TheEdgeDaily Masterskill (M) Sdn Bhd, which operates Southeast Asia's largest private nursing and health college, will build a RM400 million campus in the country to realise its ambition of growing the homegrown brand into a niche player on the global stage.
Its chief executive officer Edmund Santhara said the company has identified a 32ha piece of land in Cyberjaya as a possible site for the proposed University College of Health Sciences Malaysia (UniHealth), which will be developed over three phases beginning next year.
"No final decision (on the site) has been made yet because we are also considering offers of land from Perak and Sabah for the project. The first phase will cost RM250 million and is scheduled for completion in 2009.
"When fully completed, UniHealth can accommodate 15,000 students. We hope to get university college status soon. By 2010, we would like to approach the government to privatise its training centres to us," he told a group of Malaysian journalists at a briefing in Bali on Nov 11.
Edmund said Masterskill also is eyeing a listing on the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia by September 2008 and is establishing a string of partnerships with big international names over the next two years.
"A reputable foreign company is keen to invest some RM100 million in Masterskill. They see us as an international vehicle that will provide synergy to their business," he said.
Masterskill is 95% owned by Alloy Media Sdn Bhd, a company controlled by the family of MTD Capital Bhd executive chairman Datuk Dr Nik Hussain Abdul Rahman with the balance 5% by Edmund.
Masterskill started with just 61 students in 2001 but the Masterskill College of Nursing and Health in Cheras, on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, now has a student population of 4,720.
Masterskill chairman Datuk Dr Mohd Yahya Nordin is just as bullish about the company's prospects, saying it is well-positioned to tap into the global market, which suffers from a perennial shortage of nurses.
"There is already a platform for us to make Malaysia a centre of excellence for higher education. It's time to tap into the Middle East market," said Yahya, who joined Masterskill early this year after retiring as Higher Education Ministry secretary-general.
He was referring to the Memorandum of Understanding on higher education signed between Saudi Arabia and Malaysia this year.
Masterskill, one of four nursing colleges accorded full accreditation by the government, would be taking in its first batch of 250 foreign students next year, including from Bangladesh and India, Yahya said.
Edmund said it has also identified a partner to operate a campus in the Middle East, adding that the move to go global would see the foreign component of sales contributing to 5% of group revenue in the next three years.
"By 2010, there is a possibility of external operations contributing more than the local business because we will be charging in US dollars (for foreign operations)," he said.
Masterskill expects to launch a 4+0 pharmacy, nursing and physiotherapy programme in affiliation with La Trobe University by February next year, making the college the Australian university's first such partner outside Australia. It is also looking into franchising its own programmes in Bangladesh and Indonesia.
On the company's performance, he said Masterskill's profits had increased. He said Masterskill generated a revenue of RM18 million in 2005 but made an after-tax profit of only RM1 million because it had to settle a lot of accumulated debts.
For 2006, it has forecast an after-tax profit of about RM14 million on the back of RM45 million in revenue, while the projections for 2007 are RM110 million in revenue and between RM25 million and RM28 million in after-tax profit.
"We have not declared any dividends yet, and the profits have been reinvested to grow the business. The whole idea is to grow until it gets listed," he said.
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
Monday, November 13, 2006
Ban kiddie packs now, says group
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Every day, 50 children pick up the smoking habit.
And what is even more alarming is that more than 30,000 children have started smoking in the last two years — a worrying trend blamed on the delay in banning the sale of cigarettes in packs of fewer than 20 sticks.
Urging Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to impose the ban immediately, Malaysian Women’s Action for Tobacco Control and Health (MyWatch) president Datuk Hatijah Ayob said it was the only way to prevent cigarettes from further harming children’s health.
"Do not wait until 2010 to implement the ban as it is causing potential harm to children," she said.
The Health Ministry had earlier decided to ban the sale of small packs with fewer than 20 sticks in conjunction with this year’s World No Tobacco Day. The ban should have come into force from July 1.
But it did not happen. There are now proposals to amend Part III 9(1) of the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004 to postpone the ban to 2010. At present, packs with fewer than 14 sticks are banned.
Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said it was the government’s decision to postpone the ban to 2010.
The postponement is to give the 14,000 tobacco farmers in Kelantan and Terengganu time to switch to other crops.
Hatijah, who submitted MyWatch’s findings to the Health Ministry and Prime Minister’s Department early last week, told the New Straits Times that any delay in the ban would only lead to an increase in smoking among children and escalate the cost of treating smoking-related diseases in the future.
"The welfare of the 14,000 tobacco farmers and the livelihood of 150,000 people involved in the tobacco industry are often cited as a reason to postpone tobacco control measures. However, the well-being and health of the nation’s children should also not be sacrificed."
In the report by MyWatch, it was disclosed that older (16 to 17 years) urban-based schoolchildren, who are financially better off, smoked 10 to 15 cigarettes a day compared with younger (13 to 15 years) children who smoked five to 10 daily.
Semi-rural children from both age groups smoked less — between two and four a day. The bulk of young smokers, for both age groups and sex, light up two to five a day.
A survey by Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, in 2003, also found that children picked up the habit from as early as 10 years.
Hatijah said postponement of the ban would not help protect children from tobacco as students had easy access to small packs which were affordable and easy to carry.
Surveys have shown that about 96,000 retail outlets throughout the country sell cigarettes. The surveys also show that cigarettes are accessible to youngsters because 58 per cent can buy their own cigarettes.
"We fail to see how postponing the ban on ‘kiddie packs’ to 2010 is going to protect children from smoking," said Hatijah who is hoping Abdullah will take a personal interest.
"After all, it was the Prime Minister himself who launched the first phase of the RM100 million Tak Nak anti-smoking media campaign in February 2004."
The government also ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) last year, which obligates parties to protect present and future generations from the health and economic consequences of tobacco consumption.
In Malaysia, the toll from smoking is a major cause of concern. More than 10,000 die every year due to cardiovascular diseases, cancer and respiratory complications due to smoking, about one death an hour.
The health costs for just three diseases — ischaemic heart disease, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — came to about RM3 billion in 2004, 0.1 to 1.1 per cent of gross domestic product.
MyWatch also urged Abdullah to set up and head an executive National Tobacco Control Co-ordination Board.
"The board could draw up a national tobacco control policy providing strategies to curb smoking, especially among children, step up efforts to assist young smokers to quit and monitor the activities of the tobacco industry in accordance with the provisions of the FCTC," said Hatijah.
And what is even more alarming is that more than 30,000 children have started smoking in the last two years — a worrying trend blamed on the delay in banning the sale of cigarettes in packs of fewer than 20 sticks.
Urging Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to impose the ban immediately, Malaysian Women’s Action for Tobacco Control and Health (MyWatch) president Datuk Hatijah Ayob said it was the only way to prevent cigarettes from further harming children’s health.
"Do not wait until 2010 to implement the ban as it is causing potential harm to children," she said.
The Health Ministry had earlier decided to ban the sale of small packs with fewer than 20 sticks in conjunction with this year’s World No Tobacco Day. The ban should have come into force from July 1.
But it did not happen. There are now proposals to amend Part III 9(1) of the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004 to postpone the ban to 2010. At present, packs with fewer than 14 sticks are banned.
Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said it was the government’s decision to postpone the ban to 2010.
The postponement is to give the 14,000 tobacco farmers in Kelantan and Terengganu time to switch to other crops.
Hatijah, who submitted MyWatch’s findings to the Health Ministry and Prime Minister’s Department early last week, told the New Straits Times that any delay in the ban would only lead to an increase in smoking among children and escalate the cost of treating smoking-related diseases in the future.
"The welfare of the 14,000 tobacco farmers and the livelihood of 150,000 people involved in the tobacco industry are often cited as a reason to postpone tobacco control measures. However, the well-being and health of the nation’s children should also not be sacrificed."
In the report by MyWatch, it was disclosed that older (16 to 17 years) urban-based schoolchildren, who are financially better off, smoked 10 to 15 cigarettes a day compared with younger (13 to 15 years) children who smoked five to 10 daily.
Semi-rural children from both age groups smoked less — between two and four a day. The bulk of young smokers, for both age groups and sex, light up two to five a day.
A survey by Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, in 2003, also found that children picked up the habit from as early as 10 years.
Hatijah said postponement of the ban would not help protect children from tobacco as students had easy access to small packs which were affordable and easy to carry.
Surveys have shown that about 96,000 retail outlets throughout the country sell cigarettes. The surveys also show that cigarettes are accessible to youngsters because 58 per cent can buy their own cigarettes.
"We fail to see how postponing the ban on ‘kiddie packs’ to 2010 is going to protect children from smoking," said Hatijah who is hoping Abdullah will take a personal interest.
"After all, it was the Prime Minister himself who launched the first phase of the RM100 million Tak Nak anti-smoking media campaign in February 2004."
The government also ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) last year, which obligates parties to protect present and future generations from the health and economic consequences of tobacco consumption.
In Malaysia, the toll from smoking is a major cause of concern. More than 10,000 die every year due to cardiovascular diseases, cancer and respiratory complications due to smoking, about one death an hour.
The health costs for just three diseases — ischaemic heart disease, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — came to about RM3 billion in 2004, 0.1 to 1.1 per cent of gross domestic product.
MyWatch also urged Abdullah to set up and head an executive National Tobacco Control Co-ordination Board.
"The board could draw up a national tobacco control policy providing strategies to curb smoking, especially among children, step up efforts to assist young smokers to quit and monitor the activities of the tobacco industry in accordance with the provisions of the FCTC," said Hatijah.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Chua: Irresponsible actions hurting pork industry
NST: JOHOR BARU: The irresponsible actions of some pig farmers in Selangor and Malacca in using a banned growth enhancer has hurt the country’s pork industry, as consumers now fear eating pork.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, however, said pork produced by farms in Johor, Perak and Penang have been found to be free of beta-agonist.
Since the ban on beta-agonist in 1996, pork butchers had become the scapegoat for the action of errant farmers who used the drug, which is listed under the Poisons Schedule.
It was reported that at least 20 pork butchers nationwide had been fined RM2,000 for selling pork tested positive for beta-agonist over the last two years. No farmer, however, has faced legal action.
In May, the Consumers Association of Penang advised consumers to refrain from eating pork as half of the samples tested in Penang showed they were tainted with salbutamol, a type of beta-agonist.
MCA traditional agriculture bureau chief Datuk Dr Lee Chong Meng had reported that 70 per cent of the pigs bred in Selangor tested positive for the banned drug.
Beta-agonist is used to speed up the growth of pigs, and enhance its lean meat content.
Consumers who eat pork tainted with the substance could suffer from headaches, dizziness, breathing difficulties and palpitations. The substance may be fatal for those with asthma or heart disease.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, however, said pork produced by farms in Johor, Perak and Penang have been found to be free of beta-agonist.
Since the ban on beta-agonist in 1996, pork butchers had become the scapegoat for the action of errant farmers who used the drug, which is listed under the Poisons Schedule.
It was reported that at least 20 pork butchers nationwide had been fined RM2,000 for selling pork tested positive for beta-agonist over the last two years. No farmer, however, has faced legal action.
In May, the Consumers Association of Penang advised consumers to refrain from eating pork as half of the samples tested in Penang showed they were tainted with salbutamol, a type of beta-agonist.
MCA traditional agriculture bureau chief Datuk Dr Lee Chong Meng had reported that 70 per cent of the pigs bred in Selangor tested positive for the banned drug.
Beta-agonist is used to speed up the growth of pigs, and enhance its lean meat content.
Consumers who eat pork tainted with the substance could suffer from headaches, dizziness, breathing difficulties and palpitations. The substance may be fatal for those with asthma or heart disease.
Come back and your spouse can work
NST: PUTRAJAYA: Foreign spouses of Malaysian experts are now permitted to work as part of the steps to boost the number of professionals in the country.
The Cabinet decided on Wednesday that this ruling applies to both husbands and wives who are professionals or experts in their respective fields.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn said the ruling applies to non-citizen spouses of those who return under the Expert Returnee Programme or those who come back on their own and are waiting for permanent resident status.
At present, non-citizens and those waiting for their PR are not allowed to work.
"The Cabinet felt that foreign spouses of Malaysians should be allowed to contribute and be gainfully employed, especially those with expertise not found in Malaysia or in areas where they can contribute very significantly."
Fong said he was aware of many medical specialists who had returned from Britain and the United States with their non-citizen spouses who are also doctors, many of them specialising in certain fields of medicine.
"While the Malaysian spouse works, the wife or the husband has to stay at home and is denied the opportunity to serve in the hospitals."
Fong added the Cabinet felt that this was a waste of expertise which could benefit Malaysians.
The Immigration Department has been told to look into speeding up the process to enable the foreign spouses to be employed.
When the Expert Returnee Programme was introduced in 2001, the government expected several thousand Malaysians abroad to return home and serve the country.
Until today, only 465 applications were received and approved, and only 311 had returned.
Among them were 149 doctors, 114 information technology experts and the rest were accountants, finance experts, industrialists and those in the field of science and technology.
The majority of those who returned were from Britain, the US, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Fong hoped the Cabinet’s decision would encourage more Malaysian experts to return home with their spouse and children.
"The foreign spouse will not need a work permit and even if there is a need for one, it would be approved without any problem whatsoever," he said.
The spouse and children can also get their PR status within six months and the children can study in international schools.
Other incentives include the bringing in of two vehicles without import tax. If those returning are from countries such as the United States and China, where left-hand-drive vehicles are used, they would be allowed to buy right-hand-drive vehicles from third countries and bring them in with no import tax.
They are also given the choice of buying two locally-assembled cars with no import duty and excise tax.
On top of that, they are also allowed to bring in two years’ earnings tax free.
On why many Malaysians abroad were reluctant to come back and serve, Fong said this was because only medical and financial experts could find jobs which offered the same pay as they got overseas.
He said experts in these fields could easily get between RM30,000 and RM40,000 a month which would allow them to live in the same way as they did in London or Hong Kong.
As for professors or lecturers, he said, the salaries offered at the local universities were much lower than those offered overseas.
"The salaries offered do not meet the international standards and so, it is very difficult to attract them."
Fong said that private sector bodies which offered salaries and remuneration on par with international standards had no problems getting Malaysians from overseas to join them.
As for returning scientists, Fong said, the government through the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry was looking into a variety of schemes such as the availability of research grants.
"It’s important for us to get our scientists back.
"There are many Malaysian scientists working in Singapore, Hong Kong and London and we want them to return, especially those working in the areas of biotechnology, stem cell research and biofuel research.
"They can make use of natural resources available in the country."
Another area that is in need of Ma- laysian scientists is herbal medicine.
"India has done well and its herbal treatment industry is flourishing and so is China with its research programmes on herbal medicine.
"With our biodiversity, this is one of the areas where we need more experts."
Fong said the Health Ministry was working with the Human Resources Ministry to attract more Malaysian herbal scientists to return.
The Cabinet decided on Wednesday that this ruling applies to both husbands and wives who are professionals or experts in their respective fields.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn said the ruling applies to non-citizen spouses of those who return under the Expert Returnee Programme or those who come back on their own and are waiting for permanent resident status.
At present, non-citizens and those waiting for their PR are not allowed to work.
"The Cabinet felt that foreign spouses of Malaysians should be allowed to contribute and be gainfully employed, especially those with expertise not found in Malaysia or in areas where they can contribute very significantly."
Fong said he was aware of many medical specialists who had returned from Britain and the United States with their non-citizen spouses who are also doctors, many of them specialising in certain fields of medicine.
"While the Malaysian spouse works, the wife or the husband has to stay at home and is denied the opportunity to serve in the hospitals."
Fong added the Cabinet felt that this was a waste of expertise which could benefit Malaysians.
The Immigration Department has been told to look into speeding up the process to enable the foreign spouses to be employed.
When the Expert Returnee Programme was introduced in 2001, the government expected several thousand Malaysians abroad to return home and serve the country.
Until today, only 465 applications were received and approved, and only 311 had returned.
Among them were 149 doctors, 114 information technology experts and the rest were accountants, finance experts, industrialists and those in the field of science and technology.
The majority of those who returned were from Britain, the US, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Fong hoped the Cabinet’s decision would encourage more Malaysian experts to return home with their spouse and children.
"The foreign spouse will not need a work permit and even if there is a need for one, it would be approved without any problem whatsoever," he said.
The spouse and children can also get their PR status within six months and the children can study in international schools.
Other incentives include the bringing in of two vehicles without import tax. If those returning are from countries such as the United States and China, where left-hand-drive vehicles are used, they would be allowed to buy right-hand-drive vehicles from third countries and bring them in with no import tax.
They are also given the choice of buying two locally-assembled cars with no import duty and excise tax.
On top of that, they are also allowed to bring in two years’ earnings tax free.
On why many Malaysians abroad were reluctant to come back and serve, Fong said this was because only medical and financial experts could find jobs which offered the same pay as they got overseas.
He said experts in these fields could easily get between RM30,000 and RM40,000 a month which would allow them to live in the same way as they did in London or Hong Kong.
As for professors or lecturers, he said, the salaries offered at the local universities were much lower than those offered overseas.
"The salaries offered do not meet the international standards and so, it is very difficult to attract them."
Fong said that private sector bodies which offered salaries and remuneration on par with international standards had no problems getting Malaysians from overseas to join them.
As for returning scientists, Fong said, the government through the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry was looking into a variety of schemes such as the availability of research grants.
"It’s important for us to get our scientists back.
"There are many Malaysian scientists working in Singapore, Hong Kong and London and we want them to return, especially those working in the areas of biotechnology, stem cell research and biofuel research.
"They can make use of natural resources available in the country."
Another area that is in need of Ma- laysian scientists is herbal medicine.
"India has done well and its herbal treatment industry is flourishing and so is China with its research programmes on herbal medicine.
