding that with the deployment of PSD officers abroad, the number of sponsored students who disappeared after completing their studies had been minimal.
Hasniah said that aside from the 1,300 scholarships to study abroad, 5,000 scholarships would be made available next month to those studying at local universities. The PSD also offers about 500 loans a year to students studying abroad. Priority is given to students doing critical courses such as medicine, pharmacy, dentistry and engineering.
On the loan defaulters who owe the Government RM284 million, Hasniah said the department would soon be referring its list of blacklisted students to the Immigration Department.
She recently said they may be stopped at exit points to prevent them from leaving the country.
The department is also working closely with the Inland Revenue Board and National Registration Department to trace 16,000 "hardcore" defaulters.
That SMS may cost you RM1,000
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: If you think sending an SMS while driving is safer than talking on the handphone, you are wrong.
And if you think Road Transport Department officers, who will pull you up for talking on the phone while driving, will not book you for texting discreetly, you are wrong again.
Noting the rise in the number of motorists using the SMS while driving, the RTD is locking its sights on such drivers.
About 600 motorists were booked last year by RTD officers for reading or sending messages using the Short Message Service while driving. The previous year, about the same number were issued summonses.
RTD enforcement director Solah Mat Hassan yesterday said the actual number of those using the SMS while driving could be 10 times more than those booked by his officers.
He said those booked for using the SMS while driving usually expressed surprise or puzzlement, saying they were unaware it was an offence.
They would then start giving excuses.
"Some will plead and try to get away, saying they did not know it was an offence or that this was the first time they were using the SMS service behind the wheel," he said.
"Using the SMS while driving is more dangerous than talking on the handphone. You would have to concentrate on the message being sent. How can you keep your eyes on the road while doing this?
"We want them to know that the risks far outweigh the need to send or receive a message.
"We want people to stop using handphones while driving — it does not matter whether you are talking or sending an SMS," he added.
A recent study by Monash University, Australia, revealed that text messaging while driving distracted drivers for 12 of every 30 seconds they spent writing the message.
It showed that drivers who took their eyes off the road to write an SMS while speeding were more likely to meet with an accident. It also found that most motorists believed: "It won’t happen to me."
Rule 17A of the Road Traffic Rules 1959 states that no driver, while driving a motor vehicle on a road, shall use a hand-held telephone or any other communication equipment unless it is used through a hands-free kit.
A first time offender, if found guilty, will be liable to a fine not exceeding RM1,000 or not more than three months jail. For subsequent convictions, they are liable to a fine not exceeding RM2,000 or a jail term not exceeding six months, or both.
Till the end of last year, the RTD caught 5,600 motorists talking on the phone while driving.
And if you think Road Transport Department officers, who will pull you up for talking on the phone while driving, will not book you for texting discreetly, you are wrong again.
Noting the rise in the number of motorists using the SMS while driving, the RTD is locking its sights on such drivers.
About 600 motorists were booked last year by RTD officers for reading or sending messages using the Short Message Service while driving. The previous year, about the same number were issued summonses.
RTD enforcement director Solah Mat Hassan yesterday said the actual number of those using the SMS while driving could be 10 times more than those booked by his officers.
He said those booked for using the SMS while driving usually expressed surprise or puzzlement, saying they were unaware it was an offence.
They would then start giving excuses.
"Some will plead and try to get away, saying they did not know it was an offence or that this was the first time they were using the SMS service behind the wheel," he said.
"Using the SMS while driving is more dangerous than talking on the handphone. You would have to concentrate on the message being sent. How can you keep your eyes on the road while doing this?
"We want them to know that the risks far outweigh the need to send or receive a message.
"We want people to stop using handphones while driving — it does not matter whether you are talking or sending an SMS," he added.
A recent study by Monash University, Australia, revealed that text messaging while driving distracted drivers for 12 of every 30 seconds they spent writing the message.
It showed that drivers who took their eyes off the road to write an SMS while speeding were more likely to meet with an accident. It also found that most motorists believed: "It won’t happen to me."
Rule 17A of the Road Traffic Rules 1959 states that no driver, while driving a motor vehicle on a road, shall use a hand-held telephone or any other communication equipment unless it is used through a hands-free kit.
A first time offender, if found guilty, will be liable to a fine not exceeding RM1,000 or not more than three months jail. For subsequent convictions, they are liable to a fine not exceeding RM2,000 or a jail term not exceeding six months, or both.
Till the end of last year, the RTD caught 5,600 motorists talking on the phone while driving.
Money is not everything students told
Star: KUALA LUMPUR: Money is not everything, Malaysian medical students in Britain have been told.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said the students must have a strong sense of nationalism and patriotism, and should return home to serve the country after completing their studies,
He said that despite the lower financial reward in the government service, the students should be proud to serve the Government, just like many other doctors who continued to be in the civil service although they could have opted for private practice.