"With our biodiversity, this is one of the areas where we need more experts."
Fong said the Health Ministry was working with the Human Resources Ministry to attract more Malaysian herbal scientists to return.
Plucky girl gets rare implant
Star: PETALING JAYA: Yvonne Foong, the 20-year-old who raised her own funds to treat her genetically incurable disease, has become the first Malaysian to have an auditory brainstem implant (ABI).
The only child of a freelance landscape contractor, she suffers from NF2, a rare form of neurofibromatosis – an illness of the nervous system where tumours grow on the hearing nerves and affect a person's ability to hear.
Her Nov 4 surgery in Los Angeles was the fourth major one she had undergone since she was diagnosed with NF2 at the age of 13, according to Subang Jaya state assemblyman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng.
She raised RM230,000 on her own to finance her operation and speaks of her experience on her website www.yvonnefoong.com.
Yvonne had a 24-channel, multi-electrode ABI placed in her ear. The ABI is the only hearing aid that is suitable for patients of NF2. Conventional hearing aids do not work on them.
Yvonne is deaf in her right ear and is unable to balance properly. She withdrew into a life of loneliness after NF2 forced her to give up music, ballet and figure skating.
However, instead of giving up on life or asking for handouts, she has worked hard to raise money for her operation by selling T-shirts, organising rock concerts, giving motivational talks and writing a book about living with NF titled I Am Not Sick, Just A Bit Unwell.
True grit won her the Asian Youth Ambassadors’ Most Outstanding Youth of the Year award last year.
Meanwhile, her townsfolk in Subang Jaya have started a fund-raising campaign for Yvonne and will hold their third charity golf tournament in her aid.
They have collected RM16,000 so far, with developer Emko Properties Sdn Bhd donating RM10,000.
The rest came from Lee (RM5,000) and Jackie Yap, whose daughter is a friend of Yvonne’s (RM1,000).
Lee said money from the charity golf event, to be held at the Kota Permai Golf and Country Club on Dec 3, would help meet Yvonne’s surgery expenses and also follow-up treatment in Los Angeles.
“I really admire her determination. She has managed to raise so much through her own effort.
“We hope to contribute money to help ease her financial worries and let her concentrate on getting well.”
For details, contact Lee's service centre (tel: 03-8023 6580, fax: 03-8023 6549).
The only child of a freelance landscape contractor, she suffers from NF2, a rare form of neurofibromatosis – an illness of the nervous system where tumours grow on the hearing nerves and affect a person's ability to hear.
Her Nov 4 surgery in Los Angeles was the fourth major one she had undergone since she was diagnosed with NF2 at the age of 13, according to Subang Jaya state assemblyman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng.
She raised RM230,000 on her own to finance her operation and speaks of her experience on her website www.yvonnefoong.com.
Yvonne had a 24-channel, multi-electrode ABI placed in her ear. The ABI is the only hearing aid that is suitable for patients of NF2. Conventional hearing aids do not work on them.
Yvonne is deaf in her right ear and is unable to balance properly. She withdrew into a life of loneliness after NF2 forced her to give up music, ballet and figure skating.
However, instead of giving up on life or asking for handouts, she has worked hard to raise money for her operation by selling T-shirts, organising rock concerts, giving motivational talks and writing a book about living with NF titled I Am Not Sick, Just A Bit Unwell.
True grit won her the Asian Youth Ambassadors’ Most Outstanding Youth of the Year award last year.
Meanwhile, her townsfolk in Subang Jaya have started a fund-raising campaign for Yvonne and will hold their third charity golf tournament in her aid.
They have collected RM16,000 so far, with developer Emko Properties Sdn Bhd donating RM10,000.
The rest came from Lee (RM5,000) and Jackie Yap, whose daughter is a friend of Yvonne’s (RM1,000).
Lee said money from the charity golf event, to be held at the Kota Permai Golf and Country Club on Dec 3, would help meet Yvonne’s surgery expenses and also follow-up treatment in Los Angeles.
“I really admire her determination. She has managed to raise so much through her own effort.
“We hope to contribute money to help ease her financial worries and let her concentrate on getting well.”
For details, contact Lee's service centre (tel: 03-8023 6580, fax: 03-8023 6549).
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Fencing out the bird flu
Star: KUALA LUMPUR: Farmers who practise integrated farming must separate the various animals with fences to reduce the risk of H5N1 avian influenza virus transmission.
Although the fencing might cost farmers some money initially, this would be beneficial in the long run, said Dr B. Venugopalan, technical officer at the World Health Organisation representative office for Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore here yesterday.
While pigs were good hosts for avian influenza viruses as well as human influenza viruses, ducks were carriers of the virus even though they were not infected, he said at the Avian Influenza (H5N1) editors briefing.
Besides good husbandry practice, contact between poultry and wild birds too should be minimised, he said.
“Although Malaysia had no cases of humans infected by the H5N1 avian influenza, the momentum of preparedness has to be sustained for years to come,” he said.
“We cannot be complacent because in some countries, outbreaks and deaths are still being reported,” he said.
From December 2003 to October this year, 10 countries reported cases of human avian influenza H5N1 infection. Vietnam reported the highest number of cases – 93, with 42 deaths. Indonesia reported 72 cases with 55 deaths.
The spread of the virus from animals to humans was currently not efficient.
However, if the avian influenza virus combined with human influenza virus to create a new human influenza that could spread from humans to humans, it would cause a global outbreak, said Dr Venugopalan.
This can occur when:
·A PIG absorbs the bird flu virus from birds and humans, brings about a mutated strain and passes it to someone who is suffering from human influenza;
·A PERSON absorbs avian influenza virus and human flu virus and spreads a mutated version of the virus to another person; or
·A PERSON who has human influenza virus absorbs avian flu virus from a bird.
For H5N1 treatment, the anti-viral drug has to be taken within 48 hours for it to be effective, but often patients come after that, thinking that they only had common colds, Dr Venugopalan said.
Nevertheless, the drug could still reduce some of the virus.
He said it was not advisable for people to stock up anti-viral drugs at home because the drugs need a doctor's prescription and if not taken in the right dosage, drug resistance might occur.
People must maintain a basic hygiene routine such as washing hands and covering one's mouth and nose when sneezing, he said.
“Vigilance is crucial. And it's not just about monitoring avian flu but having good health,” he said.
Although the fencing might cost farmers some money initially, this would be beneficial in the long run, said Dr B. Venugopalan, technical officer at the World Health Organisation representative office for Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore here yesterday.
While pigs were good hosts for avian influenza viruses as well as human influenza viruses, ducks were carriers of the virus even though they were not infected, he said at the Avian Influenza (H5N1) editors briefing.
Besides good husbandry practice, contact between poultry and wild birds too should be minimised, he said.
“Although Malaysia had no cases of humans infected by the H5N1 avian influenza, the momentum of preparedness has to be sustained for years to come,” he said.
“We cannot be complacent because in some countries, outbreaks and deaths are still being reported,” he said.
From December 2003 to October this year, 10 countries reported cases of human avian influenza H5N1 infection. Vietnam reported the highest number of cases – 93, with 42 deaths. Indonesia reported 72 cases with 55 deaths.
The spread of the virus from animals to humans was currently not efficient.
However, if the avian influenza virus combined with human influenza virus to create a new human influenza that could spread from humans to humans, it would cause a global outbreak, said Dr Venugopalan.
This can occur when:
·A PIG absorbs the bird flu virus from birds and humans, brings about a mutated strain and passes it to someone who is suffering from human influenza;
·A PERSON absorbs avian influenza virus and human flu virus and spreads a mutated version of the virus to another person; or
·A PERSON who has human influenza virus absorbs avian flu virus from a bird.
For H5N1 treatment, the anti-viral drug has to be taken within 48 hours for it to be effective, but often patients come after that, thinking that they only had common colds, Dr Venugopalan said.
Nevertheless, the drug could still reduce some of the virus.
He said it was not advisable for people to stock up anti-viral drugs at home because the drugs need a doctor's prescription and if not taken in the right dosage, drug resistance might occur.
People must maintain a basic hygiene routine such as washing hands and covering one's mouth and nose when sneezing, he said.
“Vigilance is crucial. And it's not just about monitoring avian flu but having good health,” he said.
Friday, November 10, 2006
MyWatch: Ban 14-stick packs now
Star: KUALA LUMPUR: Fourteen-stick cigarette packs should be banned immediately, the Malaysian Women’s Action for Tobacco Control and Heath (MyWATCH) urged.
MyWATCH president Datuk Hatijah Ayob said she was disappointed that the ban did not take place in July as stated by the Health Ministry.
“We fail to understand how postponing the ban on ‘kiddie packs’ to 2010 will protect children from smoking,” she said.
Currently, cigarettes are sold in 20-stick and 14-stick packs. She said minors go for the 14-pack because it was cheaper.
Earlier this year, the Health Ministry decided to ban sales of 14-stick packs beginning July 1, in conjunction with the 2006 World No Tobacco Day.
Hatijah said the ban did not take place and there had been proposals to amend the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations to postpone the ban to 2010.
MyWATCH president Datuk Hatijah Ayob said she was disappointed that the ban did not take place in July as stated by the Health Ministry.
“We fail to understand how postponing the ban on ‘kiddie packs’ to 2010 will protect children from smoking,” she said.
Currently, cigarettes are sold in 20-stick and 14-stick packs. She said minors go for the 14-pack because it was cheaper.
Earlier this year, the Health Ministry decided to ban sales of 14-stick packs beginning July 1, in conjunction with the 2006 World No Tobacco Day.
Hatijah said the ban did not take place and there had been proposals to amend the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations to postpone the ban to 2010.
Chua: Many farmers may be using beta-agonist in pig feed
Star: KUALA LUMPUR: Eat less pork as many pig farmers are suspected of using the banned drug beta-agonist in their pig feed.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek urged consumers to be patient until the authorities complete their checks on pig farmers and pork sellers.
Beta agonist is used to force pigs to mature faster with a higher amount of lean meat, but it can cause palpitation, headaches and even death, especially in heart patients.
“The demand in Selangor is 3,500 pigs a day, half of which are slaughtered in illegal slaughter houses,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby here yesterday.
He said farmers were suspected of feeding pigs with beta-agonist for speedy growth to cash in on the high pork prices.
He had earlier met with Federation of Livestock Farmers Association of Malaysia representatives, Deputy Agriculture and Agro-Based Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shariff Omar and state executive councillors at Parliament House.
Dr Chua said farmers would now be required to sign an undertaking in front of a commissioner for oaths when they wanted to renew their annual licence that their livestock would not be fed beta-agonist.
“If the authorities find beta-agonist in the pigs, the farmer will first be given a stern warning,” he added.
“But if the farmer repeats the offence, his pigs will be quarantined for a month so that they are not sold, exported or slaughtered illegally. If the farmer commits the offence for the third time, his farm will be closed.”
He also said pork sellers would be required to produce the invoice from their supplier or farmers to ensure that they did not buy from those who used beta-agonist.
“If the seller fails to do so, he will be fined RM100,000 and jailed five years,” he said.
Dr Chua said he would work with the Housing and Local Government Ministry to identify illegal slaughterhouses.
“We will conduct raids and random checks on farmers and pork sellers,” he added.
Food Safety and Quality Division director Dr Abd Rahim Mohamad, who was present, said farmers using beta-agonist had three weeks from now to get rid of the drug before enforcement began.
Dr Chua also said animal feed containing beta-agonist would be listed under restricted orders. This means the feed can be inspected.
Chua said that the ministry had not found any pharmacist selling beta-agonist.
“The beta-agonist used are likely to be smuggled in from neighbouring countries.”
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek urged consumers to be patient until the authorities complete their checks on pig farmers and pork sellers.
Beta agonist is used to force pigs to mature faster with a higher amount of lean meat, but it can cause palpitation, headaches and even death, especially in heart patients.
“The demand in Selangor is 3,500 pigs a day, half of which are slaughtered in illegal slaughter houses,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby here yesterday.
He said farmers were suspected of feeding pigs with beta-agonist for speedy growth to cash in on the high pork prices.
He had earlier met with Federation of Livestock Farmers Association of Malaysia representatives, Deputy Agriculture and Agro-Based Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shariff Omar and state executive councillors at Parliament House.
Dr Chua said farmers would now be required to sign an undertaking in front of a commissioner for oaths when they wanted to renew their annual licence that their livestock would not be fed beta-agonist.
“If the authorities find beta-agonist in the pigs, the farmer will first be given a stern warning,” he added.
“But if the farmer repeats the offence, his pigs will be quarantined for a month so that they are not sold, exported or slaughtered illegally. If the farmer commits the offence for the third time, his farm will be closed.”
He also said pork sellers would be required to produce the invoice from their supplier or farmers to ensure that they did not buy from those who used beta-agonist.
“If the seller fails to do so, he will be fined RM100,000 and jailed five years,” he said.
Dr Chua said he would work with the Housing and Local Government Ministry to identify illegal slaughterhouses.
“We will conduct raids and random checks on farmers and pork sellers,” he added.
Food Safety and Quality Division director Dr Abd Rahim Mohamad, who was present, said farmers using beta-agonist had three weeks from now to get rid of the drug before enforcement began.
Dr Chua also said animal feed containing beta-agonist would be listed under restricted orders. This means the feed can be inspected.
Chua said that the ministry had not found any pharmacist selling beta-agonist.
“The beta-agonist used are likely to be smuggled in from neighbouring countries.”
Heavier Penalties Under Amended Poisons Act
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- The amended Poisons Act 1952 that will be tabled in Parliament soon provides for heavier penalties against those who commit offences related to possession and dispensing of scheduled poisons.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said the ministry had prepared the draft bill which, among other things, empowers pharmacy enforcement officers to detain, arrest and conduct an inspection on those suspected to have violated the act.
The act was being amended to overcome the illegal sale of scheduled poisons, including antibiotics, he said during question time in the Dewan Rakyat, here.
Chua was replying to a question from Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam) on the mechanism to enforce the Poisons Act 1952 and the Private Healthcare Facilities & Services Act 1998 as well as the ministry's measures to overcome the illegal sale of antibiotics.
He said that according to the Poisons Act, all premises selling poisons should be licensed and adhere to guidelines in the act, including the sale of poisons according to several classes.
For example, he said poisons in Class B could only be sold with the prescription of a doctor while those in Class A were prohibited from sale in the market and were only used for research.
Chua said the pharmacy enforcement officers would raid premises selling the scheduled poisons (including antibiotics) without a licence and those that sell or dispense scheduled poisons without adherence to the act.
On the Private Healthcare Facilities & Services Act 1998, he said 7,350 clinics had been registered with a registration fee of RM1,500 per clinic.
"The act stipulates that each clinic should have the most basic of facilities and equipment for patients," he said.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said the ministry had prepared the draft bill which, among other things, empowers pharmacy enforcement officers to detain, arrest and conduct an inspection on those suspected to have violated the act.
The act was being amended to overcome the illegal sale of scheduled poisons, including antibiotics, he said during question time in the Dewan Rakyat, here.
Chua was replying to a question from Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam) on the mechanism to enforce the Poisons Act 1952 and the Private Healthcare Facilities & Services Act 1998 as well as the ministry's measures to overcome the illegal sale of antibiotics.
He said that according to the Poisons Act, all premises selling poisons should be licensed and adhere to guidelines in the act, including the sale of poisons according to several classes.
For example, he said poisons in Class B could only be sold with the prescription of a doctor while those in Class A were prohibited from sale in the market and were only used for research.
Chua said the pharmacy enforcement officers would raid premises selling the scheduled poisons (including antibiotics) without a licence and those that sell or dispense scheduled poisons without adherence to the act.
On the Private Healthcare Facilities & Services Act 1998, he said 7,350 clinics had been registered with a registration fee of RM1,500 per clinic.
"The act stipulates that each clinic should have the most basic of facilities and equipment for patients," he said.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Clinics run by NGOs not required to register
Star: PUTRAJAYA: Clinics and hospice services run by non-governmental bodies are not required to register themselves under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act.
Other clinics qualifying for this exemption are health facilities run by factories where the doctors work on a part-time basis or are on scheduled visits, estate and offshore clinics, and those located at ports to provide emergency services.
However, these clinics and hospice centres must still write to the Health Ministry, explaining the reasons for their exemption.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said the Cabinet decided to allow the exemption because most of these clinics were not profit-oriented and were also carrying out beneficial activities.
“Most of the estate clinics don’t actually have doctors serving in them while offshore clinics are located at oil platforms,” he said.
“But dialysis centres run by NGOs will still have to register themselves with the ministry because most of the kidney patients require long-term daily care.
“This is true as well for hospice centres which have hospital-like facilities and whose patients stay in,” he told reporters after hosting the ministry’s joint Hari Raya and Deepavali do here yesterday.
Under the Act, private clinics would have to register themselves or risk a fine up to RM300,000 or six years’ jail or both. The deadline for registration ran out on Oct 31.
Dr Chua said as at yesterday, some 7,350 doctors had registered their clinics with the ministry.
“This is far beyond the initial number of doctors and private clinics we had estimated earlier.
“There are also some who are still in the process of registering,” he said.
He said they would need another month to coordinate follow-up action.
Other clinics qualifying for this exemption are health facilities run by factories where the doctors work on a part-time basis or are on scheduled visits, estate and offshore clinics, and those located at ports to provide emergency services.
However, these clinics and hospice centres must still write to the Health Ministry, explaining the reasons for their exemption.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said the Cabinet decided to allow the exemption because most of these clinics were not profit-oriented and were also carrying out beneficial activities.
“Most of the estate clinics don’t actually have doctors serving in them while offshore clinics are located at oil platforms,” he said.