“As a developing country, it is impossible for Malaysia to match the salaries of doctors in Britain. We don’t have such deep pockets.
“Money should not be everything,” he told about 100 Malaysian students at a dialogue organised by the Malaysian Students Department in London yesterday.
Mustapa was responding to a student’s query on last month’s survey by the UK Executive Council for Malaysian Students which found that low pay and long working hours in government service were among the reasons Malaysian medical students were reluctant to return home after completing their studies in Britain.
The survey covered mostly medical, engineering and accountancy students who formed the bulk of the 12,000 Malaysian student population in Britain.
Mustapa said he realised that money was a big incentive for them but Malaysia was not “a bottomless pit”.
To be fair, he said, service conditions and the prospects for promotion in Malaysia had improved over the years as better facilities for government hospitals had been built.
Mustapa said the Government was always mindful of the need to create a more conducive research environment by giving greater emphasis to scholarship and improving the education quality for lecturers and students.
Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, RM1.2bil has been allocated to train lecturers and finance their studies – about three times higher than that allocated under the previous Plan.
“The Government is also committed to improving the quality of Malaysian graduates to enable them to compete in the international market,” he added.
Mustapa was in transit on his way to Kingston, Jamaica, where he was to join Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on his two-day official visit to the Caribbean nation.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said the students must have a strong sense of nationalism and patriotism, and should return home to serve the country after completing their studies,
He said that despite the lower financial reward in the government service, the students should be proud to serve the Government, just like many other doctors who continued to be in the civil service although they could have opted for private practice.
“As a developing country, it is impossible for Malaysia to match the salaries of doctors in Britain. We don’t have such deep pockets.
“Money should not be everything,” he told about 100 Malaysian students at a dialogue organised by the Malaysian Students Department in London yesterday.
Mustapa was responding to a student’s query on last month’s survey by the UK Executive Council for Malaysian Students which found that low pay and long working hours in government service were among the reasons Malaysian medical students were reluctant to return home after completing their studies in Britain.
The survey covered mostly medical, engineering and accountancy students who formed the bulk of the 12,000 Malaysian student population in Britain.
Mustapa said he realised that money was a big incentive for them but Malaysia was not “a bottomless pit”.
To be fair, he said, service conditions and the prospects for promotion in Malaysia had improved over the years as better facilities for government hospitals had been built.
Mustapa said the Government was always mindful of the need to create a more conducive research environment by giving greater emphasis to scholarship and improving the education quality for lecturers and students.
Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, RM1.2bil has been allocated to train lecturers and finance their studies – about three times higher than that allocated under the previous Plan.
“The Government is also committed to improving the quality of Malaysian graduates to enable them to compete in the international market,” he added.
Mustapa was in transit on his way to Kingston, Jamaica, where he was to join Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on his two-day official visit to the Caribbean nation.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Form On Blood Transfer Conforms With Medical Ethics
PUTRAJAYA, May 2 (Bernama) -- The form to be signed by patients or their family members if they agreed for blood transfer or transfer of blood components conforms with the medical ethics.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the form was meant to inform the patient that there were risks in receiving blood such as being infected by HIV, Hepatitis B, syphilis or other diseases.
"It is in line with the medical ethics code which requires every doctor to inform the patient of every treatment procedure to be taken.
"This is regarded as International Best Practice in medical ethics so that patients are aware what is happening and they have the right to accept or refuse the treatment," he told reporters in his office here Tuesday.
He was referring to a local English newspaper report which alleged the ministry was taking a lackadaisical attitude on the use of the form introduced last January.
The form states that the patient understands that despite testing and screening on the blood/blood components for HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Syphilis, there are still risks of developing the disease. The patient also made to understand that unavoidable complications due to the transfusion may also occur.
"It is not a disclaimer, we just inform him of the risk involved in the transfusion," he said.
He said the system was tested and acknowledged by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
"Nearly 100 percent of our blood donors are volunteers and they have to fill in a form describing their backgrounds and from the background we are able to tell whether the donors are of high risks or not.
"All blood received undergoes test and the government spends RM200 on each unit of blood to ensure it is free from disease," he said.
Chua said the ministry received 420,000 units of blood and only one percent is rejected.
"It is not right to say that many people became infected after receiving blood from hospitals," he said.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the form was meant to inform the patient that there were risks in receiving blood such as being infected by HIV, Hepatitis B, syphilis or other diseases.
"It is in line with the medical ethics code which requires every doctor to inform the patient of every treatment procedure to be taken.
"This is regarded as International Best Practice in medical ethics so that patients are aware what is happening and they have the right to accept or refuse the treatment," he told reporters in his office here Tuesday.
He was referring to a local English newspaper report which alleged the ministry was taking a lackadaisical attitude on the use of the form introduced last January.
The form states that the patient understands that despite testing and screening on the blood/blood components for HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Syphilis, there are still risks of developing the disease. The patient also made to understand that unavoidable complications due to the transfusion may also occur.
"It is not a disclaimer, we just inform him of the risk involved in the transfusion," he said.
He said the system was tested and acknowledged by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
"Nearly 100 percent of our blood donors are volunteers and they have to fill in a form describing their backgrounds and from the background we are able to tell whether the donors are of high risks or not.
"All blood received undergoes test and the government spends RM200 on each unit of blood to ensure it is free from disease," he said.
Chua said the ministry received 420,000 units of blood and only one percent is rejected.
"It is not right to say that many people became infected after receiving blood from hospitals," he said.
Many women not taking pap smear
NST: KUCHING: Although cervical cancer is the number two killer of women in Malaysia after breast cancer, many married women have never gone for a pap smear screening.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said yesterday a survey by the National Family Development and Population Board (NFDPB) in 2004 found that 49.4 per cent of married women in the 15 to 49 age group in the peninsula had not gone for the screening.
She said 45.2 per cent of women in Sarawak and 50.2 per cent of women in Sabah had also not done so.
Speaking at the launch of the National Pap Smear Screening Programme for Underserved Communities at Kampung Benuk, about 60km from here, Shahrizat listed out some of the excuses given by the women.
She said 34.9 per cent of respondents thought screening was unnecessary.
Another 26.3 per cent said they were too busy, while 9.5 per cent pleaded ignorance.
Shahrizat said her ministry, through the NFDPB, would collaborate with the National Family Planning Federation to conduct pap smear screening at the grassroots.
"My ministry has allocated RM486,000 for the pap smear screening programme for underserved communities throughout the country."
The programme is aimed at creating awareness of the importance of early screening to detect cervical cancer.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said yesterday a survey by the National Family Development and Population Board (NFDPB) in 2004 found that 49.4 per cent of married women in the 15 to 49 age group in the peninsula had not gone for the screening.
She said 45.2 per cent of women in Sarawak and 50.2 per cent of women in Sabah had also not done so.
Speaking at the launch of the National Pap Smear Screening Programme for Underserved Communities at Kampung Benuk, about 60km from here, Shahrizat listed out some of the excuses given by the women.
She said 34.9 per cent of respondents thought screening was unnecessary.
Another 26.3 per cent said they were too busy, while 9.5 per cent pleaded ignorance.
Shahrizat said her ministry, through the NFDPB, would collaborate with the National Family Planning Federation to conduct pap smear screening at the grassroots.
"My ministry has allocated RM486,000 for the pap smear screening programme for underserved communities throughout the country."
The programme is aimed at creating awareness of the importance of early screening to detect cervical cancer.
Men living longer but spend latter years sick
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: The good news - Malaysian men are living longer, at an average of 72 years. The bad news - Their healthy days are over 14 years earlier than men in Western countries and Japan.
In other words, they will spend their last 14 years battling ill health.
"This is very uncomfortable because Malaysian men do not die, they suffer ill health," says Datuk Prof Dr Tan Hui Meng, president of the Malaysian Society of Andrology and the Study of the Aging Male.
He said studies showed that an average Malaysian man gets his first heart attack in his 50s. In Western countries, this happens to men in their early 70s.
A random study of 4,000 men in Petaling Jaya in the last few months revealed that the average age of those who got their first heart attack was 58.
The study also showed that 87 per cent of the respondents had one major illness while 67 per cent had two.
Dr Tan, a professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, said men did not take potential risk seriously and unlike women were reluctant to seek treatment.
The risk factors for diseases include lack of exercise, excessive smoking, drinking and eating, inadequate sleep and obesity.
Dr Tan said these factors accumulated and exploded when Malaysian men reached the age of 50.
"It is payback time for abusing the body and leading an unhealthy lifestyle.
"The result is that when men should be enjoying their most productive years, they suffer from diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart attacks and strokes."
Concerned with men’s health, Malaysia will host the First Japan-Asean men’s health and aging conference in conjunction with the Second National Men’s Health and Aging Conference at Hilton Kuala Lumpur on June 15.
Some 500 healthcare workers are expected to attend.
Dr Tan said Asean and the rest of the world could learn a lot from the Japanese experience in men’s health and aging, as its population had the longest life expectancy in the world.
He said doctors should be "men-friendly" and educate them on the importance of having a healthy lifestyle from an early age.
"There is a need to create an environment for men to have easy access to information and to talk about their problems, including sexual problems."
In other words, they will spend their last 14 years battling ill health.