“But dialysis centres run by NGOs will still have to register themselves with the ministry because most of the kidney patients require long-term daily care.
“This is true as well for hospice centres which have hospital-like facilities and whose patients stay in,” he told reporters after hosting the ministry’s joint Hari Raya and Deepavali do here yesterday.
Under the Act, private clinics would have to register themselves or risk a fine up to RM300,000 or six years’ jail or both. The deadline for registration ran out on Oct 31.
Dr Chua said as at yesterday, some 7,350 doctors had registered their clinics with the ministry.
“This is far beyond the initial number of doctors and private clinics we had estimated earlier.
“There are also some who are still in the process of registering,” he said.
He said they would need another month to coordinate follow-up action.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Errant doctors face RM300,000 fine
NST: PETALING JAYA: The Oct 31 deadline for the registration of clinics has come and gone but there are still some 150 doctors who have not done so.
These errant doctors could expect a knock on their clinic doors soon as Health Ministry officials would be checking their premises which are now deemed illegal.
Enforcement officers are still gathering information before raiding the clinics. Doctors practising in unregistered clinics can be fined up to RM300,000 under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998.
To date, 7,200 doctors have registered their clinics as required under the Act which came into force in May this year.
"Some 98 per cent of private practitioners have registered their clinics. We believe another two per cent have not. We will know the actual figure in two weeks when all the states submit their reports," Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said after opening the five-day Asia-Pacific Joint Forum at the Sheraton Hotel in Subang yesterday.
This would be the first time the ministry would have a comprehensive picture on the private clinics in the country.
"Until now, it was only an estimation. We will now have the actual figure," Dr Chua said, adding that those who had not registered their clinics should do so quickly.
Doctors nationwide were given six months to comply with the Act. Some flexibility was given following meetings with representatives of private hospitals and clinics.
However, there was no compromise where patients’ rights were concerned. These include the right to know, to consent, to air their grievances, to receive emergency treatment and quality care.
These errant doctors could expect a knock on their clinic doors soon as Health Ministry officials would be checking their premises which are now deemed illegal.
Enforcement officers are still gathering information before raiding the clinics. Doctors practising in unregistered clinics can be fined up to RM300,000 under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998.
To date, 7,200 doctors have registered their clinics as required under the Act which came into force in May this year.
"Some 98 per cent of private practitioners have registered their clinics. We believe another two per cent have not. We will know the actual figure in two weeks when all the states submit their reports," Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said after opening the five-day Asia-Pacific Joint Forum at the Sheraton Hotel in Subang yesterday.
This would be the first time the ministry would have a comprehensive picture on the private clinics in the country.
"Until now, it was only an estimation. We will now have the actual figure," Dr Chua said, adding that those who had not registered their clinics should do so quickly.
Doctors nationwide were given six months to comply with the Act. Some flexibility was given following meetings with representatives of private hospitals and clinics.
However, there was no compromise where patients’ rights were concerned. These include the right to know, to consent, to air their grievances, to receive emergency treatment and quality care.
More young people contracting HIV
NST: PETALING JAYA: Every 15 seconds, a young person contracts HIV in East Asia. This shocking statistic illustrates the rapidly growing number of young people infected with the virus.
In Malaysia alone, 35 per cent of reported HIV infections occur among those below 29 years old.
A total of 70,559 HIV infections, including 10,663 AIDS cases, were reported last year.
Over 6,000 young people aged between 15 and 24 years are newly infected throughout the world each year and young people now make up 50 per cent of the world’s new HIV infections.
In addition, there are nearly 1,800 new paediatric infections each day.
With an estimated 930,000 new HIV infections in Asia and the Pacific in 2005, UN agencies have called for urgent efforts to better integrate HIV prevention, treatment and care into maternal and newborn health services.
In China, 40 per cent of infections are among those under 30, and in Vietnam, 63 per cent of infections occur among those under 30.
Thailand sees 28,000 new infections a year, with 50 to 60 per cent comprising children and young people under 24.
UNAIDS director (regional support team for Asia and the Pacific) J.V.R Prasada Rao said the overwhelming majority of HIV infections were sexually transmitted or associated with pregnancy, child birth and breast-feeding.
He said the number of people living with HIV in the Asia-Pacific region was 8.3 million in 2005 and growing.
UNAIDS estimated that by the end of 2003, about 168,000 children in the region were infected, up from 136,000 at the end of 2001. In 2004, in Asia, there were an estimated 155,400 pregnant women infected with HIV and 46,900 children became infected with HIV.
"To prevent new HIV infections in children, we must prevent HIV infection in women," said Richard Leete, UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) resident co-ordinator for Malaysia.
Richard Bridle, Unicef deputy regional director for Asia and the Pacific said: "Many countries in Asia and the Pacific already have national guidelines in place for the prevention of parent to child transmission. Many countries have trained health workers and are introducing treatment."
The Asia-Pacific joint forum, from Nov 6 to 10, brings together health professionals, government representatives, people living with HIV, and civil society groups from 22 countries in the region.
It is jointly organised by WHO (World Health Organisation), Unicef (United Nations Children’s Fund), UNFPA (United Nations Fund for Population Activities) and UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programmes on HIV/AIDS).
Delegates are expected to agree on a framework for stronger links between maternal and child health, family planning, sexual health and counselling and testing for HIV and sexually-transmitted infections.
In Malaysia alone, 35 per cent of reported HIV infections occur among those below 29 years old.
A total of 70,559 HIV infections, including 10,663 AIDS cases, were reported last year.
Over 6,000 young people aged between 15 and 24 years are newly infected throughout the world each year and young people now make up 50 per cent of the world’s new HIV infections.
In addition, there are nearly 1,800 new paediatric infections each day.
With an estimated 930,000 new HIV infections in Asia and the Pacific in 2005, UN agencies have called for urgent efforts to better integrate HIV prevention, treatment and care into maternal and newborn health services.
In China, 40 per cent of infections are among those under 30, and in Vietnam, 63 per cent of infections occur among those under 30.
Thailand sees 28,000 new infections a year, with 50 to 60 per cent comprising children and young people under 24.
UNAIDS director (regional support team for Asia and the Pacific) J.V.R Prasada Rao said the overwhelming majority of HIV infections were sexually transmitted or associated with pregnancy, child birth and breast-feeding.
He said the number of people living with HIV in the Asia-Pacific region was 8.3 million in 2005 and growing.
UNAIDS estimated that by the end of 2003, about 168,000 children in the region were infected, up from 136,000 at the end of 2001. In 2004, in Asia, there were an estimated 155,400 pregnant women infected with HIV and 46,900 children became infected with HIV.
"To prevent new HIV infections in children, we must prevent HIV infection in women," said Richard Leete, UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) resident co-ordinator for Malaysia.
Richard Bridle, Unicef deputy regional director for Asia and the Pacific said: "Many countries in Asia and the Pacific already have national guidelines in place for the prevention of parent to child transmission. Many countries have trained health workers and are introducing treatment."
The Asia-Pacific joint forum, from Nov 6 to 10, brings together health professionals, government representatives, people living with HIV, and civil society groups from 22 countries in the region.
It is jointly organised by WHO (World Health Organisation), Unicef (United Nations Children’s Fund), UNFPA (United Nations Fund for Population Activities) and UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programmes on HIV/AIDS).
Delegates are expected to agree on a framework for stronger links between maternal and child health, family planning, sexual health and counselling and testing for HIV and sexually-transmitted infections.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Reflexologists urged to register themselves for official recognition
NST: Reflexology practitioners have been urged to register with the Malaysian Society for Complementary Therapies to enable them to get official recognition.
The leader of MSCT’s Reflexology Chapter, Abdul Azis Ishak, said this is important as the government is likely to introduce the Traditional and Complementary Medicine (TCM) Act next year to regulate those offering alternative therapies.
He said although there are between 5,000 and 8,000 practitioners, only about 600 are registered with the MSCT which is recognised by the Health Ministry.
“We are conducting a programme to upgrade and formalise the knowledge and skills of existing practitioners because a majority of them do not have formal qualifications,” Abdul Azis said.
As part of the upgrading and formalisation process, members have to attend an induction course conducted by the chapter’s secretariat at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in Skudai, Johor.
Only those who have successfully completed the course would be issued the Annual Practising Certificate for next year. A total of 33 people attended the first course from Sept 6 to 8.
The next course will be held from Nov 28 to 30. MSCT members will have to pay a fee of RM750 while non-members will be charged RM1,034. Call 03-79544521 for details.
The leader of MSCT’s Reflexology Chapter, Abdul Azis Ishak, said this is important as the government is likely to introduce the Traditional and Complementary Medicine (TCM) Act next year to regulate those offering alternative therapies.
He said although there are between 5,000 and 8,000 practitioners, only about 600 are registered with the MSCT which is recognised by the Health Ministry.
“We are conducting a programme to upgrade and formalise the knowledge and skills of existing practitioners because a majority of them do not have formal qualifications,” Abdul Azis said.
As part of the upgrading and formalisation process, members have to attend an induction course conducted by the chapter’s secretariat at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in Skudai, Johor.
Only those who have successfully completed the course would be issued the Annual Practising Certificate for next year. A total of 33 people attended the first course from Sept 6 to 8.
The next course will be held from Nov 28 to 30. MSCT members will have to pay a fee of RM750 while non-members will be charged RM1,034. Call 03-79544521 for details.
Malaysian Breast Cancer Survivor Leaves Mark In New York
NEW YORK, Nov 7 (Bernama) -- When Ranjit Kaur Pritam Singh arrived in New York in early October as the chosen speaker on breast cancer, she hardly realised what an impact she would make not only on the Big Apple but also on the world's patients.
Ranjit delivered her piece to an audience gathered here under the aegis of the Avon Global Breast Cancer Survivors' Day on Oct 5.
Ranjit whose heart-wrenching story has moved many breast cancer victims and given hope to those who are suffering -- many in silence and despair -- spoke on behalf of the world's breast cancer survivors at a gala luncheon hosted by Avon Foundation.
The luncheon was held to honour breast cancer survivors and international breast cancer scientists in celebration of what is the second annual "Walk Around the World for Breast Cancer".
The audience at this high-profiled event held at the prestigious New York Historical Society premises included Avon scholars-research scientists from Brazil, Romania, China, Russia, Egypt, Serbia, Jordan, Turkey and Malaysia.
A spokesperson of the Avon Foundation, a public charity founded in 1955 and committed to the causes of breast cancer and domestic violence, told Bernama that Ranjit was selected because of "her courage and power of sustenance in the face of tremendous human challenges".
Ranjit, who is the president of the Malaysian Breast Cancer Welfare Association, which lists Toh Puan Raja Teh Zaitun Raja Kamarulzaman as the patron, had said in an exclusive interview in New York with Bernama that she is an eight-year breast cancer survivor.
"Although breast cancer occurs mostly in women over age 50, I got it when I was 44. Like many women, I discovered it through a breast self-examination.
"I did not know of any family or friend with breast cancer, and it was only through the education and awareness created by programmes like the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade that I knew how to do the self-examination," she said.
Ranjit, who obtained a Master's science degree in Community Disability Studies from the University College London in 1995, and works in a public affairs capacity with Tanjung Public, said that her "world came apart" when subsequently the examining doctor confirmed that she had breast cancer.
However, she wished that the doctor had given her some time to reflect rather than having her wheeled straight into the operation theatre after revealing to her that she had breast cancer.
"I was simply wheeled into the operation theatre after the doctor told me about my problem," she recalled.
"I was in a state of complete shock. I think the doctor should have given me some time to enable me to prepare myself."
She broke into tears with nobody there to console her. "Since that fateful day, I have had three operations but I would like to advise women suffering from breast cancer to also get their lymph nodes removed.
"Many Malaysian women do not know the consequences of not doing this, which can be problematic."
However, she picked up the pieces of her broken life and decided not only to bounce back but to also give courage and hope to thousands of other women suffering from the disease.
"I met Margaret Gooi, a Malaysian breast cancer survivor who gave me hope and encouragement. I regained my calmness after meeting her. I suddenly regained my confidence and got the impetus to fight the disease," she said.
Ranjit, who has not yet been cured and still undergoes treatment -- chemotherapy which has side-effects such as nausea, a heart-valve problem, etc. -- felt that she had to do something to help others and decided to join the Breast Cancer Welfare Association (BCWA).
"I was very fortunate to have access to good care, but many women in my country are not so lucky. In some parts of Malaysia, good medical care is not available or is too expensive.
"I cannot imagine what it would be like to have breast cancer and not being able to get the treatment needed," she told the Avon gathering.
She advised parents to ensure that their children are not overweight or obese. While little is known still about the exact causes of cancer, she urged parents not to feed fat to their children and make them do regular exercise.
"And women should go for a mammogram once a year. Don't tell me it's painful because the consequences of discovering cancer later can be far too painful."
She lauded the role of Avon Malaysia which has been raising funds to purchase new hospital equipment and has created programmes to help low- income women with breast cancer.
Nik Surina Suria, Avon Malaysia's public relations manager who was with Ranjit in New York, disclosed that Avon Foundation would be giving a grant to the BCWA to launch a fund-raising project.
She said that Avon was keenly following health issues of concern to women in Malaysia, particularly breast cancer.
Ranjit delivered her piece to an audience gathered here under the aegis of the Avon Global Breast Cancer Survivors' Day on Oct 5.
Ranjit whose heart-wrenching story has moved many breast cancer victims and given hope to those who are suffering -- many in silence and despair -- spoke on behalf of the world's breast cancer survivors at a gala luncheon hosted by Avon Foundation.
The luncheon was held to honour breast cancer survivors and international breast cancer scientists in celebration of what is the second annual "Walk Around the World for Breast Cancer".
The audience at this high-profiled event held at the prestigious New York Historical Society premises included Avon scholars-research scientists from Brazil, Romania, China, Russia, Egypt, Serbia, Jordan, Turkey and Malaysia.
A spokesperson of the Avon Foundation, a public charity founded in 1955 and committed to the causes of breast cancer and domestic violence, told Bernama that Ranjit was selected because of "her courage and power of sustenance in the face of tremendous human challenges".
Ranjit, who is the president of the Malaysian Breast Cancer Welfare Association, which lists Toh Puan Raja Teh Zaitun Raja Kamarulzaman as the patron, had said in an exclusive interview in New York with Bernama that she is an eight-year breast cancer survivor.
"Although breast cancer occurs mostly in women over age 50, I got it when I was 44. Like many women, I discovered it through a breast self-examination.
"I did not know of any family or friend with breast cancer, and it was only through the education and awareness created by programmes like the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade that I knew how to do the self-examination," she said.
Ranjit, who obtained a Master's science degree in Community Disability Studies from the University College London in 1995, and works in a public affairs capacity with Tanjung Public, said that her "world came apart" when subsequently the examining doctor confirmed that she had breast cancer.
However, she wished that the doctor had given her some time to reflect rather than having her wheeled straight into the operation theatre after revealing to her that she had breast cancer.
"I was simply wheeled into the operation theatre after the doctor told me about my problem," she recalled.
"I was in a state of complete shock. I think the doctor should have given me some time to enable me to prepare myself."
She broke into tears with nobody there to console her. "Since that fateful day, I have had three operations but I would like to advise women suffering from breast cancer to also get their lymph nodes removed.
"Many Malaysian women do not know the consequences of not doing this, which can be problematic."
However, she picked up the pieces of her broken life and decided not only to bounce back but to also give courage and hope to thousands of other women suffering from the disease.
"I met Margaret Gooi, a Malaysian breast cancer survivor who gave me hope and encouragement. I regained my calmness after meeting her. I suddenly regained my confidence and got the impetus to fight the disease," she said.
Ranjit, who has not yet been cured and still undergoes treatment -- chemotherapy which has side-effects such as nausea, a heart-valve problem, etc. -- felt that she had to do something to help others and decided to join the Breast Cancer Welfare Association (BCWA).
"I was very fortunate to have access to good care, but many women in my country are not so lucky. In some parts of Malaysia, good medical care is not available or is too expensive.
"I cannot imagine what it would be like to have breast cancer and not being able to get the treatment needed," she told the Avon gathering.
She advised parents to ensure that their children are not overweight or obese. While little is known still about the exact causes of cancer, she urged parents not to feed fat to their children and make them do regular exercise.
"And women should go for a mammogram once a year. Don't tell me it's painful because the consequences of discovering cancer later can be far too painful."
She lauded the role of Avon Malaysia which has been raising funds to purchase new hospital equipment and has created programmes to help low- income women with breast cancer.
Nik Surina Suria, Avon Malaysia's public relations manager who was with Ranjit in New York, disclosed that Avon Foundation would be giving a grant to the BCWA to launch a fund-raising project.
She said that Avon was keenly following health issues of concern to women in Malaysia, particularly breast cancer.
PET-CT & Cyclotron Facility At Putrajaya Hospital Launched
PUTRAJAYA, Nov 7 (Bernama) -- Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Fauziah Tengku Abdul Rashid Tuesday opened the PET-CT and Cyclotron Facility at Putrajaya Hospital here, marking the first phase of the formation of the National Cancer Institute.
The scanning of PET-CT (Positron Emission Tomography-Computerised Tomography) through the three-dimensional image would enable doctors to trace the active cells in cancer patients, making treatment more effective.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said, the use of the PET-CT technology had changed the treatment of several types of cancer including lungs, head and neck cancer.
Cyclotron is a machine to produce radiopharmaceutical such as isotop.
In his speech at the function, Dr Chua said the National Cancer Institute which would be set up at the hospital, would be a comprehensive cancer centre which could carry out treatment, rehabilitation, research and other activities connected with treatment of the disease.
Speaking to reporters after the function, he said the government had spent RM23 million on the new facilities at the Putrajaya and Penang Hospitals.