"This is very uncomfortable because Malaysian men do not die, they suffer ill health," says Datuk Prof Dr Tan Hui Meng, president of the Malaysian Society of Andrology and the Study of the Aging Male.
He said studies showed that an average Malaysian man gets his first heart attack in his 50s. In Western countries, this happens to men in their early 70s.
A random study of 4,000 men in Petaling Jaya in the last few months revealed that the average age of those who got their first heart attack was 58.
The study also showed that 87 per cent of the respondents had one major illness while 67 per cent had two.
Dr Tan, a professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, said men did not take potential risk seriously and unlike women were reluctant to seek treatment.
The risk factors for diseases include lack of exercise, excessive smoking, drinking and eating, inadequate sleep and obesity.
Dr Tan said these factors accumulated and exploded when Malaysian men reached the age of 50.
"It is payback time for abusing the body and leading an unhealthy lifestyle.
"The result is that when men should be enjoying their most productive years, they suffer from diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart attacks and strokes."
Concerned with men’s health, Malaysia will host the First Japan-Asean men’s health and aging conference in conjunction with the Second National Men’s Health and Aging Conference at Hilton Kuala Lumpur on June 15.
Some 500 healthcare workers are expected to attend.
Dr Tan said Asean and the rest of the world could learn a lot from the Japanese experience in men’s health and aging, as its population had the longest life expectancy in the world.
He said doctors should be "men-friendly" and educate them on the importance of having a healthy lifestyle from an early age.
"There is a need to create an environment for men to have easy access to information and to talk about their problems, including sexual problems."
Malaysian Sports, Medical Studies May Get Jamaican Boost
KINGSTON, May 2 (Bernama) -- Jamaica has only 10 per cent of Malaysia's population but this Caribbean island nation may be the new source of expertise for Malaysians in at least two fields -- sports and medical studies.
This will be the focus of discussions between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who arrives here Tuesday for a two-day official visit, and his Jamaican counterpart Portia Simpson-Miller.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum said Jamaica could give Malaysian sports, especially athletics, a big boost as it had been
producing some of the world's top sprinters.
"There is a lot that we can learn from Jamaica in sports, especially athletics. And the University of West Indies (UWE) here has an established Medical Faculty that could be a new source for Malaysians to study medicine," he told Malaysian journalists here ahead of the Prime Minister's arrival.
The Prime Minister will be accompanied on the visit by Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed and Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said.
"This visit is significant because it is the first foreign delegation to be received by Simpson-Miller since she became Prime Minister just a month ago," Salang said.
The visit is at the invitation of former Prime Minister Percival James Patterson who left office at the end of March after 14 years in power.
Salang said Malaysia was always looking to increase places for its medical students given the growing demand and the UWE could meet this need, coupled with the fact that English is Jamaica's official language.
He said the two leaders would also discuss possible participation of Malaysian companies in the infrastructure development, especially highways, and tourism facilities in Jamaica.
Tourism is Jamaica's top foreign exchange earner with annual tourist arrivals of 2.5 million, almost equalling its population of 2.7 million.
This will be the focus of discussions between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who arrives here Tuesday for a two-day official visit, and his Jamaican counterpart Portia Simpson-Miller.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum said Jamaica could give Malaysian sports, especially athletics, a big boost as it had been
producing some of the world's top sprinters.
"There is a lot that we can learn from Jamaica in sports, especially athletics. And the University of West Indies (UWE) here has an established Medical Faculty that could be a new source for Malaysians to study medicine," he told Malaysian journalists here ahead of the Prime Minister's arrival.
The Prime Minister will be accompanied on the visit by Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed and Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said.
"This visit is significant because it is the first foreign delegation to be received by Simpson-Miller since she became Prime Minister just a month ago," Salang said.
The visit is at the invitation of former Prime Minister Percival James Patterson who left office at the end of March after 14 years in power.
Salang said Malaysia was always looking to increase places for its medical students given the growing demand and the UWE could meet this need, coupled with the fact that English is Jamaica's official language.
He said the two leaders would also discuss possible participation of Malaysian companies in the infrastructure development, especially highways, and tourism facilities in Jamaica.
Tourism is Jamaica's top foreign exchange earner with annual tourist arrivals of 2.5 million, almost equalling its population of 2.7 million.
Malaysia Launches Website To Promote Health Tourism
DUBAI, May 1 (Bernama) -- Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor Monday launched the www.malaysiahealthcare.com website to promote health tourism to Malaysia.
"It is a complete facilitator for all medical and tourism-related needs, bringing together all related service providers on a single platform," he said.
The launching was held ahead of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) which opens here Tuesday.
The Malaysian delegation to the ATM, which is led by Tengku Adnan, comprises senior officers of Tourism Malaysia and state tourism boards, travel and tour agents and hotel operators.
At a news conference for the local media, Tengku Adnan said Malaysia would go all out to woo tourists from the Gulf region which contributed a sizeable 147,646 tourists last year.
He said tourist arrivals from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) alone totalled 29,606 in 2005, an increase of almost 40 per cent from the figure in 2004.
Tourists from the UAE, he added, did not require visas to enter Malaysia and were permitted to stay in the country up to three months.
"It is a complete facilitator for all medical and tourism-related needs, bringing together all related service providers on a single platform," he said.
The launching was held ahead of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) which opens here Tuesday.
The Malaysian delegation to the ATM, which is led by Tengku Adnan, comprises senior officers of Tourism Malaysia and state tourism boards, travel and tour agents and hotel operators.
At a news conference for the local media, Tengku Adnan said Malaysia would go all out to woo tourists from the Gulf region which contributed a sizeable 147,646 tourists last year.
He said tourist arrivals from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) alone totalled 29,606 in 2005, an increase of almost 40 per cent from the figure in 2004.
Tourists from the UAE, he added, did not require visas to enter Malaysia and were permitted to stay in the country up to three months.
Expert Proposes Mandatory Pre-Marital Screening To Curb Thalassaemia
KUALA LUMPUR, May 1 (Bernama) -- An expert on thalassaemia, an inherited blood disorder, has suggested mandatory pre-marital screening to prevent the disease which affects over 2,500 people in Malaysia.
Prof A. Rahman A. Jamal, the advisor of the Federation of Malaysian Thalassaemia Societies (FTMS), said such screening in Cyprus and Greece, which accounted for the world's largest number of patients, had reduced the number of new patients by over 90 per cent.
He said proactive steps to minimise the growth in the number of patients would reduce the huge financial burden of care and treatment.
The cost of treating a thalassaemia patient is estimated at between RM10,000 and RM26,000 per year, he said in a statement in conjunction with the two-day Second National Thalassaemia Seminar from Saturday.
However, he said, the lack of awareness among carriers, who accounted for three to five per cent of the population, and religious and cultural sensitivities regarding the availability of choices in managing the disease were the main stumbling blocks in reducing the number of patients.
The thalassaemia seminar is organised jointly by the Health Ministry, Malaysian Society of Paediatric Hematology and Oncology (MASPHO) and FTMS.
It will be preceded by a two-day course on the clinical management of thalassaemia.
MASPHO president Dr Hishamshah Ibrahim said continuous efforts must be made to explore viable options to deal with the disease as Malaysia is in the thalassaemia belt.
"Our joint aim is to reduce the number of new cases and optimise the treatment of current patients," she said.
FTMS president Ramli Yunus praised the government for allocating RM40 million for screening, prevention and treatment including free iron chelation therapy for child patients.
"It has greatly reduced the financial burden of patients and their families," he said.
Prof A. Rahman A. Jamal, the advisor of the Federation of Malaysian Thalassaemia Societies (FTMS), said such screening in Cyprus and Greece, which accounted for the world's largest number of patients, had reduced the number of new patients by over 90 per cent.
He said proactive steps to minimise the growth in the number of patients would reduce the huge financial burden of care and treatment.
The cost of treating a thalassaemia patient is estimated at between RM10,000 and RM26,000 per year, he said in a statement in conjunction with the two-day Second National Thalassaemia Seminar from Saturday.
However, he said, the lack of awareness among carriers, who accounted for three to five per cent of the population, and religious and cultural sensitivities regarding the availability of choices in managing the disease were the main stumbling blocks in reducing the number of patients.
The thalassaemia seminar is organised jointly by the Health Ministry, Malaysian Society of Paediatric Hematology and Oncology (MASPHO) and FTMS.
It will be preceded by a two-day course on the clinical management of thalassaemia.
MASPHO president Dr Hishamshah Ibrahim said continuous efforts must be made to explore viable options to deal with the disease as Malaysia is in the thalassaemia belt.
"Our joint aim is to reduce the number of new cases and optimise the treatment of current patients," she said.
FTMS president Ramli Yunus praised the government for allocating RM40 million for screening, prevention and treatment including free iron chelation therapy for child patients.
"It has greatly reduced the financial burden of patients and their families," he said.
Chinese Children In Malaysia More Myopic, Say Optometrists
KUALA LUMPUR, May 1 (Bernama) -- About 50 percent of Chinese pupils in Malaysia were myopic or short sighted compared to Malays (15 percent) and Indians (17 percent), said Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's (UKM) Optometry Department head Prof. Dr Norhani Mohidin.
"I don't know why the Chinese make up a large percentage. I'm still trying to find out why," she told Bernama at the two-day Third Asia Cornea and Contact Lens Conference organised by the Association of Malaysian Optometrists (AMO) and UKM's Department of Optometry, here, Monday.