Dr Chua said, the two hospitals currently could carry out scanning on five patients each a day and his ministry planned to equip the Johor Baharu Hospital with similar facilities.
He said, patients who wished to use the service would be charged RM500 for a third class ward, RM5,000 (second class) and RM6,500 (first class).
"The cost is lower than in some other countries such as Singapore where patients are charged between RM8,000 and RM10,000," he said.
The new facility could trace cancer at an early stage, he added.
The Raja Permaisuri Agong later opened the Penyayang Pesakit Kanser (PPK) Positive Image Centre at the hospital.
PPK was initiated by Yayasan Budi Penyayang Malaysia (Penyayang) and the centre is a cancer support initiative that sells aid for cancer patients including prostheses, support wear, swimwear, wigs and other credentials for cancer patients and survivors.
PPK has also developed Comfort Aide, a post-surgery kit comprising an edema support bra, a foam form and compression aid.
Penyayang Chairman Nori Abdullah was present.
Nori said her mother Datin Seri Endon Mahmood first saw a similar shop in Los Angeles while she was undergoing cancer treatment there and felt that Malaysians would benefit by having a similar shop here.
"Positive Image is the realisation of mother's vision," she said in a statement released by Penyayang.
The scanning of PET-CT (Positron Emission Tomography-Computerised Tomography) through the three-dimensional image would enable doctors to trace the active cells in cancer patients, making treatment more effective.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said, the use of the PET-CT technology had changed the treatment of several types of cancer including lungs, head and neck cancer.
Cyclotron is a machine to produce radiopharmaceutical such as isotop.
In his speech at the function, Dr Chua said the National Cancer Institute which would be set up at the hospital, would be a comprehensive cancer centre which could carry out treatment, rehabilitation, research and other activities connected with treatment of the disease.
Speaking to reporters after the function, he said the government had spent RM23 million on the new facilities at the Putrajaya and Penang Hospitals.
Dr Chua said, the two hospitals currently could carry out scanning on five patients each a day and his ministry planned to equip the Johor Baharu Hospital with similar facilities.
He said, patients who wished to use the service would be charged RM500 for a third class ward, RM5,000 (second class) and RM6,500 (first class).
"The cost is lower than in some other countries such as Singapore where patients are charged between RM8,000 and RM10,000," he said.
The new facility could trace cancer at an early stage, he added.
The Raja Permaisuri Agong later opened the Penyayang Pesakit Kanser (PPK) Positive Image Centre at the hospital.
PPK was initiated by Yayasan Budi Penyayang Malaysia (Penyayang) and the centre is a cancer support initiative that sells aid for cancer patients including prostheses, support wear, swimwear, wigs and other credentials for cancer patients and survivors.
PPK has also developed Comfort Aide, a post-surgery kit comprising an edema support bra, a foam form and compression aid.
Penyayang Chairman Nori Abdullah was present.
Nori said her mother Datin Seri Endon Mahmood first saw a similar shop in Los Angeles while she was undergoing cancer treatment there and felt that Malaysians would benefit by having a similar shop here.
"Positive Image is the realisation of mother's vision," she said in a statement released by Penyayang.
More AIDS cases in heterosexual relationships
NST: PETALING JAYA: The transmission of HIV/AIDS is no longer largely confined to homosexual relations.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said heterosexual transmission had increased from 4.9 per cent of all cases in 1990 to 22.2 per cent last year.
During the same period, female cases increased from 1.2 per cent to 12 per cent of the total reported cases.
Mother-to-child transmission, among others, was on the increase.
He said a total of 70,559 HIV infections, including 10,663 AIDS cases, was reported in the country last year.
"Mother-to-child transmission increased from 0.2 per cent in 1991 when the first three cases were reported, to 1.2 per cent last year," he said after opening the Asia-Pacific joint forum at Sheraton Subang.
The forum is aimed at addressing, among others, the integration of sexual reproduction health, maternal and child health, sexually-transmitted infection (STI) and HIV prevention and comprehensive approach to preventing mother-to-child transmission.
It is being organised by the World Health Organisation, Unicef (United Nations Children’s Fund), UNFPA (United Nations Fund for Population Activities) and Unaids (Joint United Nations Programmes on HIV/AIDS).
In Malaysia, through the National Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission Programme started in 1998, pregnant women receive voluntary, confidential HIV screening and counselling at ante-natal clinics.
Of about 350,000 pregnant women screened in 2005, 107 were HIV-positive.
Dr Chua said of 840 babies born to HIV-positive mothers up to the end of last year, 32 were HIV-positive.
All HIV-positive women and newborn were offered free anti-retroviral therapy.
Dr Chua said Malaysia had shown its commitment to the "3 by 5" initiative set by the WHO to ensure that three million sufferers of HIV/AIDS in the world had access to anti-retroviral treatment by last year.
In Malaysia, he added, an estimated 3,800 patients were on HAART (highly active anti-retroviral therapy) as of the end of last year.
"Our aim is to put 5,000 patients on HAART by end of this year. A locally-produced 3-in-1 anti-retroviral drug has been available since May and will be given free to AIDS patients requiring HAART," he said.
The government will spend about RM300 million in the next five years on AIDS prevention.
On the harm reduction strategies, Dr Chua said: "We have seen early successes in the methadone replacement therapy, and needle-syringe exchange and condom programmes."
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said heterosexual transmission had increased from 4.9 per cent of all cases in 1990 to 22.2 per cent last year.
During the same period, female cases increased from 1.2 per cent to 12 per cent of the total reported cases.
Mother-to-child transmission, among others, was on the increase.
He said a total of 70,559 HIV infections, including 10,663 AIDS cases, was reported in the country last year.
"Mother-to-child transmission increased from 0.2 per cent in 1991 when the first three cases were reported, to 1.2 per cent last year," he said after opening the Asia-Pacific joint forum at Sheraton Subang.
The forum is aimed at addressing, among others, the integration of sexual reproduction health, maternal and child health, sexually-transmitted infection (STI) and HIV prevention and comprehensive approach to preventing mother-to-child transmission.
It is being organised by the World Health Organisation, Unicef (United Nations Children’s Fund), UNFPA (United Nations Fund for Population Activities) and Unaids (Joint United Nations Programmes on HIV/AIDS).
In Malaysia, through the National Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission Programme started in 1998, pregnant women receive voluntary, confidential HIV screening and counselling at ante-natal clinics.
Of about 350,000 pregnant women screened in 2005, 107 were HIV-positive.
Dr Chua said of 840 babies born to HIV-positive mothers up to the end of last year, 32 were HIV-positive.
All HIV-positive women and newborn were offered free anti-retroviral therapy.
Dr Chua said Malaysia had shown its commitment to the "3 by 5" initiative set by the WHO to ensure that three million sufferers of HIV/AIDS in the world had access to anti-retroviral treatment by last year.
In Malaysia, he added, an estimated 3,800 patients were on HAART (highly active anti-retroviral therapy) as of the end of last year.
"Our aim is to put 5,000 patients on HAART by end of this year. A locally-produced 3-in-1 anti-retroviral drug has been available since May and will be given free to AIDS patients requiring HAART," he said.
The government will spend about RM300 million in the next five years on AIDS prevention.
On the harm reduction strategies, Dr Chua said: "We have seen early successes in the methadone replacement therapy, and needle-syringe exchange and condom programmes."
Therapy for more folks
Star: SUBANG JAYA: The needle/syringe exchange and condom programme will be extended to the entire country by 2010 under the Government’s harm reduction strategies to prevent HIV/ AIDS.
Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said methadone replacement therapy and anti-retroviral treatment would also be expanded to include more people.
The Health Minister said the needle/syringe exchange and condom pilot project which started last year with 1,200 participants in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru and Penang was a success, and as such it would be extended under the National Strategic Plan for HIV.
“The aim is to have 2,000 people involved by 2010 with each state having a centre for treatment. This will cost RM45mil,” he told reporters after opening the joint forum incorporating the Consultation on Integrating Prevention and Management of STI/HIV/AIDS into Reproductive, Maternal and Newborn Health Services, and the 6th Asia-Pacific UN PMTCT Task Force Meeting.
The therapy which was also implemented last year involved 1,240 drug addicts, and the second phase of this programme should have 5,000 addicts by next year, Dr Chua added.
“Most encouragingly, we see an excellent retention rate of 85%. Of these, 73% have found jobs. Our plan is to cover between 15,000 and 20,000 cases by 2010,” he said, adding that this would cost RM140mil over the next five years.
On anti-retroviral drugs, Dr Chua said Malaysia was committed to the World Health Organisation initiative to ensure that the three million HIV/AIDS sufferers in the world have access to anti-retroviral treatment.
In Malaysia, he said, the aim was to put 5,000 patients on highly active anti-retroviral therapy by the end of this year.
“Since we started using the locally-made 3-in-1 medicine, we have been able to reduce treatment cost from RM2,200 to RM150 per patient a month. With the cost reduction, we are confident of reaching out to almost 15,000 people in the next five years,” he said.
The Cabinet, Dr Chua said, had approved an additional RM100mil for the country’s HIV/AIDS prevention programme, making the total cost a staggering RM500mil for the next five years.
He also said that Malaysia was among countries with a “concentrated” HIV epidemic, with the positivity rate among antenatal mothers being less than 0.1%, and more than 5% among drug users.
The epidemic in Malaysia began largely with high-risk behaviours such as intravenous drug use and visiting sex workers, he said.
Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said methadone replacement therapy and anti-retroviral treatment would also be expanded to include more people.
The Health Minister said the needle/syringe exchange and condom pilot project which started last year with 1,200 participants in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru and Penang was a success, and as such it would be extended under the National Strategic Plan for HIV.
“The aim is to have 2,000 people involved by 2010 with each state having a centre for treatment. This will cost RM45mil,” he told reporters after opening the joint forum incorporating the Consultation on Integrating Prevention and Management of STI/HIV/AIDS into Reproductive, Maternal and Newborn Health Services, and the 6th Asia-Pacific UN PMTCT Task Force Meeting.
The therapy which was also implemented last year involved 1,240 drug addicts, and the second phase of this programme should have 5,000 addicts by next year, Dr Chua added.
“Most encouragingly, we see an excellent retention rate of 85%. Of these, 73% have found jobs. Our plan is to cover between 15,000 and 20,000 cases by 2010,” he said, adding that this would cost RM140mil over the next five years.
On anti-retroviral drugs, Dr Chua said Malaysia was committed to the World Health Organisation initiative to ensure that the three million HIV/AIDS sufferers in the world have access to anti-retroviral treatment.
In Malaysia, he said, the aim was to put 5,000 patients on highly active anti-retroviral therapy by the end of this year.
“Since we started using the locally-made 3-in-1 medicine, we have been able to reduce treatment cost from RM2,200 to RM150 per patient a month. With the cost reduction, we are confident of reaching out to almost 15,000 people in the next five years,” he said.
The Cabinet, Dr Chua said, had approved an additional RM100mil for the country’s HIV/AIDS prevention programme, making the total cost a staggering RM500mil for the next five years.
He also said that Malaysia was among countries with a “concentrated” HIV epidemic, with the positivity rate among antenatal mothers being less than 0.1%, and more than 5% among drug users.
The epidemic in Malaysia began largely with high-risk behaviours such as intravenous drug use and visiting sex workers, he said.
10 Pct Of Aging Population May Suffer AF
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- Some 10 per cent of the country's population above 48 years old risk suffering from Atrial Fibrillation (AF) - a condition where the heart rhythm is abnormal, according to a surgeon.
National Heart Institute (NHI) consultant cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Jeswant Dillon said the risk of experiencing AF was higher when a person grew older and if left untreated, it could cause death.
"AF could occur to anyone, even healthy individuals with no medical condition or history.
"It is more prevalent among the males," he told reporters at NHI's second Symposium on Advanced Techniques in Thoracoscopic Ablation and Mitral Valve Repair, here Monday.
He said the rapid and disorganised rhythm of AF would affect the heart's ability to perform its normal function, thus patients could risk suffering from stroke, heart failure and mortality.
Dr Dillon, who is also the Symposium Director, said although no specific cause was known, among the factors that could trigger AF were stress, high intake of caffeine and alcohol, and stimulant medications.
"Among the symptoms of AF are shortness of breath, palpitations, fatigue and blackout," he said.
The two-day symposium is being held following the success of the earlier symposium held last March, which was a landmark achievement for NHI for being the first medical centre in Asia and Australasia to perform a 'key-hole" (endoscopic) - an innovative surgical technique to treat AF.
At the first symposium, six AF patients became the pioneer batch for treatment using such a method.
Among them was Chow Yow Choy, 48, from Ipoh. He had suffered from AF for six years before being encouraged by his doctor to try out the new method.
"When the AF occurred, I felt tired and had to abandon the work I was doing to get some rest. Normally it lasted for a few hours," he said.
"Prior to the surgery, I had to travel regularly between Ipoh and the NHI for treatment. Since the surgery, I had not experienced AF and I feel very normal," he said.
Another patient, Norazilah Jonit, 49, from Kajang, said she frequently suffered irregular heart beats before she went for the surgery.
"Sometimes, I would suffer from a heart pause, and at times I could hear my heart beat very fast at night. It was scary and stressed me out," the retired Bukit Aman police officer said.
"And now, I can return to my active self, although I only stick to some mild exercise routine like jogging and aerobic. I also go for follow-up check-up once every two months," she said.
Some 150 participants comprising cardiothoracic surgeons and cardiologists from government and private hospitals in China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Croatia, Canada, the United States of America, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia attended the symposium.
National Heart Institute (NHI) consultant cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Jeswant Dillon said the risk of experiencing AF was higher when a person grew older and if left untreated, it could cause death.
"AF could occur to anyone, even healthy individuals with no medical condition or history.
"It is more prevalent among the males," he told reporters at NHI's second Symposium on Advanced Techniques in Thoracoscopic Ablation and Mitral Valve Repair, here Monday.
He said the rapid and disorganised rhythm of AF would affect the heart's ability to perform its normal function, thus patients could risk suffering from stroke, heart failure and mortality.
Dr Dillon, who is also the Symposium Director, said although no specific cause was known, among the factors that could trigger AF were stress, high intake of caffeine and alcohol, and stimulant medications.
"Among the symptoms of AF are shortness of breath, palpitations, fatigue and blackout," he said.
The two-day symposium is being held following the success of the earlier symposium held last March, which was a landmark achievement for NHI for being the first medical centre in Asia and Australasia to perform a 'key-hole" (endoscopic) - an innovative surgical technique to treat AF.
At the first symposium, six AF patients became the pioneer batch for treatment using such a method.
Among them was Chow Yow Choy, 48, from Ipoh. He had suffered from AF for six years before being encouraged by his doctor to try out the new method.
"When the AF occurred, I felt tired and had to abandon the work I was doing to get some rest. Normally it lasted for a few hours," he said.
"Prior to the surgery, I had to travel regularly between Ipoh and the NHI for treatment. Since the surgery, I had not experienced AF and I feel very normal," he said.
Another patient, Norazilah Jonit, 49, from Kajang, said she frequently suffered irregular heart beats before she went for the surgery.
"Sometimes, I would suffer from a heart pause, and at times I could hear my heart beat very fast at night. It was scary and stressed me out," the retired Bukit Aman police officer said.
"And now, I can return to my active self, although I only stick to some mild exercise routine like jogging and aerobic. I also go for follow-up check-up once every two months," she said.
Some 150 participants comprising cardiothoracic surgeons and cardiologists from government and private hospitals in China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Croatia, Canada, the United States of America, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia attended the symposium.
Monday, November 06, 2006
All major towns to get medics on bikes
NST: GEORGE TOWN: Motorcycle ambulance squads will be set up in major towns nationwide, after the success of the pilot project in the Klang Valley.
Health Ministry Parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said paramedics on bikes could reach patients much more quickly than ambulances, especially in traffic jams.
It sometimes takes up to 45 minutes to reach a patient.
He said trained paramedics on 10 motorcycles were involved in the pilot project. The ministry is especially keen to expand the programme to cities with a high traffic volume.
"Many lives may be saved if paramedics could provide emergency treatment to accident victims within a short period of time."
Lee said the service was also aimed at complementing emergency services in outlying areas not easily accessible to ambulances. He also quashed rumours that the government planned to privatise ambulance services.
The ministry had decided to outsource the maintenance of ambulances to reduce costs.
The ministry had been allocated RM18 million to buy 900 new ambulances to replace the ageing fleet.
Lee said this after officiating the inaugural Penang Open Category Paintball Championship — Jelutong Cup here. A total of 22 teams took part in the event organised by the state Youth and Sports Department and the Penang Discovery Society.
Health Ministry Parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said paramedics on bikes could reach patients much more quickly than ambulances, especially in traffic jams.
It sometimes takes up to 45 minutes to reach a patient.
He said trained paramedics on 10 motorcycles were involved in the pilot project. The ministry is especially keen to expand the programme to cities with a high traffic volume.
"Many lives may be saved if paramedics could provide emergency treatment to accident victims within a short period of time."
Lee said the service was also aimed at complementing emergency services in outlying areas not easily accessible to ambulances. He also quashed rumours that the government planned to privatise ambulance services.
The ministry had decided to outsource the maintenance of ambulances to reduce costs.
The ministry had been allocated RM18 million to buy 900 new ambulances to replace the ageing fleet.
Lee said this after officiating the inaugural Penang Open Category Paintball Championship — Jelutong Cup here. A total of 22 teams took part in the event organised by the state Youth and Sports Department and the Penang Discovery Society.
Inculcate Strong Culture Of Safety
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- Medical professionals need to inculcate a strong culture of safety if improvement in health quality is to be achieved, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Sunday.
The Deputy Prime Minister said there must be proper change in culture, perspective and attitude towards errors, failures and their causes.