The conference which began Sunday, was participated by some 250 optometry professionals from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines.
According to a speaker from Australia at the conference, the prevalence of myopia among school children was not just found among the Chinese in Malaysia, but in other places too.
"Let's say that ethnicity could be one of the factors of myopia, but this is still being researched," said Research Professor of the School of Optometry, Queensland University of Technology, Australia, Prof Dr Nathan Efron.
Efron said myopia could be hereditary, and added that: "if parents wore glasses, then there is a chance that the children will have myopia, too."
Meanwhile AMO's president Dr Chung Kah Meng said based on the research carried out by the association and UKM from 1980s to 2000, there was a 40 percent chance that a child would inherit myopia from both parents, 20 percent from only one parent who was myopic, and 10 percent if the parents were not myopic.
Children in the urban area were also prone to develop myopia at an early age compared to children in the rural area, he said.
Efron said this was because urban children spend far longer time watching television or play video games.
"In the urban area these days, children were taught to read from as young as two years old and that could also lead to myopia because they have the book close to their eyes and try to focus on how to read," he said.
The three experts said those with myopia must have their eyes regularly checked at least once in six months to reduce the progression of myopia.
On contact lenses, Efron said that the silicone hydrogel lens considered safer than the conventional lenses but Malaysians are not aware of it though its available here since the last six years.
This was because it has a high oxygen performance, which allows eyes to breath normally and was good for extended wear including during sleep, he said.
"I don't know why the Chinese make up a large percentage. I'm still trying to find out why," she told Bernama at the two-day Third Asia Cornea and Contact Lens Conference organised by the Association of Malaysian Optometrists (AMO) and UKM's Department of Optometry, here, Monday.
The conference which began Sunday, was participated by some 250 optometry professionals from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines.
According to a speaker from Australia at the conference, the prevalence of myopia among school children was not just found among the Chinese in Malaysia, but in other places too.
"Let's say that ethnicity could be one of the factors of myopia, but this is still being researched," said Research Professor of the School of Optometry, Queensland University of Technology, Australia, Prof Dr Nathan Efron.
Efron said myopia could be hereditary, and added that: "if parents wore glasses, then there is a chance that the children will have myopia, too."
Meanwhile AMO's president Dr Chung Kah Meng said based on the research carried out by the association and UKM from 1980s to 2000, there was a 40 percent chance that a child would inherit myopia from both parents, 20 percent from only one parent who was myopic, and 10 percent if the parents were not myopic.
Children in the urban area were also prone to develop myopia at an early age compared to children in the rural area, he said.
Efron said this was because urban children spend far longer time watching television or play video games.
"In the urban area these days, children were taught to read from as young as two years old and that could also lead to myopia because they have the book close to their eyes and try to focus on how to read," he said.
The three experts said those with myopia must have their eyes regularly checked at least once in six months to reduce the progression of myopia.
On contact lenses, Efron said that the silicone hydrogel lens considered safer than the conventional lenses but Malaysians are not aware of it though its available here since the last six years.
This was because it has a high oxygen performance, which allows eyes to breath normally and was good for extended wear including during sleep, he said.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Nod needed for blood transfusion
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: In what is arguably a disclaimer, the Health Ministry is requiring signed consent from patients needing blood transfusions or blood components.
If patients are unable to do so, their next of kin have to sign on the dotted line on forms introduced in January, endorsed by the doctor in attendance and a witness.
More than 470,000 units of blood are collected annually, of which 8,500 units are disposed of for a variety of reasons, including infections.
The need for consent is seen by some as the ministry absolving itself of responsibility, but is stoutly defended by the authorities.
Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said that although the consent form may resemble a disclaimer, this was not the case.
"The ministry is not washing its hands of responsibility in ensuring that all blood supplied is clean and safe," he told the New Straits Times.
National Blood Bank director Dr Yasmin Ayob described it as a move to inform patients and family members of the advantages and risks involved in blood transfusions.
"It’s just like getting informed consent from family members before any other medical procedure like surgery in hospitals," she said.
Informed consent for blood transfusion accords with international acceptance standards, shoring up the ministry’s case.
But some members of the public feel the ministry is taking the easy way out in the matter.
They think the onus should be on hospitals to ensure that clean and safe blood is used in transfusions, and to be accountable if not.
Lee countered that signed consent was necessary as there was always the slightest risk of contamination.
"There are so many diseases around. We do our part in screening but there is no foolproof system.
"Nowhere in the world can anyone say that blood supplied in transfusions is 100 per cent clean and safe," he said.
Lee said medical staff would inform patients or next of kin of the benefits and risks of blood transfusion before carrying out the procedure with their consent.
Dr Yasmin said it was incumbent on medical staff to inform patients and family members of the risks in any procedure.
"Our aim is to give clean and safe blood to all patients, but the risk is there, as some people may react by getting rashes, fever or other complications," she said.
She said there was also an inherent risk of contracting infectious diseases due to the window period for such infections.
Dr Yasmin said Malaysians preferred to be informed of all procedures: the advantages, disadvantages and risks involved.
She said all blood supplies were screened for hepatitis B and C, HIV, syphilis and other infections.
Dr Yasmin said only safe blood was sent to hospitals for transfusion.
"If we have the slightest doubt about donated blood, we destroy it," she said.
There have been at least 50 cases of Malaysians infected with HIV through blood transfusions.
If patients are unable to do so, their next of kin have to sign on the dotted line on forms introduced in January, endorsed by the doctor in attendance and a witness.
More than 470,000 units of blood are collected annually, of which 8,500 units are disposed of for a variety of reasons, including infections.
The need for consent is seen by some as the ministry absolving itself of responsibility, but is stoutly defended by the authorities.
Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said that although the consent form may resemble a disclaimer, this was not the case.
"The ministry is not washing its hands of responsibility in ensuring that all blood supplied is clean and safe," he told the New Straits Times.
National Blood Bank director Dr Yasmin Ayob described it as a move to inform patients and family members of the advantages and risks involved in blood transfusions.
"It’s just like getting informed consent from family members before any other medical procedure like surgery in hospitals," she said.
Informed consent for blood transfusion accords with international acceptance standards, shoring up the ministry’s case.
But some members of the public feel the ministry is taking the easy way out in the matter.
They think the onus should be on hospitals to ensure that clean and safe blood is used in transfusions, and to be accountable if not.
Lee countered that signed consent was necessary as there was always the slightest risk of contamination.
"There are so many diseases around. We do our part in screening but there is no foolproof system.
"Nowhere in the world can anyone say that blood supplied in transfusions is 100 per cent clean and safe," he said.
Lee said medical staff would inform patients or next of kin of the benefits and risks of blood transfusion before carrying out the procedure with their consent.
Dr Yasmin said it was incumbent on medical staff to inform patients and family members of the risks in any procedure.
"Our aim is to give clean and safe blood to all patients, but the risk is there, as some people may react by getting rashes, fever or other complications," she said.
She said there was also an inherent risk of contracting infectious diseases due to the window period for such infections.
Dr Yasmin said Malaysians preferred to be informed of all procedures: the advantages, disadvantages and risks involved.
She said all blood supplies were screened for hepatitis B and C, HIV, syphilis and other infections.
Dr Yasmin said only safe blood was sent to hospitals for transfusion.
"If we have the slightest doubt about donated blood, we destroy it," she said.
There have been at least 50 cases of Malaysians infected with HIV through blood transfusions.
Malaysian doctors in Britain ‘losing out’
Star: KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian doctors working in Britain are losing out in terms of promotions and job opportunities to their European colleagues.
Prof Dr Lokman Sain, the dean of the medical faculty of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) said he recently visited Ireland and found many Malaysian doctors there stuck as junior housemen and denied promotions as priority was given to European Union doctors.
“Many of our doctors have been sent to the smaller peripheral hospitals as they couldn’t get into the major hospitals in Dublin and Cork,” he said.
“And even at those hospitals, many are just doing junior housemen’s work which limits the amount of expertise and experience they get.
“I feel very upset because recent reports give the impression that doctors do not want to return to Malaysia because of the poor conditions here,” he added, referring to the preliminary report submitted by the UK Executive Council for Malaysian Students.
The report focused largely on why medical students, in particular, were not returning to work in Malaysia, citing reasons such as lower income, poorer working conditions, longer working hours, less-structured training programmes and lower chances of promotion.
“I have worked in Scotland and I can definitely say that Malaysians have more opportunities for training and promotion here; plus our standards here are on par with Britain, if not better.
“The information is misleading as some people will think that it is easier to become specialists in Britain but it is indisputable that we produce more specialists – about 400 specialists a year from UKM, Universiti Malaya and Universiti Sains Malaysia, compared to the 50 or so who come back from Britain every year,” he said.
Prof Lokman said the only reason why Malaysians wanted to remain in Britain was because they could earn more money there and therefore people should not blame the Government or the system.
“In fact, the foreign examiners who come to our hospitals have always said that our standards are high and our medical schools are of international standing as they are accredited by the Malaysian Medical Council according to international standards.
“I think that the people who wrote the report are misinformed. They have not been in touch with the doctors and the medical community,” he said.
However, a houseman here who declined to be named, said there were many areas in local hospitals which needed vast improvements to woo back those working overseas.
“For example, yesterday I was forced to work for close to 36 consecutive hours, with only 15-minute breaks for meals,” he said.