"One of the key approaches to ensure quality is to enlarge the "quality envelope". This is to move towards a culture of safety," he said in his speech at the opening of the 18th Figo World Congress of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, here Sunday.
He said it was true that life permitted no absolute safety, however, as medical professionals, it was their responsibility to ensure that no harm befell on patients.
Najib said that quality in health care, in particular maternal health, was a global issue and it was no longer being judged solely at the city level but also internationally.
He said Malaysia had made impressive gains in the standard of living and many of these gains had accrued to women.
Najib said there had been steady improvement in the health status of Malaysian women as indicated by the rising life expectancy at birth and declining maternal mortality and fertility rate.
"The average life expectancy of women increased from 58.2 years in 1957 to 75 years in 2000, an increase of 29 per cent," he said.
He said the maternal mortality rate had decreased more than tenfold to 0.2 per 1,000 live births after 43 years of independence.
Najib said from a high of 2.8 per 1,000 live births between 1956 and 1960, the maternal mortality rate declined by 25 per cent to only 2.1 per 1,000 live births five years later and then to 1.6 one decade after independence.
"Between 1957 and the early 1980's the decline averaged 27.8 per cent every five years and the mortality rate maintained its rapid fall through the 1980's and 1990's," he said.
On the six-day congress, he said one of the main areas of interest was maternal mortality because in some countries the rates of women dying during the reproductive process were extremely high.
More than 8,000 participants from 130 nations are attending the congress which starts today with some 700 papers to be presented.
At the same event, the wife of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, one of the first Malay woman doctors in the country, received the Figo Recognition Award for her contribution on women health in the country.
The Deputy Prime Minister said there must be proper change in culture, perspective and attitude towards errors, failures and their causes.
"One of the key approaches to ensure quality is to enlarge the "quality envelope". This is to move towards a culture of safety," he said in his speech at the opening of the 18th Figo World Congress of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, here Sunday.
He said it was true that life permitted no absolute safety, however, as medical professionals, it was their responsibility to ensure that no harm befell on patients.
Najib said that quality in health care, in particular maternal health, was a global issue and it was no longer being judged solely at the city level but also internationally.
He said Malaysia had made impressive gains in the standard of living and many of these gains had accrued to women.
Najib said there had been steady improvement in the health status of Malaysian women as indicated by the rising life expectancy at birth and declining maternal mortality and fertility rate.
"The average life expectancy of women increased from 58.2 years in 1957 to 75 years in 2000, an increase of 29 per cent," he said.
He said the maternal mortality rate had decreased more than tenfold to 0.2 per 1,000 live births after 43 years of independence.
Najib said from a high of 2.8 per 1,000 live births between 1956 and 1960, the maternal mortality rate declined by 25 per cent to only 2.1 per 1,000 live births five years later and then to 1.6 one decade after independence.
"Between 1957 and the early 1980's the decline averaged 27.8 per cent every five years and the mortality rate maintained its rapid fall through the 1980's and 1990's," he said.
On the six-day congress, he said one of the main areas of interest was maternal mortality because in some countries the rates of women dying during the reproductive process were extremely high.
More than 8,000 participants from 130 nations are attending the congress which starts today with some 700 papers to be presented.
At the same event, the wife of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, one of the first Malay woman doctors in the country, received the Figo Recognition Award for her contribution on women health in the country.
70,000 Malaysians Contracted HIV Since 1986
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- It is estimated that more than 70,000 Malaysians have been infected with HIV resulting in more than 8,000 deaths since the first positive cases was detected 20 years ago, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
He said despite this disturbing statistics, HIV in Malaysia remained unseen and hidden while it is still a subject many Malaysians preferred not to confront.
"We prefer to see it only from a distance and speak of it only when we absolutely have to," he said while addressing the Red Ribbon Gala 2006 dinner organised by the Malaysia Aids Foundation, here Sunday.
Also present were former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.
Najib said HIV was an unfounding human catastrophe that must be addressed.
He said more than 80 per cent of those infected with HIV were in the 20 to 40 age group.
Najib said the government was aware that HIV/Aids must be dealt whole-heartedly and expeditiously.
In the Ninth Malaysian Plan the government has committed significant resources towards greater efforts in controlling the HIV/ Aids.
"There has to be a concerted effort to fight the HIV/Aids by all parties. Experience from around the world has shown that partnership between government, community, the business sector, the media and NGO's are critical in combating the epidemic," he said.
Najib said the role of companies and corporation in this regard was more important.
At the same event, Staff Nurse Jubaidah Bee Nagoor Pitchay was awarded the Dr Siti Hasmah Award by the Malaysian Aids Foundation for her contribution in treating Aids patients.
He said despite this disturbing statistics, HIV in Malaysia remained unseen and hidden while it is still a subject many Malaysians preferred not to confront.
"We prefer to see it only from a distance and speak of it only when we absolutely have to," he said while addressing the Red Ribbon Gala 2006 dinner organised by the Malaysia Aids Foundation, here Sunday.
Also present were former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.
Najib said HIV was an unfounding human catastrophe that must be addressed.
He said more than 80 per cent of those infected with HIV were in the 20 to 40 age group.
Najib said the government was aware that HIV/Aids must be dealt whole-heartedly and expeditiously.
In the Ninth Malaysian Plan the government has committed significant resources towards greater efforts in controlling the HIV/ Aids.
"There has to be a concerted effort to fight the HIV/Aids by all parties. Experience from around the world has shown that partnership between government, community, the business sector, the media and NGO's are critical in combating the epidemic," he said.
Najib said the role of companies and corporation in this regard was more important.
At the same event, Staff Nurse Jubaidah Bee Nagoor Pitchay was awarded the Dr Siti Hasmah Award by the Malaysian Aids Foundation for her contribution in treating Aids patients.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Malaysian mothers get a better deal during childbirth
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has one of the lowest maternal death rates in the developing world. And it was one of quickest to bring down the number of deaths after childbirth.
Ministry of Health statistics show the maternal mortality rate (MMR) was brought down from 530 per 100,000 pregnant women in 1955, to the current 30:100,000.
Malaysia’s record of lowering MMR in a short period will be among the topics for discussion at the World Congress of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (Figo 2006), the world’s largest convention of gynaecologists and obstetricians.
The congress opens today at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and will end on Nov 10.
As a preface to the summit, the ministry sponsored 42 young obstetricians on a tour of local healthcare facilities.
Their visits included urban hospitals with advanced systems to rural hospitals with more basic facilities.
"These doctors are all below the age of 40, and were carefully selected so they will have the drive and time to implement what they have learnt here back home," said Figo organising committee vice-chairman Datuk Dr Alex Mathews.
"We have shown them our rural areas and hospitals and they have listened to what our experts have to say on contributing factors to low MMR and healthcare management," said Dr Mathews.
He said commitment from the government, teamwork between healthcare professionals, proper allocation of funds and professional training were among the advantages that helped the country maintain its record.
Most of the participants of the tour say that unlike Malaysia, people in their countries have poor access to healthcare and their governments lack the political will to provide the best facilities.
Dr Emem Bassey, from Nigeria said: "I find that 95 per cent of women in Malaysia give birth at places with well-equipped facilities, but only 35 per cent of our women get that."
He added that Nigeria had enough doctors but too few were willing to work in rural areas.
Dr Tupon Wata of Fiji said: "We have all the facilities we need but we also need a committed team of professionals and a standard public healthcare system to deliver a good service."
She said Fiji’s MMR was among the lowest in the Pacific islands, but still higher than Malaysia’s at 80:100,000.
Dr Ahmed El-Hadidy said: "Malaysian leaders know how to prioritise, but the most outstanding thing I have noticed is the human factor."
Egypt, he says, lacks incentives for medical professionals, and many are not motivated to work as obstetricians or gynaecologists.
"We don’t share the same vision and dream of providing the best healthcare for the people, which is naturally more important than building fancy hospitals.
"We have the needed facilities but delivering a good service is another matter," he said.
The United Nations has estimated that of the approximately half-a-million women who die during childbirth each year, 99 per cent are in developing countries.
Ministry of Health statistics show the maternal mortality rate (MMR) was brought down from 530 per 100,000 pregnant women in 1955, to the current 30:100,000.
Malaysia’s record of lowering MMR in a short period will be among the topics for discussion at the World Congress of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (Figo 2006), the world’s largest convention of gynaecologists and obstetricians.
The congress opens today at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and will end on Nov 10.
As a preface to the summit, the ministry sponsored 42 young obstetricians on a tour of local healthcare facilities.
Their visits included urban hospitals with advanced systems to rural hospitals with more basic facilities.
"These doctors are all below the age of 40, and were carefully selected so they will have the drive and time to implement what they have learnt here back home," said Figo organising committee vice-chairman Datuk Dr Alex Mathews.
"We have shown them our rural areas and hospitals and they have listened to what our experts have to say on contributing factors to low MMR and healthcare management," said Dr Mathews.
He said commitment from the government, teamwork between healthcare professionals, proper allocation of funds and professional training were among the advantages that helped the country maintain its record.
Most of the participants of the tour say that unlike Malaysia, people in their countries have poor access to healthcare and their governments lack the political will to provide the best facilities.
Dr Emem Bassey, from Nigeria said: "I find that 95 per cent of women in Malaysia give birth at places with well-equipped facilities, but only 35 per cent of our women get that."
He added that Nigeria had enough doctors but too few were willing to work in rural areas.
Dr Tupon Wata of Fiji said: "We have all the facilities we need but we also need a committed team of professionals and a standard public healthcare system to deliver a good service."
She said Fiji’s MMR was among the lowest in the Pacific islands, but still higher than Malaysia’s at 80:100,000.
Dr Ahmed El-Hadidy said: "Malaysian leaders know how to prioritise, but the most outstanding thing I have noticed is the human factor."
Egypt, he says, lacks incentives for medical professionals, and many are not motivated to work as obstetricians or gynaecologists.
"We don’t share the same vision and dream of providing the best healthcare for the people, which is naturally more important than building fancy hospitals.
"We have the needed facilities but delivering a good service is another matter," he said.
The United Nations has estimated that of the approximately half-a-million women who die during childbirth each year, 99 per cent are in developing countries.
Watch out for health clinics on wheels
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: More Malaysians will have access to reproductive health services with the introduction of mobile clinics.
The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development has bought the first of several specially designed buses, which will travel around the country offering several services.
They are family planning services, screening packages for the elderly, counselling on reproductive health for men and women, health screenings such as BMI and blood pressure readings, demonstrations of breast self-examination and pap smears.
Ministry parliamentary secretary Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun said this is the first service of its kind in the country.
In Perak, the mobile clinic will be operated by the National Population and Family Planning Board.
She said six more mobile clinics will be acquired for the other states in the peninsula.
"Every year, the ministry will provide free health screening for a week at all Family Planning clinics in commemoration of Mother’s Day in May," she said, when opening a public forum on women’s health supported by her ministry.
Chew said reproductive cancer is on the rise among Malaysian women. Breast cancer is the leading cause of women’s cancer deaths, followed by cervical cancer.
In a 2003 study of married women aged 20 to 65, the Board found that many women were unaware of the importance of a pap smear to screen for cervical cancer.
Close to a quarter did not think it was necessary because they felt no pain.
About one in five said they were too busy, while the fear of pain and shyness were both cited by 10 per cent of the women surveyed.
Some 20.3 per cent of the women involved in the study said they had never even heard of pap smear tests.
"Various risk factors have been linked to the incidence of cervical cancer.
"They are old age, low socio-economic status, multiple partners, age of first sexual encounter and the history of sexually transmitted diseases especially in Human Papilloma Viral (HPV) infection.
"But it is a fact that 99 per cent of cervical cancer is caused by HPV infection."
The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development has bought the first of several specially designed buses, which will travel around the country offering several services.
They are family planning services, screening packages for the elderly, counselling on reproductive health for men and women, health screenings such as BMI and blood pressure readings, demonstrations of breast self-examination and pap smears.
Ministry parliamentary secretary Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun said this is the first service of its kind in the country.
In Perak, the mobile clinic will be operated by the National Population and Family Planning Board.
She said six more mobile clinics will be acquired for the other states in the peninsula.
"Every year, the ministry will provide free health screening for a week at all Family Planning clinics in commemoration of Mother’s Day in May," she said, when opening a public forum on women’s health supported by her ministry.
Chew said reproductive cancer is on the rise among Malaysian women. Breast cancer is the leading cause of women’s cancer deaths, followed by cervical cancer.
In a 2003 study of married women aged 20 to 65, the Board found that many women were unaware of the importance of a pap smear to screen for cervical cancer.
Close to a quarter did not think it was necessary because they felt no pain.
About one in five said they were too busy, while the fear of pain and shyness were both cited by 10 per cent of the women surveyed.
Some 20.3 per cent of the women involved in the study said they had never even heard of pap smear tests.
"Various risk factors have been linked to the incidence of cervical cancer.
"They are old age, low socio-economic status, multiple partners, age of first sexual encounter and the history of sexually transmitted diseases especially in Human Papilloma Viral (HPV) infection.
"But it is a fact that 99 per cent of cervical cancer is caused by HPV infection."
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Smokers shy to get help to quit
NST: GEORGE TOWN: The ambitious project to get 30 per cent of smokers to attend quit-smoking clinics has failed.
The Health Ministry had expected about 30 per cent of the estimated 4.6 million smokers nationwide to register for advice and counselling with such clinics.
However, after five years, the ministry’s recent survey showed that only 20 per cent had registered.
Health Ministry’s parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said one of the reasons for the failure to achieve the target was lack of awareness about the clinics.
Another reason was attributed to smokers’ shyness in seeking help from the clinics.
"Of course, many of them simply refuse to quit.
"We will redouble our efforts in the anti-smoking campaign to ensure more people sign up with the clinics," he said after launching the Ops Tak Nak campaign at SMK (C) Sacred Heart in Balik Pulau near here yesterday.
The government had allocated RM7 million for the anti- smoking campaign aimed at reducing the number of smokers in the country.
In Malaysia, more than 50 per cent of the male population are smokers, higher than the United States (35 per cent) and the United Kingdom (38 per cent).
The government introduced the "Tak Nak" programme in 2004, but it was also a failure.
Despite the failure, the government would continue to embark on its anti-smoking campaign.
Lee said the Ops Tak Nak would be promoted in schools and student smokers would be referred to the clinics for help.
"Teachers will still carry out spot-checks in classes to detect students who bring cigarettes to school so that appropriate action can be taken against smokers.
"Officers from the Health Department will also conduct checks at coffee shops and supermarkets mainly thronged by students."
The Health Ministry had expected about 30 per cent of the estimated 4.6 million smokers nationwide to register for advice and counselling with such clinics.
However, after five years, the ministry’s recent survey showed that only 20 per cent had registered.
Health Ministry’s parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said one of the reasons for the failure to achieve the target was lack of awareness about the clinics.
Another reason was attributed to smokers’ shyness in seeking help from the clinics.
"Of course, many of them simply refuse to quit.
"We will redouble our efforts in the anti-smoking campaign to ensure more people sign up with the clinics," he said after launching the Ops Tak Nak campaign at SMK (C) Sacred Heart in Balik Pulau near here yesterday.
The government had allocated RM7 million for the anti- smoking campaign aimed at reducing the number of smokers in the country.
In Malaysia, more than 50 per cent of the male population are smokers, higher than the United States (35 per cent) and the United Kingdom (38 per cent).
The government introduced the "Tak Nak" programme in 2004, but it was also a failure.
Despite the failure, the government would continue to embark on its anti-smoking campaign.
Lee said the Ops Tak Nak would be promoted in schools and student smokers would be referred to the clinics for help.
"Teachers will still carry out spot-checks in classes to detect students who bring cigarettes to school so that appropriate action can be taken against smokers.
"Officers from the Health Department will also conduct checks at coffee shops and supermarkets mainly thronged by students."
Ministry won’t relax rules on use of morphine
Star: MIRI: The strict procedures of administering morphine on cancer sufferers living outside hospitals cannot be relaxed or made more flexible.
The Health Ministry said the use of morphine must be regulated stringently because it is a drug and the ministry cannot compromise on this even though there have been appeals for easier access for sufferers living in far away places.
Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said this when asked to comment on calls by palliative care volunteers – who are caring for cancer sufferers living away from hospitals – to be allowed to stock morphine and administer them to sufferers who are in urgent need.
“Morphine can only be administered by a qualified doctor. The drug is kept in the hospital and if there is a need for the drug to be administered to a cancer sufferer (living at home), the doctor must go there and administer the drug.
“If a city or town has a hospice and wants to keep stock of morphine, it must obtain permission from the ministry.
“We allow hospices to keep stocks but only qualified doctors are allowed to administer it. We have to be very strict in this matter.
“Not everyone can have access to the drug,” said Lee, when interviewed here at the end of his four-day visit on Thursday.
“In places like Miri where there is no hospice, we cannot allow morphine to be stocked outside of the hospital,” he said.
In Sarawak, many cancer sufferers live in villages far from hospitals. Hospice Malaysia has established a branch in Kuching and is in the process of setting up a proper centre here.
However, there are still regions in the state where such post-hospitalisation care is practically non-existence.
There is, in Miri, a group of volunteers providing homecare for cancer sufferers, especially those who are poor or living alone.
Lee praised the palliative care volunteers for trying to make life better for the patients, adding that post-hospital care is a crucial element in community healthcare programmes.
On another issue, he urged non-governmental bodies to help organise organ donation campaigns in more districts.
“Organ donation campaigns should be given similar importance as blood donation campaigns.
“Organ donation is as important because replacement organs are needed all the time now,” he noted.
The Health Ministry said the use of morphine must be regulated stringently because it is a drug and the ministry cannot compromise on this even though there have been appeals for easier access for sufferers living in far away places.
Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said this when asked to comment on calls by palliative care volunteers – who are caring for cancer sufferers living away from hospitals – to be allowed to stock morphine and administer them to sufferers who are in urgent need.
“Morphine can only be administered by a qualified doctor. The drug is kept in the hospital and if there is a need for the drug to be administered to a cancer sufferer (living at home), the doctor must go there and administer the drug.
“If a city or town has a hospice and wants to keep stock of morphine, it must obtain permission from the ministry.
“We allow hospices to keep stocks but only qualified doctors are allowed to administer it. We have to be very strict in this matter.
“Not everyone can have access to the drug,” said Lee, when interviewed here at the end of his four-day visit on Thursday.
“In places like Miri where there is no hospice, we cannot allow morphine to be stocked outside of the hospital,” he said.
In Sarawak, many cancer sufferers live in villages far from hospitals. Hospice Malaysia has established a branch in Kuching and is in the process of setting up a proper centre here.
However, there are still regions in the state where such post-hospitalisation care is practically non-existence.
There is, in Miri, a group of volunteers providing homecare for cancer sufferers, especially those who are poor or living alone.
Lee praised the palliative care volunteers for trying to make life better for the patients, adding that post-hospital care is a crucial element in community healthcare programmes.
On another issue, he urged non-governmental bodies to help organise organ donation campaigns in more districts.
“Organ donation campaigns should be given similar importance as blood donation campaigns.
“Organ donation is as important because replacement organs are needed all the time now,” he noted.
Mobile clinics for areas that lack land for construction
Star: PAPAR: Mobile clinics will be provided at selected key urban centres such as Subang Jaya where there is a shortage of land to construct such facilities.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said apart from Sabah, Sarawak and Pahang, his ministry would be providing mobile clinics in Johor and Selangor under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.
“There are many areas in Selangor that have no health clinics due to the absence of land to build these facilities, such as Subang Jaya.
“In such areas, there are poor people who need these clinics,” he said yesterday after visiting the hospital in this south-western district some 50km from Kota Kinabalu.
Each clinic will be staffed by a doctor, a nurse, a medical assistant and a pharmacy assistant.
Dr Chua said the ministry has yet to decide on the number of mobile clinics to be provided for the various states.
However, he noted that between three and five mobile clinics would be provided for remote rural villages in Sabah.
His ministry, he added, had also decided to continue its flying doctor service in the state, which cost some RM3.5mil last year.
On the provision of quarters for the medical staff here and at other hospitals, Dr Chua said the ministry would acquire them from private developers as such a move was more cost-effective.
During his visit to the Papar hospital, Dr Chua pledged RM5mil for the staff quarters there as well as RM150,000 each for a new generator set and an autoclave.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said apart from Sabah, Sarawak and Pahang, his ministry would be providing mobile clinics in Johor and Selangor under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.
“There are many areas in Selangor that have no health clinics due to the absence of land to build these facilities, such as Subang Jaya.
“In such areas, there are poor people who need these clinics,” he said yesterday after visiting the hospital in this south-western district some 50km from Kota Kinabalu.
Each clinic will be staffed by a doctor, a nurse, a medical assistant and a pharmacy assistant.
Dr Chua said the ministry has yet to decide on the number of mobile clinics to be provided for the various states.
However, he noted that between three and five mobile clinics would be provided for remote rural villages in Sabah.
His ministry, he added, had also decided to continue its flying doctor service in the state, which cost some RM3.5mil last year.
On the provision of quarters for the medical staff here and at other hospitals, Dr Chua said the ministry would acquire them from private developers as such a move was more cost-effective.
During his visit to the Papar hospital, Dr Chua pledged RM5mil for the staff quarters there as well as RM150,000 each for a new generator set and an autoclave.
Niosh Ready To Train SJER Workers
JOHOR BAHARU, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) is prepared to provide occupational health and safety training and services to industries to be set up in the Southern Johor Economic Region (SJER), its chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said Friday.
"We know that many factories will be set up in this new economic hub and as such the number of workers will increase. We are prepared to train these workers to prevent or reduce industrial accidents from taking place ," he told reporters after inspecting work progress on Niosh's new southern training campus at the Skudai Technology Park, here.
Lee said that the RM21-million campus would be able to accommodate up to 400 trainees at any one time and that it would also be a research house on the matter.
It will also offer a diploma course on occupational safety and health in collaboration with the Open University Malaysia (OUM).
Meanwhile, Lee said that Niosh also planned to set up two more such campuses in Kerteh (Terengganu) and Bintulu (Sarawak) soon as well as a branch campus in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah in February next year.
Niosh would also introduce two new occupational safety passports -- Niosh-Titan Safety Passport (NTiSP) and Niosh-Port Safety Passport (NPtSP) -- next year to promote safe and healthy working environment in factories and ports in Malaysia, he added.
"We know that many factories will be set up in this new economic hub and as such the number of workers will increase. We are prepared to train these workers to prevent or reduce industrial accidents from taking place ," he told reporters after inspecting work progress on Niosh's new southern training campus at the Skudai Technology Park, here.
Lee said that the RM21-million campus would be able to accommodate up to 400 trainees at any one time and that it would also be a research house on the matter.
It will also offer a diploma course on occupational safety and health in collaboration with the Open University Malaysia (OUM).
Meanwhile, Lee said that Niosh also planned to set up two more such campuses in Kerteh (Terengganu) and Bintulu (Sarawak) soon as well as a branch campus in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah in February next year.
Niosh would also introduce two new occupational safety passports -- Niosh-Titan Safety Passport (NTiSP) and Niosh-Port Safety Passport (NPtSP) -- next year to promote safe and healthy working environment in factories and ports in Malaysia, he added.
Friday, November 03, 2006
Traditional ways can work with Western methods
NST: A STROKE patient is being given acupuncture treatment in the traditional Chinese medicine wing on the second floor of Tung Shin Hospital in Kuala Lumpur.
Over at the Western wing, a patient is prescribed Western medicine only for the same ailment. Nearby, another patient is taking Western medicine before going for acupuncture at the Chinese wing.
Tung Shin, which was set up in the late 19th century, opened 12 traditional Chinese medicine wings in February this year — with physicians trained in a range of fields, including acupuncture, orthopaedics, oncology and gynaecology.
And although the 15 traditional Chinese doctors and 37 Western-trained doctors operate separately in different wings, the hospital does offer integrated medicine.
Lam Wah Ee Hospital in Penang, however, has opted not to integrate — for now.
Tung Shin’s Chinese Medical Department head Professor Zhao Tian Yong says they don’t exchange opinions about a patient’s condition or plan treatment together. But they do suggest appropriate treatments to their patients.
As an oncologist, he recommends surgery and chemotherapy to his patients if they need it, but he also uses traditional Chinese medicine which, he says, can protect the patient and reduce side effects of chemotherapy such as thirst.
"This also happens in the Western Medical Department. Their doctors will recommend coming here if they feel traditional Chinese medicine is more suitable for them," he says.
At Lam Wah Ee Hospital, medical superintendent Datuk Dr Yip Kok Thye says his Western division and the traditional Chinese division do not recommend or refer patients to each other, "but they are free to move to either side on their own accord".
Yip is cautious about combining both schools of treatment.
"We need more information and very good clinical trials on whether integrated medicine works and complements Western treatment," he warns.
The Ministry of Health is taking the right step by conducting a pilot project first, he says.
Over at the Western wing, a patient is prescribed Western medicine only for the same ailment. Nearby, another patient is taking Western medicine before going for acupuncture at the Chinese wing.
Tung Shin, which was set up in the late 19th century, opened 12 traditional Chinese medicine wings in February this year — with physicians trained in a range of fields, including acupuncture, orthopaedics, oncology and gynaecology.
And although the 15 traditional Chinese doctors and 37 Western-trained doctors operate separately in different wings, the hospital does offer integrated medicine.
Lam Wah Ee Hospital in Penang, however, has opted not to integrate — for now.
Tung Shin’s Chinese Medical Department head Professor Zhao Tian Yong says they don’t exchange opinions about a patient’s condition or plan treatment together. But they do suggest appropriate treatments to their patients.
As an oncologist, he recommends surgery and chemotherapy to his patients if they need it, but he also uses traditional Chinese medicine which, he says, can protect the patient and reduce side effects of chemotherapy such as thirst.
"This also happens in the Western Medical Department. Their doctors will recommend coming here if they feel traditional Chinese medicine is more suitable for them," he says.
At Lam Wah Ee Hospital, medical superintendent Datuk Dr Yip Kok Thye says his Western division and the traditional Chinese division do not recommend or refer patients to each other, "but they are free to move to either side on their own accord".
Yip is cautious about combining both schools of treatment.
"We need more information and very good clinical trials on whether integrated medicine works and complements Western treatment," he warns.
The Ministry of Health is taking the right step by conducting a pilot project first, he says.
Defining a role for integrated medicine
NST: AT Lam Wah Ee Hospital in Penang, Western-trained and Chinese traditional doctors practise in separate buildings and do not refer patients to each other.
At Tung Shin Hospital in Kuala Lumpur, they operate in different wings in the same building where some patients are treated by both.
And at pilot projects next year in Putrajaya and Kepala Batas, the government will introduce some Traditional and Complementary Medicine (TCM) into public hospitals.
In April this year, Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said government hospitals in Putrajaya, Kepala Batas and Johor Baru had been chosen to combine modern and traditional treatments as "integrated medicine".
But director-general of Health Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican stresses that integrated medicine will only be introduced on a larger scale if the pilot projects succeed — and with adequate safeguards.
Physicians such as the head of the Chinese Medical Department at Tung Shin, Professor Zhao Tian Yong, claim the efficacy of traditional medicine has been proven over the past 1,000 years.
But Western-trained doctors, including the medical superintendent of the Western division at Lam Wah Ee Hospital, Datuk Dr Yip Kok Thye, want their traditional counterparts to be trained at recognised schools and registered, and to have a code of ethics, disciplinary procedure and indemnity insurance.
They also want more information and clinical trials on traditional medicine and treatments. Traditional medicines should be registered, just like the medicines which Western doctors prescribe, and their chemical composition, safety profile and efficacy should be well documented.
Dr Ismail promises all this will be spelled out in the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Control Bill to be tabled in Parliament next year.
"We must get the right and credible practitioners to work. They must have gone through an approved training programme, and must be accepted by their association and community," he explains.
The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) supports the plan to run the integrated medicine pilot project only after the Act comes into force.
"The pressure of consumer demand and of moving forward towards a holistic approach must be weighed against the many case histories of patients with cancer and other serious ailments being led up the harmful path of non-evidenced based medicine," says its president Datuk Dr Teoh Siang Chin.
For now, the Medical Act 1971 prevents registered medical practitioners from associating with non-qualified, non-registered practitioners in treating patients.
They have to stick to the "modern" treatments for which they are trained and registered. But, notes Dr Ismail, they can use "evidenced-based" TCM, such as acupuncture, for pain and various other health conditions.
And if anyone wants to use a traditional product to replace the current form of treatment, they must show evidence of clinical trials.
Tung Shin’s Zhao says the government allows three associations to supervise and confirm the qualifications of traditional Chinese physicians — the Federation of Chinese Physicians and Medicine Dealers Association of Malaysia, the Malaysian Chinese Physicians Association and the Federation of Chinese Acupuncturist Associations of Malaysia.
The government should set unified standards for traditional physicians and approve their qualifications, he urges.
Since 1998, the Ministry of Health Standing Committee on TCM has begun registering traditional practitioners and is drafting a college-level training module for them, adds Datuk Dr Lee Yan San, the MMA’s representative to the committee.
The ministry is identifying TCM training centres around the world, especially in Indonesia, China, India and America, where interested doctors and practitioners can attend courses.
It is also urging local universities to offer courses in TCM. There are no training centres for bomoh but there are schools for ayurvedic practitioners and sinseh.
The first Chinese medical school opened 40 years ago in Penang and another has been set up in Butterworth. Tung Shin plans to set up its own college.
Zhao calls for more such schools to be set up and for the government to stipulate the courses needed to graduate.
"As far as I know, traditional Chinese medicine colleges in Malaysia have yet to standardise their courses. They have their own syllabus but have not referred it to the Ministry of Higher Education or the Ministry of Health."
Integrated medicine still has a long way to go in Malaysia, says the traditional Chinese physician, and the government should play a bigger role.
At Tung Shin Hospital in Kuala Lumpur, they operate in different wings in the same building where some patients are treated by both.
And at pilot projects next year in Putrajaya and Kepala Batas, the government will introduce some Traditional and Complementary Medicine (TCM) into public hospitals.
In April this year, Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said government hospitals in Putrajaya, Kepala Batas and Johor Baru had been chosen to combine modern and traditional treatments as "integrated medicine".
But director-general of Health Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican stresses that integrated medicine will only be introduced on a larger scale if the pilot projects succeed — and with adequate safeguards.
Physicians such as the head of the Chinese Medical Department at Tung Shin, Professor Zhao Tian Yong, claim the efficacy of traditional medicine has been proven over the past 1,000 years.
But Western-trained doctors, including the medical superintendent of the Western division at Lam Wah Ee Hospital, Datuk Dr Yip Kok Thye, want their traditional counterparts to be trained at recognised schools and registered, and to have a code of ethics, disciplinary procedure and indemnity insurance.
They also want more information and clinical trials on traditional medicine and treatments. Traditional medicines should be registered, just like the medicines which Western doctors prescribe, and their chemical composition, safety profile and efficacy should be well documented.
Dr Ismail promises all this will be spelled out in the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Control Bill to be tabled in Parliament next year.
"We must get the right and credible practitioners to work. They must have gone through an approved training programme, and must be accepted by their association and community," he explains.
The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) supports the plan to run the integrated medicine pilot project only after the Act comes into force.
"The pressure of consumer demand and of moving forward towards a holistic approach must be weighed against the many case histories of patients with cancer and other serious ailments being led up the harmful path of non-evidenced based medicine," says its president Datuk Dr Teoh Siang Chin.
For now, the Medical Act 1971 prevents registered medical practitioners from associating with non-qualified, non-registered practitioners in treating patients.
They have to stick to the "modern" treatments for which they are trained and registered. But, notes Dr Ismail, they can use "evidenced-based" TCM, such as acupuncture, for pain and various other health conditions.
And if anyone wants to use a traditional product to replace the current form of treatment, they must show evidence of clinical trials.
Tung Shin’s Zhao says the government allows three associations to supervise and confirm the qualifications of traditional Chinese physicians — the Federation of Chinese Physicians and Medicine Dealers Association of Malaysia, the Malaysian Chinese Physicians Association and the Federation of Chinese Acupuncturist Associations of Malaysia.
The government should set unified standards for traditional physicians and approve their qualifications, he urges.
Since 1998, the Ministry of Health Standing Committee on TCM has begun registering traditional practitioners and is drafting a college-level training module for them, adds Datuk Dr Lee Yan San, the MMA’s representative to the committee.
The ministry is identifying TCM training centres around the world, especially in Indonesia, China, India and America, where interested doctors and practitioners can attend courses.
It is also urging local universities to offer courses in TCM. There are no training centres for bomoh but there are schools for ayurvedic practitioners and sinseh.
The first Chinese medical school opened 40 years ago in Penang and another has been set up in Butterworth. Tung Shin plans to set up its own college.
Zhao calls for more such schools to be set up and for the government to stipulate the courses needed to graduate.
"As far as I know, traditional Chinese medicine colleges in Malaysia have yet to standardise their courses. They have their own syllabus but have not referred it to the Ministry of Higher Education or the Ministry of Health."
Integrated medicine still has a long way to go in Malaysia, says the traditional Chinese physician, and the government should play a bigger role.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Miracle cure agents duping the desperate
Star: KUALA LUMPUR: The obituary announcement about two weeks ago said 26-year-old Thai Chee Onn had passed away peacefully at a hospital in Guangzhou, China.
Thai was among at least 20 Malaysians with terminal illnesses, who had gone to seek treatment in China and ended up coming back in a body bag.
On Tuesday, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek revealed that Malaysians were being misled by local agents duping desperate family members into believing that terminal illnesses could be treated in China.
The families would spend a fortune only to relegate their loved ones to almost certain death, and then have to fork out even more to get their bodies back.
“We spent about RM70,000, which also included RM24,000 to get my brother’s body back,” Thai’s sister Catherine said.
The 30-year-old, devastated by her brother’s death, decided to reveal all to the press at the MCA Public Services and Complaints Department here.
“My concern now is for other Malaysians to not do the same thing and to not believe what these agents say. If you do not believe your doctor, get a second opinion,” she said.
Thai had a brain tumour. After reading an advertisement in a magazine about a miracle cure for such an illness, the family called an agent who said the cure was available in Guangzhou. Thai was subsequently admitted to a hospital there on Sept 22.
He underwent surgery on Oct 9, but died on Oct 17.
Catherine said her brother had just been paid for the first job done by his newly set up renovations company, but died before he could reap the fruits of his labour.
She said the hospital in Guangzhou occupied three floors of an eight-storey building and they had to enter it through a side entrance.
“The other five floors belonged to another hospital. Smoking was allowed in the X-ray room and patients were not isolated in the intensive care unit, which had four beds in each partitioned area,” she said.
“Certain facilities used for medical tests were also shared with the other hospital.”
MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong said a team from the department led by Datuk Wong Mook Leong would be going to the Malaysian consulate in Guangzhou to gather more information on the scam.
Thai was among at least 20 Malaysians with terminal illnesses, who had gone to seek treatment in China and ended up coming back in a body bag.
On Tuesday, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek revealed that Malaysians were being misled by local agents duping desperate family members into believing that terminal illnesses could be treated in China.
The families would spend a fortune only to relegate their loved ones to almost certain death, and then have to fork out even more to get their bodies back.
“We spent about RM70,000, which also included RM24,000 to get my brother’s body back,” Thai’s sister Catherine said.
The 30-year-old, devastated by her brother’s death, decided to reveal all to the press at the MCA Public Services and Complaints Department here.
“My concern now is for other Malaysians to not do the same thing and to not believe what these agents say. If you do not believe your doctor, get a second opinion,” she said.
Thai had a brain tumour. After reading an advertisement in a magazine about a miracle cure for such an illness, the family called an agent who said the cure was available in Guangzhou. Thai was subsequently admitted to a hospital there on Sept 22.
He underwent surgery on Oct 9, but died on Oct 17.
Catherine said her brother had just been paid for the first job done by his newly set up renovations company, but died before he could reap the fruits of his labour.
She said the hospital in Guangzhou occupied three floors of an eight-storey building and they had to enter it through a side entrance.
“The other five floors belonged to another hospital. Smoking was allowed in the X-ray room and patients were not isolated in the intensive care unit, which had four beds in each partitioned area,” she said.
“Certain facilities used for medical tests were also shared with the other hospital.”
MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong said a team from the department led by Datuk Wong Mook Leong would be going to the Malaysian consulate in Guangzhou to gather more information on the scam.
Leftover from surgery puts woman in prolonged agony
NST: JOHOR BARU: After numerous visits to her surgeon, and three months in agony, a woman was shocked to find that a piece of surgical gauze was left in her abdomen during ovarian surgery.
On Feb 23, Lim Que Moi had the surgery at a private hospital. In severe pain, she went back to the surgeon seven times. The 48-year-old said the specialist dismissed her pain as a viral infection and gave her antibiotics.
Unable to bear the pain, with massive swelling of her abdomen and fluid oozing from the surgical scar, Lim consulted another doctor.
An X-ray was done and to her utter dismay a piece of surgical gauze measuring 30cm x 30cm was found, left behind when she was stitched up after the surgery.
At a news conference Lim showed reporters the blood-stained piece of gauze that was removed after a second operation at a private hospital in Batu Pahat on May 26.
Supported by her 60-year-old husband Ng Soo Juay, Lim said: "I plan to sue the doctor and hospital for damages. For three months I suffered excruciating pain all because of the negligence of the surgeon in Malacca."
She said she had spent over RM12,000 in medical costs, including RM5,000 for the original ovarian surgery.
Lim said she was especially angry over the indifference of the surgeon when she she went back complaining of severe pain.
"I went for follow-up check-ups no less than seven times. How could she not sense something was amiss? She did not even bother to send me for an X-ray. I am shocked at the apathy shown by the doctor and the hospital," she said, adding that the hospital failed to give her a satisfactory explanation when she demanded to know how this could have happened.
"I am bringing my case out in the open like this because I want others to be aware of such negligence," she added.
The surgeon and the director of the private hospital could not be reached for comment.
Ministry of Health parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said he had not received any report on the case, but he would look into the matter.
On Feb 23, Lim Que Moi had the surgery at a private hospital. In severe pain, she went back to the surgeon seven times. The 48-year-old said the specialist dismissed her pain as a viral infection and gave her antibiotics.
Unable to bear the pain, with massive swelling of her abdomen and fluid oozing from the surgical scar, Lim consulted another doctor.
An X-ray was done and to her utter dismay a piece of surgical gauze measuring 30cm x 30cm was found, left behind when she was stitched up after the surgery.
At a news conference Lim showed reporters the blood-stained piece of gauze that was removed after a second operation at a private hospital in Batu Pahat on May 26.
Supported by her 60-year-old husband Ng Soo Juay, Lim said: "I plan to sue the doctor and hospital for damages. For three months I suffered excruciating pain all because of the negligence of the surgeon in Malacca."
She said she had spent over RM12,000 in medical costs, including RM5,000 for the original ovarian surgery.
Lim said she was especially angry over the indifference of the surgeon when she she went back complaining of severe pain.
"I went for follow-up check-ups no less than seven times. How could she not sense something was amiss? She did not even bother to send me for an X-ray. I am shocked at the apathy shown by the doctor and the hospital," she said, adding that the hospital failed to give her a satisfactory explanation when she demanded to know how this could have happened.
"I am bringing my case out in the open like this because I want others to be aware of such negligence," she added.
The surgeon and the director of the private hospital could not be reached for comment.
Ministry of Health parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said he had not received any report on the case, but he would look into the matter.
Her one wish is for a heart
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Tee Hui Yi, 13, managed a small smile despite having in her mouth a tube attached to a ventilator.
Sitting on a wheelchair with a teddy bear by her right side, Tee answered reporters’ questions at the intensive care unit of the National Heart Institute (IJN) yesterday.
She did so writing with a marker pen on a slate.
She wrote her name in Chinese. She wrote "Kentucky Fried Chicken" when asked for her favourite food. She wrote Supaya dapat jantung cepat (to get a new heart fast) to a question on what her wishes are.
A round heavy device could be seen sneaking out of her pale yellow pyjamas top connecting to a huge power unit.
This device implanted outside her abdomen and connected to the left side of her heart will buy the teenager time until she receives a new heart.
Known as Thoratec Paracorporeal Ventricular Assist Device (PVAD), the device is designed to improve cardiac output.
It was Tee’s 33rd day at the ICU since being implanted on Sept 29 with the 419-gramme PVAD also known commonly as a mechanical heart assist device.
Tee, who is from Batu Pahat, is the country’s second mechanical heart assist recipient after Mohamed Fikri Nor Azmi, 16, received it last July.
Since being on the ventilator after the surgery, Tee has been itching to talk, said the doctors and nurses who formed the team that performed the five-hour surgery.
"She has been asking us to take out the tube," said Dr Mohamed Ezani Md Taib, IJN’s consultant cardiothoracic surgeon and director of the mechanical heart programme.
Just a few days ago, she asked Dr Mohamed Ezani to buy her Kentucky Fried Chicken.
"She is actually quite a chatterbox," said her mother Dina Bato Sambu who has not heard her youngest child’s voice since the surgery.
Her outgoing personality belies her weak heart condition.
In the past three weeks she had a total of eight cardiac arrests with the last one occurring during Hari Raya. Her mechanical heart device endured these episodes and Tee was successfully resuscitated.
Tee was diagnosed with end-stage heart failure since she was two years old after suffering from a viral infection.
Since then, she became a regular patient at Batu Pahat Hospital and IJN.
Her condition deteriorated and she was on the heart transplant list in May this year.
She has not been to school for two years.
On Sept 13, she was re-admitted to IJN. While undergoing treatment, she developed a potential fatal heart rhythm.
After this, IJN decided to implant Tee with the device.
She developed blood function disorder after the surgery due to her blood thinning drugs and needed to be rested on the ventilator.
Tee was bound to face more complications with the device implanted outside her heart, said Dr Mohamed Ezani.
"Since it is outside, Tee is more prone to infection. Bathing will also be difficult for her," he said.
The device was implanted outside instead of inside as Tee’s small framed body was too small to be fitted with it.
It is not known exactly when she will be moved out of the ICU ward. Doctors are monitoring her condition for the best time to remove the ventilator.
"It is good to remove the ventilator because she needs to learn to breathe on her own," he said.
Tee’s rehabilitation process will probably start in a month, doctors estimate.
This was unlikely to happen for quite awhile as Tee was still frail at the moment, IJN said.
As her home is in Batu Pahat, her family has to sort out the problem of providing her easy access to post-hospital medical treatment in the event she is allowed ‘home leave’.
"We hope she gets a heart soon so that they do not have to deal with these issues," said Dr Mohamed Ezani.
Sitting on a wheelchair with a teddy bear by her right side, Tee answered reporters’ questions at the intensive care unit of the National Heart Institute (IJN) yesterday.
She did so writing with a marker pen on a slate.
She wrote her name in Chinese. She wrote "Kentucky Fried Chicken" when asked for her favourite food. She wrote Supaya dapat jantung cepat (to get a new heart fast) to a question on what her wishes are.
A round heavy device could be seen sneaking out of her pale yellow pyjamas top connecting to a huge power unit.
This device implanted outside her abdomen and connected to the left side of her heart will buy the teenager time until she receives a new heart.
Known as Thoratec Paracorporeal Ventricular Assist Device (PVAD), the device is designed to improve cardiac output.
It was Tee’s 33rd day at the ICU since being implanted on Sept 29 with the 419-gramme PVAD also known commonly as a mechanical heart assist device.
Tee, who is from Batu Pahat, is the country’s second mechanical heart assist recipient after Mohamed Fikri Nor Azmi, 16, received it last July.
Since being on the ventilator after the surgery, Tee has been itching to talk, said the doctors and nurses who formed the team that performed the five-hour surgery.
"She has been asking us to take out the tube," said Dr Mohamed Ezani Md Taib, IJN’s consultant cardiothoracic surgeon and director of the mechanical heart programme.
Just a few days ago, she asked Dr Mohamed Ezani to buy her Kentucky Fried Chicken.
"She is actually quite a chatterbox," said her mother Dina Bato Sambu who has not heard her youngest child’s voice since the surgery.
Her outgoing personality belies her weak heart condition.
In the past three weeks she had a total of eight cardiac arrests with the last one occurring during Hari Raya. Her mechanical heart device endured these episodes and Tee was successfully resuscitated.
Tee was diagnosed with end-stage heart failure since she was two years old after suffering from a viral infection.
Since then, she became a regular patient at Batu Pahat Hospital and IJN.
Her condition deteriorated and she was on the heart transplant list in May this year.
She has not been to school for two years.
On Sept 13, she was re-admitted to IJN. While undergoing treatment, she developed a potential fatal heart rhythm.
After this, IJN decided to implant Tee with the device.
She developed blood function disorder after the surgery due to her blood thinning drugs and needed to be rested on the ventilator.
Tee was bound to face more complications with the device implanted outside her heart, said Dr Mohamed Ezani.
"Since it is outside, Tee is more prone to infection. Bathing will also be difficult for her," he said.
The device was implanted outside instead of inside as Tee’s small framed body was too small to be fitted with it.
It is not known exactly when she will be moved out of the ICU ward. Doctors are monitoring her condition for the best time to remove the ventilator.
"It is good to remove the ventilator because she needs to learn to breathe on her own," he said.
Tee’s rehabilitation process will probably start in a month, doctors estimate.
This was unlikely to happen for quite awhile as Tee was still frail at the moment, IJN said.
As her home is in Batu Pahat, her family has to sort out the problem of providing her easy access to post-hospital medical treatment in the event she is allowed ‘home leave’.
"We hope she gets a heart soon so that they do not have to deal with these issues," said Dr Mohamed Ezani.
IJN Performs Second Successful Mechanical Heart Op
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 (Bernama) -- Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) has successfully performed its second mechanical heart operation, barely a year-and-a-half after the nation's premier heart institute performed the first such operation with success.
A team of cardiothoracic surgeons from IJN performed the surgery on Tee Hui Yi, a 13-year-old girl from Batu Pahat, Johor, to implant an external left ventricular support system called Thoratec Paracorporeal Ventricular Assist Device (PVAD) on Sept 29.
The institute's chief executive officer, Mohd Radzif Mohd Yunus, said the surgery to implant the heart-assist device on the girl took more than five hours and the mechanical device, designed to improve cardiac output, was placed outside the girl's abdomen and connected to the left side of the heart.
IJN performed its first mechanical heart operation in July last year on Muhammad Fikri Norazmi, a 15-year-old boy from Kuala Lumpur, by fitting him with the Implantable Ventricular Assist Device (IVAD). This operation was the first mechanical heart operation in the Asian and Australasian region.
"With the success of the (second) surgery, Tee became the country's second mechanical heart-assist recipient. The surgery also re-affirms IJN's expertise and capability in implanting heart-assist devices," Mohd Radzif told a press conference at IJN, here Wednesday.
The operating team was led by IJN's chief cardiothoracic surgeon, Datuk Dr Mohd Azhari Yakub, and consultant cardiothoracic surgeon and the director of IJN's Mechanical Heart Programme, Dr Mohamed Ezani Md Taib.
The two specialists were assisted by chief anaesthesiologist Datuk Dr Mohamed Hassan Mohamed Ariff, consultant anaesthesiologists Dr Sharifah Suraya Syed Mohd Tahir and Dr N. Thirukumar, anaesthesiologist Dr Lim Kin Yuee and consultant cardiologists Datuk Dr David Chew Soon Ping and Dr Aizai Azan Abdul Rahim.
"Tee was diagnosed with end-stage heart failure. She was suffering from a viral infection, which affected her heart and caused heart failure. She was referred to IJN's heart failure clinic and despite optimal medical therapy, her condition deteriorated and she was put on the heart transplant list in May this year.
"Due to recurrent admissions to Batu Pahat Hospital and IJN, the transplant team felt that she needed a mechanical heart to support her while waiting for a donor. On Sept 13, she was readmitted to IJN for heart failure. While undergoing treatment she developed a potential fatal heart rhythm. She was successfully resuscitated and we decided to implant the PVAD," said Dr Mohamed Azani, who was also at the press conference.
He said after the operation, Tee remained stable overnight in the intensive care unit and was heavily sedated until the next morning (Sept 30) and was subsequently taken off the respirator. By 6pm the next day, the 15-year-old had her dinner.
"Unfortunately, she developed blood function derangement due to her anti-coagulation medication (blood thinning drugs) and needed to be put back on the ventilator. The problem was subsequently overcome with support from the National Blood Bank," he added.
Due to her pre-operative condition, during the last three weeks, Tee had a total of eight cardiac arrests where her heart stopped and during this time the PVAD performed well and continued to function.
Today, 33 days after surgery, Tee is undergoing extensive cardio-pulmonary and neurological rehabilitation at the intensive care unit.
A team of cardiothoracic surgeons from IJN performed the surgery on Tee Hui Yi, a 13-year-old girl from Batu Pahat, Johor, to implant an external left ventricular support system called Thoratec Paracorporeal Ventricular Assist Device (PVAD) on Sept 29.
The institute's chief executive officer, Mohd Radzif Mohd Yunus, said the surgery to implant the heart-assist device on the girl took more than five hours and the mechanical device, designed to improve cardiac output, was placed outside the girl's abdomen and connected to the left side of the heart.
IJN performed its first mechanical heart operation in July last year on Muhammad Fikri Norazmi, a 15-year-old boy from Kuala Lumpur, by fitting him with the Implantable Ventricular Assist Device (IVAD). This operation was the first mechanical heart operation in the Asian and Australasian region.
"With the success of the (second) surgery, Tee became the country's second mechanical heart-assist recipient. The surgery also re-affirms IJN's expertise and capability in implanting heart-assist devices," Mohd Radzif told a press conference at IJN, here Wednesday.
The operating team was led by IJN's chief cardiothoracic surgeon, Datuk Dr Mohd Azhari Yakub, and consultant cardiothoracic surgeon and the director of IJN's Mechanical Heart Programme, Dr Mohamed Ezani Md Taib.
The two specialists were assisted by chief anaesthesiologist Datuk Dr Mohamed Hassan Mohamed Ariff, consultant anaesthesiologists Dr Sharifah Suraya Syed Mohd Tahir and Dr N. Thirukumar, anaesthesiologist Dr Lim Kin Yuee and consultant cardiologists Datuk Dr David Chew Soon Ping and Dr Aizai Azan Abdul Rahim.
"Tee was diagnosed with end-stage heart failure. She was suffering from a viral infection, which affected her heart and caused heart failure. She was referred to IJN's heart failure clinic and despite optimal medical therapy, her condition deteriorated and she was put on the heart transplant list in May this year.
"Due to recurrent admissions to Batu Pahat Hospital and IJN, the transplant team felt that she needed a mechanical heart to support her while waiting for a donor. On Sept 13, she was readmitted to IJN for heart failure. While undergoing treatment she developed a potential fatal heart rhythm. She was successfully resuscitated and we decided to implant the PVAD," said Dr Mohamed Azani, who was also at the press conference.
He said after the operation, Tee remained stable overnight in the intensive care unit and was heavily sedated until the next morning (Sept 30) and was subsequently taken off the respirator. By 6pm the next day, the 15-year-old had her dinner.
"Unfortunately, she developed blood function derangement due to her anti-coagulation medication (blood thinning drugs) and needed to be put back on the ventilator. The problem was subsequently overcome with support from the National Blood Bank," he added.
Due to her pre-operative condition, during the last three weeks, Tee had a total of eight cardiac arrests where her heart stopped and during this time the PVAD performed well and continued to function.
Today, 33 days after surgery, Tee is undergoing extensive cardio-pulmonary and neurological rehabilitation at the intensive care unit.
Myths And Misconceptions Cause Low Number Of Organ Donations
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 (Bernama) -- Some 9,000 Malaysians are still waiting for a kidney transplant, while 2,500 new patients are diagnosed with end-stage renal failure every year.
However, due to myths and misconceptions about organ donations, these patients are still waiting for donors.
Kuala Lumpur Hospital's National Transplant Resource Centre chief coordinator Dr Lela Yasmin Mansor said the fear surrounding organ donation coupled with lack of awareness, played a part in dampening efforts to have more people registering as organ donors.
"Myths like organ donation will disfigure the persons and delay their funeral, and that organ donation is against their religion are some of the stumbling blocks," she told a media briefing on Reader's Digest Asia's organ donation drive, here Wednesday.
"Others are that doctors would not try to save your life if they know you are a donor, that you may be too old to donate organs and that people can still recover from brain death.
"Do not let such myths and misconceptions stop you from giving 'the gift of life'. Once you overcome your fear, you will be able to see how recipients will benefit from your deed," she added.