“I believe the situation in Britain is different as there are labour laws on the maximum number of hours one is allowed to work consecutively.
“We feel that the Health Minister (Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek), would be the key person to alleviate these problems, as the changes he’s made so far have already caused positive responses,” he added.
Prof Dr Lokman Sain, the dean of the medical faculty of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) said he recently visited Ireland and found many Malaysian doctors there stuck as junior housemen and denied promotions as priority was given to European Union doctors.
“Many of our doctors have been sent to the smaller peripheral hospitals as they couldn’t get into the major hospitals in Dublin and Cork,” he said.
“And even at those hospitals, many are just doing junior housemen’s work which limits the amount of expertise and experience they get.
“I feel very upset because recent reports give the impression that doctors do not want to return to Malaysia because of the poor conditions here,” he added, referring to the preliminary report submitted by the UK Executive Council for Malaysian Students.
The report focused largely on why medical students, in particular, were not returning to work in Malaysia, citing reasons such as lower income, poorer working conditions, longer working hours, less-structured training programmes and lower chances of promotion.
“I have worked in Scotland and I can definitely say that Malaysians have more opportunities for training and promotion here; plus our standards here are on par with Britain, if not better.
“The information is misleading as some people will think that it is easier to become specialists in Britain but it is indisputable that we produce more specialists – about 400 specialists a year from UKM, Universiti Malaya and Universiti Sains Malaysia, compared to the 50 or so who come back from Britain every year,” he said.
Prof Lokman said the only reason why Malaysians wanted to remain in Britain was because they could earn more money there and therefore people should not blame the Government or the system.
“In fact, the foreign examiners who come to our hospitals have always said that our standards are high and our medical schools are of international standing as they are accredited by the Malaysian Medical Council according to international standards.
“I think that the people who wrote the report are misinformed. They have not been in touch with the doctors and the medical community,” he said.
However, a houseman here who declined to be named, said there were many areas in local hospitals which needed vast improvements to woo back those working overseas.
“For example, yesterday I was forced to work for close to 36 consecutive hours, with only 15-minute breaks for meals,” he said.
“I believe the situation in Britain is different as there are labour laws on the maximum number of hours one is allowed to work consecutively.
“We feel that the Health Minister (Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek), would be the key person to alleviate these problems, as the changes he’s made so far have already caused positive responses,” he added.
Cerebral palsy sufferer Siti Harisah dies
Star: SIK: Siti Harisah Azizan, who suffered from cerebral palsy for the last 23 years and was paralysed for the last four years, passed away at Sik Hospital yesterday.
She was taken to the hospital at 9am yesterday as she was suffering from high fever.
Her brother-in-law Zanudin Arafadin said Siti Harisah, 23, was just about to be admitted into the ward when she died at 1.30pm yesterday.
The Star had on April 12 highlighted her plight and donors had chipped in to help her.
Her mother Robiah Salleh said Siti Harisah had been admitted to Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM) in Cheras for further check-ups but she took her home last Thursday.
Siti Harisah had been admitted to HUKM on April 19 after consultants there offered to analyse her disease and recommend treatment for her.
But Robiah asked to take her daughter back to Sik after she underwent gentle physical therapy.
When they arrived home on Friday, Siti Harisah came down with high fever.
She was taken to Sik Hospital yesterday morning.
Robiah, who was with Siti Harisah when she died, said her daughter passed away peacefully while receiving medication.
Siti Harisah, who was palsied and disabled since she was a baby, became totally paralysed in 2002.
From then on, her condition worsened with her bones becoming totally deformed.
Siti Harisah was buried at the Sik Muslim Cemetery near her home in Kampung Mandoi last night.
She was taken to the hospital at 9am yesterday as she was suffering from high fever.
Her brother-in-law Zanudin Arafadin said Siti Harisah, 23, was just about to be admitted into the ward when she died at 1.30pm yesterday.
The Star had on April 12 highlighted her plight and donors had chipped in to help her.
Her mother Robiah Salleh said Siti Harisah had been admitted to Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM) in Cheras for further check-ups but she took her home last Thursday.
Siti Harisah had been admitted to HUKM on April 19 after consultants there offered to analyse her disease and recommend treatment for her.
But Robiah asked to take her daughter back to Sik after she underwent gentle physical therapy.
When they arrived home on Friday, Siti Harisah came down with high fever.
She was taken to Sik Hospital yesterday morning.
Robiah, who was with Siti Harisah when she died, said her daughter passed away peacefully while receiving medication.
Siti Harisah, who was palsied and disabled since she was a baby, became totally paralysed in 2002.
From then on, her condition worsened with her bones becoming totally deformed.
Siti Harisah was buried at the Sik Muslim Cemetery near her home in Kampung Mandoi last night.
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