But more importantly, she said, organ donors should inform their families and loved ones of their decision as they are the ones to carry out the cause should they pass away.
"It is not enough simply to keep the organ donor card in your wallet.
"Letting the people close to you know about your wish will ensure that the process is easier when the time comes," she said.
Vice-president of the Malaysian Society of Transplantation Dr Tan Chwee Choon commended Reader's Digest Asia's effort to include an organ donor card in its November issue accompanied with an article on organ donation.
He said organ donation was still low in the country and based on the First Report of the National Transplant Registry in 2004, less than six per cent of end-stage kidney failure got transplanted and the vast majority had to accept life-long dialysis therapy as their only option.
The National Heart Institute's (IJN) Heart and Lungs Transplant Services director, Dr Mohamed Ezani Mohamed Taib, said another difficulty to transplant was that the process also depended on finding a suitable donor for the recipient as it depended on the blood group.
Present at the briefing was Reader's Digest Asia's editor-in-chief Jim Plouffe.
However, due to myths and misconceptions about organ donations, these patients are still waiting for donors.
Kuala Lumpur Hospital's National Transplant Resource Centre chief coordinator Dr Lela Yasmin Mansor said the fear surrounding organ donation coupled with lack of awareness, played a part in dampening efforts to have more people registering as organ donors.
"Myths like organ donation will disfigure the persons and delay their funeral, and that organ donation is against their religion are some of the stumbling blocks," she told a media briefing on Reader's Digest Asia's organ donation drive, here Wednesday.
"Others are that doctors would not try to save your life if they know you are a donor, that you may be too old to donate organs and that people can still recover from brain death.
"Do not let such myths and misconceptions stop you from giving 'the gift of life'. Once you overcome your fear, you will be able to see how recipients will benefit from your deed," she added.
But more importantly, she said, organ donors should inform their families and loved ones of their decision as they are the ones to carry out the cause should they pass away.
"It is not enough simply to keep the organ donor card in your wallet.
"Letting the people close to you know about your wish will ensure that the process is easier when the time comes," she said.
Vice-president of the Malaysian Society of Transplantation Dr Tan Chwee Choon commended Reader's Digest Asia's effort to include an organ donor card in its November issue accompanied with an article on organ donation.
He said organ donation was still low in the country and based on the First Report of the National Transplant Registry in 2004, less than six per cent of end-stage kidney failure got transplanted and the vast majority had to accept life-long dialysis therapy as their only option.
The National Heart Institute's (IJN) Heart and Lungs Transplant Services director, Dr Mohamed Ezani Mohamed Taib, said another difficulty to transplant was that the process also depended on finding a suitable donor for the recipient as it depended on the blood group.
Present at the briefing was Reader's Digest Asia's editor-in-chief Jim Plouffe.
MMA Proposes Sticker For Registered Private Clinics
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), Wednesday proposed that the Health Ministry consider issuing a sticker or symbol to private clinics upon registration.
Its president, Datuk Dr Teoh Siang Chin, said the sticker or symbol could be displayed clearly at the clinic for the public to know that they were receiving treatment at a clinic recognised by the ministry.
"At present, private clinics that register are only given a receipt for the registration," he said when welcoming the ministry's move to enforce the registration requirement.
The Health Ministry has insisted on the registration requirement according to the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998, and the period of registration ended, Tuesday.
However, registered doctors who run their operations at unregistered clinics can still apply for registration after the deadline but their premises will be inspected.
Dr Teoh said the ministry must act to track down irresponsible facilities masquerading as medical clinics and added that the MMA supported the ministry's move to conduct checks on errant doctors who have failed to register their clinics.
He was optimistic that with the enforcement, many unqualified and unregistered facilities would be shut down.
"We hope that all grassroots officers of the enforcement team will take cognisance of the principles of the act and enforce them firmly and fairly. The many other facilities masquerading as medical clinics should be the primary focus of the enforcement team," he said.
Dr Teoh said the MMA had not received any major complaints from its 13,000 members pertaining to the registration.
The act, which came into effect on May 1 this year, has among other things imposed stricter punishment for private doctors and clinics who breach the act.
Doctors who fail to register their clinics can be fined up to RM300,000 or jailed six years, or both.
Its president, Datuk Dr Teoh Siang Chin, said the sticker or symbol could be displayed clearly at the clinic for the public to know that they were receiving treatment at a clinic recognised by the ministry.
"At present, private clinics that register are only given a receipt for the registration," he said when welcoming the ministry's move to enforce the registration requirement.
The Health Ministry has insisted on the registration requirement according to the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998, and the period of registration ended, Tuesday.
However, registered doctors who run their operations at unregistered clinics can still apply for registration after the deadline but their premises will be inspected.
Dr Teoh said the ministry must act to track down irresponsible facilities masquerading as medical clinics and added that the MMA supported the ministry's move to conduct checks on errant doctors who have failed to register their clinics.
He was optimistic that with the enforcement, many unqualified and unregistered facilities would be shut down.
"We hope that all grassroots officers of the enforcement team will take cognisance of the principles of the act and enforce them firmly and fairly. The many other facilities masquerading as medical clinics should be the primary focus of the enforcement team," he said.
Dr Teoh said the MMA had not received any major complaints from its 13,000 members pertaining to the registration.
The act, which came into effect on May 1 this year, has among other things imposed stricter punishment for private doctors and clinics who breach the act.
Doctors who fail to register their clinics can be fined up to RM300,000 or jailed six years, or both.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
China ‘miracle cures’ end in death
Star: KUALA LUMPUR: Twenty Malaysians have died this year seeking miracle treatments in China for their terminal illnesses, after being misled by unscrupulous agents.
The patients paid the agents for a lifeline, but to no avail.
Unfortunately, the number of cases of China-bound patients being given false hopes of a cure for ailments, such as cancer and kidney disease, was rising, said Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek.
"Don’t be naive. If the cancer cannot be treated here, it also cannot be treated abroad," he said.
Dr Chua’s caution came in response to the alert by MCA Public Services and Complaints Department, where several patients and their families have lodged complaints on the treatments promoted by local agents.
The patients, said department chief Datuk Michael Chong, were approached by the agents in hospitals, and presented with brochures and other "evidence" to convince the patients that their conditions could be cured in China.
They patients spent between RM50,000 and RM100,000, and some of them approached the MCA for donations for such treatments.
"The patients were pro- mised a cure for their ailments in Guangzhou. When they arrived, they found that the treatment centre is only a shoplot. The staff could not even administer a blood test," said Chong.
"They were there seeking treatment, but instead of receiving a lifeline, they died."
Malaysian consulate officers in Guangzhou said they helped the bereaved families send the bodies home.
"I was also told by the officer that this is only the tip of the iceberg. He had gone to check on a medical facility in the area, and was surprised to see many Malaysians seeking treatment, when even locals don’t seek treatment there."
He added that the families would have to spend an additional RM40,000 to fly the bodies of their loved ones home, and prepare for their burial or cremation.
Dr Chua said the treatment provided at the centres was palliative: It did not cure the cancer, it merely reduced the pain.
Such treatment was also available locally, Dr Chua said, adding that Malaysia’s treatment facilities and technology were among the best in the region.
He said that many of these patients returned to Malaysia after they ran out of money as the centres refused to continue "treating" them.
He said the treatment for cancer was complicated and specialised and could not be taken lightly. "Malaysians should not place their trust in half-baked agents promoting such treatments."
He advised Malaysians who were interested in pursuing treatment for their ailments to do their research. They should consult their local doctor or specialist to find out the nature of the treatment they sought before going overseas.
"No doctor will tell his patient to go overseas if the treatment is available here."
Doctors who did so were unethical and the public should report them to the ministry, he said.
The patients paid the agents for a lifeline, but to no avail.
Unfortunately, the number of cases of China-bound patients being given false hopes of a cure for ailments, such as cancer and kidney disease, was rising, said Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek.
"Don’t be naive. If the cancer cannot be treated here, it also cannot be treated abroad," he said.
Dr Chua’s caution came in response to the alert by MCA Public Services and Complaints Department, where several patients and their families have lodged complaints on the treatments promoted by local agents.
The patients, said department chief Datuk Michael Chong, were approached by the agents in hospitals, and presented with brochures and other "evidence" to convince the patients that their conditions could be cured in China.
They patients spent between RM50,000 and RM100,000, and some of them approached the MCA for donations for such treatments.
"The patients were pro- mised a cure for their ailments in Guangzhou. When they arrived, they found that the treatment centre is only a shoplot. The staff could not even administer a blood test," said Chong.
"They were there seeking treatment, but instead of receiving a lifeline, they died."
Malaysian consulate officers in Guangzhou said they helped the bereaved families send the bodies home.
"I was also told by the officer that this is only the tip of the iceberg. He had gone to check on a medical facility in the area, and was surprised to see many Malaysians seeking treatment, when even locals don’t seek treatment there."
He added that the families would have to spend an additional RM40,000 to fly the bodies of their loved ones home, and prepare for their burial or cremation.
Dr Chua said the treatment provided at the centres was palliative: It did not cure the cancer, it merely reduced the pain.
Such treatment was also available locally, Dr Chua said, adding that Malaysia’s treatment facilities and technology were among the best in the region.
He said that many of these patients returned to Malaysia after they ran out of money as the centres refused to continue "treating" them.
He said the treatment for cancer was complicated and specialised and could not be taken lightly. "Malaysians should not place their trust in half-baked agents promoting such treatments."
He advised Malaysians who were interested in pursuing treatment for their ailments to do their research. They should consult their local doctor or specialist to find out the nature of the treatment they sought before going overseas.
"No doctor will tell his patient to go overseas if the treatment is available here."
Doctors who did so were unethical and the public should report them to the ministry, he said.
Hospitals to get NGO help
Star: MIRI: The St John Ambulance and the Red Crescent Society will be roped in to help government hospitals operate ambulance services in the big cities and towns nationwide.
Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said the ministry felt that the two organisations had the capability to help the hospitals, especially those facing a shortage of ambulances and manpower.
“The arrangement has already started in Kuala Lumpur and will soon become a norm in other big cities and towns, particularly in peninsular Malaysia.
“While issues relating to the provision of healthcare and services are basically the responsibility of the Government, the ministry feels that non-governmental organisations and community bodies can play a complementary role,” he said after a four-day working visit to Miri and the surrounding rural districts.
“We feel that St John Ambulance and Red Cresent Society branches in the cities and towns will be able to provide efficient ambulance services to hospitals facing serious constraints in this area.”
Lee said the two bodies had already established themselves as capable of operating ambulance services and other healthcare roles in society and would be given wider responsibilities.
He cited, as an example, that the Miri Red Cresent had, for a long time, provided free ambulance service for kidney failure patients who needed to go to the Miri Kidney Dialysis centre for treatment.
Lee also met with representatives of the Miri Palliative Care, Buddhist Tzu Chi, the Mental Health Association and Loving and Care group for three hours while at Miri Hospital.
“We appreciate the work of volunteers and NGOs in helping the hospital and providing post-hospitalisation care to needy patients,” he added.
Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said the ministry felt that the two organisations had the capability to help the hospitals, especially those facing a shortage of ambulances and manpower.
“The arrangement has already started in Kuala Lumpur and will soon become a norm in other big cities and towns, particularly in peninsular Malaysia.
“While issues relating to the provision of healthcare and services are basically the responsibility of the Government, the ministry feels that non-governmental organisations and community bodies can play a complementary role,” he said after a four-day working visit to Miri and the surrounding rural districts.
“We feel that St John Ambulance and Red Cresent Society branches in the cities and towns will be able to provide efficient ambulance services to hospitals facing serious constraints in this area.”
Lee said the two bodies had already established themselves as capable of operating ambulance services and other healthcare roles in society and would be given wider responsibilities.
He cited, as an example, that the Miri Red Cresent had, for a long time, provided free ambulance service for kidney failure patients who needed to go to the Miri Kidney Dialysis centre for treatment.
Lee also met with representatives of the Miri Palliative Care, Buddhist Tzu Chi, the Mental Health Association and Loving and Care group for three hours while at Miri Hospital.
“We appreciate the work of volunteers and NGOs in helping the hospital and providing post-hospitalisation care to needy patients,” he added.
Healer meets ministry over probe into clinic
Star: PUTRAJAYA: A traditional healer who allegedly performed surgeries without anaesthesia at his clinic in Shah Alam has turned up at the Health Ministry to give his statement.
Known to his patients as Che Man, the “doctor” who earlier disappeared from his clinic was the fifth person to give his statement to the health authority.
Health Ministry’s Medical Practice Division director Dr Mohd Khairi Yakub said Che Man was traced during the Hari Raya period and told to give his statement after the holidays.
Investigation would be completed soon, he said, and the papers handed over to the Attorney-General for prosecution purposes.
Che Man, whose patients included local VIPs and those from overseas, had charged between RM350 and RM4,000 for cases such as removal of tumours, kidney stones and ovarian cysts.
“He is not a doctor and cannot practise modern medicine using the medical equipment we found at the clinic,” Dr Khairi said, adding that the medical fixtures at the clinic had been sealed and some moveable equipment seized.
If he broke the seal and continued to use the equipment without licence, he could be jailed three months, Dr Khairi warned.
Although Che Man had been operating for about 10 years, his activities only came to light in September. On Oct 11, the Health Ministry conducted a raid at the clinic but Che Man had bolted.
Dr Khairi said Che Man was allowed to continue with his traditional healing but not practise modern medicine without a licence.
Known to his patients as Che Man, the “doctor” who earlier disappeared from his clinic was the fifth person to give his statement to the health authority.
Health Ministry’s Medical Practice Division director Dr Mohd Khairi Yakub said Che Man was traced during the Hari Raya period and told to give his statement after the holidays.
Investigation would be completed soon, he said, and the papers handed over to the Attorney-General for prosecution purposes.
Che Man, whose patients included local VIPs and those from overseas, had charged between RM350 and RM4,000 for cases such as removal of tumours, kidney stones and ovarian cysts.
“He is not a doctor and cannot practise modern medicine using the medical equipment we found at the clinic,” Dr Khairi said, adding that the medical fixtures at the clinic had been sealed and some moveable equipment seized.
If he broke the seal and continued to use the equipment without licence, he could be jailed three months, Dr Khairi warned.
Although Che Man had been operating for about 10 years, his activities only came to light in September. On Oct 11, the Health Ministry conducted a raid at the clinic but Che Man had bolted.
Dr Khairi said Che Man was allowed to continue with his traditional healing but not practise modern medicine without a licence.
No Extension For Private Medical Practitioners To Register, Says Chua
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 (Bernama) -- There will be no extension for private medical practitioners to register their clinics with the Health Ministry after Tuesday's deadline, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said.
"No extension. Enough time has been given. We have relaxed all the rules and regulations. The whole idea of the exercise is not to punish them. We just want to separate the real and the fake," he told reporters after attending the MCA presidential council meeting.
The registration is required under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 with Oct 31 set as the end of a six-month transitional period for clinics to apply for registration.
The Act was enforced on May 1 this year after it was enacted almost eight years ago.
Doctors failing to register their clinics are liable to be fined up to RM300,000 or six years' jail or both.
Only some healthcare facilities are exempted from the registration exercise. They include factory and hotel in-house clinics, estate and offshore clinics as well as those run by voluntary organisations and the Federation of Malaysian Family Planning Associations.
Dr Chua said he had not received the latest figures on the number of private medical practitioners who had applied to register their clinics but he believed the figures would be as high as 90 per cent.
"Up to yesterday, 82 per cent of the doctors have registered. I came to know this when my officer briefed me at 3pm yesterday. I'm sure by today it will be more as most of the doctors have been very cooperative," he said.
Dr Chua said professional bodies such as the Malaysian Medical Association and the Private Doctors' Association had come forward to help the ministry to register them.
"So the end result, I'm quite confident between 85 and 90 per cent clinics will be registered," he said.
He said his ministry would take into account the long break (Deepavali and Hari Raya holidays) for applications received after expiry of the deadline.
The Health Ministry, the medical practitioners and dentists have agreed to enforce the Act which stipulates the minimum standard of healthcare services with some adjustments.
The changes implemented include exemption for medical practitioners to install public telephones or have generator sets except for those performing major operations.
"No extension. Enough time has been given. We have relaxed all the rules and regulations. The whole idea of the exercise is not to punish them. We just want to separate the real and the fake," he told reporters after attending the MCA presidential council meeting.
The registration is required under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 with Oct 31 set as the end of a six-month transitional period for clinics to apply for registration.
The Act was enforced on May 1 this year after it was enacted almost eight years ago.
Doctors failing to register their clinics are liable to be fined up to RM300,000 or six years' jail or both.
Only some healthcare facilities are exempted from the registration exercise. They include factory and hotel in-house clinics, estate and offshore clinics as well as those run by voluntary organisations and the Federation of Malaysian Family Planning Associations.
Dr Chua said he had not received the latest figures on the number of private medical practitioners who had applied to register their clinics but he believed the figures would be as high as 90 per cent.
"Up to yesterday, 82 per cent of the doctors have registered. I came to know this when my officer briefed me at 3pm yesterday. I'm sure by today it will be more as most of the doctors have been very cooperative," he said.
Dr Chua said professional bodies such as the Malaysian Medical Association and the Private Doctors' Association had come forward to help the ministry to register them.
"So the end result, I'm quite confident between 85 and 90 per cent clinics will be registered," he said.
He said his ministry would take into account the long break (Deepavali and Hari Raya holidays) for applications received after expiry of the deadline.
The Health Ministry, the medical practitioners and dentists have agreed to enforce the Act which stipulates the minimum standard of healthcare services with some adjustments.
The changes implemented include exemption for medical practitioners to install public telephones or have generator sets except for those performing major operations.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)