24 types of local biscuits get the all clear

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Lovers of 24 types of local biscuits can once again munch on their favourites without fear.
Health Ministry Food Safety and Quality Division director Noraini Mohd Othman yesterday released a list of 24 types of biscuits made by Khong Guan and Khian Guan which are deemed safe for consumption.
They were tested for excessive amounts of melamine.
The Khong Guan products are 3+2 Orange Chocolate, 3+2 Vanilla Chocolate, Disney (mixed), Cocoa cream, Mega cream, Rusk, Sultana, Deli Cream, Crisps and Cream, Cho- colate Short Cake, Peanut Cream, Kris wheat biscuits, Crispy Finger, Oat cookies, Du- rian Cream, Tiramisu, Butter Coconut and Butter Cookies.
The Khing Guan products are Milk Short Cake, Rose Cream, Oat and Raisin, Coffee Cream, Banana Cream and Wafer Dark Cream.
And, in a statement yesterday, Munchy's Food Industries Sdn Bhd chief executive officer C.K. Tan said that contrary to press reports their factory was not sealed. Health officials only "sealed" certain ingredients used in its biscuits.
"They are testing raw ingredients and a range of biscuits," he said, adding that the factory in Batu Pahat was still producing wafers and wafer sticks.
"Our products are being tested by independent certification agencies abroad. We have received confirmation that the Munchy's products tested so far are safe for consumption."
A Bernama report on Sunday had said the Munchy's factory in Johor was "sealed" for producing two types of biscuits that were said to contain excessive amounts of melamine by a Hong Kong government laboratory. The report gave the impression that the factory was shut down. In the report, Noraini was quoted as saying the two products would be tested for melamine.
She was commenting on a Reuters report that said excessive amounts of melamine had been found in Munchy's Mini Crackers with Peanut Butter and Munchy's Mini Crackers with Cheese Cream.

Factory sealed, melamine test for biscuits

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry has sealed a factory producing two types of local biscuits discovered by a Hong Kong government laboratory as containing excessive amounts of melamine.
Its Food Safety and Quality Division director, Noraini Mohd Othman, said in a statement last night that the products would be tested for melamine.
She was commenting on a Reuters report that an excessive amount of melamine had been found in Munchy's Mini Crackers with Peanut Butter and Munchy's Mini Crackers with Cheese Cream, produced by Munchy Food Industries Sdn Bhd.
Meanwhile, she said the ministry had cleared 11 more food products of melamine.
They are Amoy Flour Vermicilli (Sau Tao), Chocolate Cookies (Golden Fuji), Chocolate Drink (Garden Stone), Cream Flavour Biscuits (Hong Da Food), Creamy Peanut Butter (Kinus), Crips Chocolate Flavour Cracker (Golden Fuji), Fiber Cracker (Aji), Gula Udang Merah (Sanwa), House of Steamed Potato (Silang), Saltine Crackers (Four Seas) and The Original Danish Butter Cookies (Silang).
Noraini also advised consumers not to buy unlabelled biscuits at night and farmers' markets, and check the contents of those with labels before buying them.
Consumers can contact the Food Safety and Quality Division at 03-88833655, 03-88833503, 03-88833652 and 03-88833500 or visit http://fsq.moh.gov.my for details.
Meanwhile, Munchy Food Industries chief executive officer C.K. Tan said none of its products contained any dairy-based ingredients from China.
The company would give full cooperation to the ministry, he said in a statement.
"As a reputable 18-year-old homegrown manufacturer of confectionary with a strong international brand presence, we consistently view consumer food safety as a top priority. We will continue to uphold this without any compromise."
He claimed that independent certification agencies, namely Chemical Laboratory (M) Sdn Bhd and Pacific Lab Services of Zargo (Singapore), had certified its products as safe.

Long wait for 'good organs' goes on

NST: KUCHING: It is a grim statistic -- one in three Malaysians on the waiting list for organ transplants will die before a donor is found.
The waiting list was long and there was a serious shortage of organ donors, Sarawak General Hospital director Dr Zulkifli Jantan said at the hospital's organ and blood donation awareness campaign here yesterday.
Furthermore, organs can only be harvested if the donors "die in the right condition", he added.
"That means that if the donor is killed in an accident in which he is mutilated or he died from an illness, his organs cannot be harvested because they could be damaged and, therefore, unfit."
He said organs were best harvested from brain-dead donors.
To illustrate the difficulty in carrying out a successful organ harvest, Dr Zulkifli said in the last eight years there had only been one successful harvest performed at SGH.
That was in 2000 when the kidneys, heart valves and corneas of a brain-dead 60-year-old woman were harvested.
State Assistant Minister of Public Health Dr Soon Choon Teck said there were an estimated 450 patients in need of a new heart.
"And there are many others in need of a kidney, liver, cornea and tissues like heart valves, skin and bones, leaving thousands without much hope of finding a suitable donor."
The main reason for the reluctance to volunteer organs upon death, was not religious prohibitions, but misconceived notions and prejudice, he added.
Some 94,000 people have pledged to donate their organs in this country, including about 4,000 in Sarawak.
In the state, the most sought after organs are the kidneys and the skin.
While cultural taboos and misconceived ideas had long been barriers to the Chinese in donating blood, Dr Zulkifli said the Chinese in Kuching had broken that barrier.
"More than 50 per cent of the blood donors here are Chinese."
He said this was significant when compared with the figure of 15 per cent Chinese donors in the other major cities, including Kuala Lumpur.
Blood banks in the state, he said, still faced serious shortages because the state had not achieved the national donor target of five per cent of the state's population.
Sarawak, Dr Zulkifli said, had only achieved a two per cent score, lower than the national average of three per cent.
He said it was for this reason that the hospital, together with the Red Crescent Society, was holding the donation drive to "further break down the barriers" and get more people to become donors of organs and blood.

Addressing lack of prison medical staff

Star: MARANG: The Home Ministry will look into employing more doctors and medical assistants for prison work.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said currently one doctor and 42 medical assistants treat prisoners in the 25 jails across Malaysia.
Adequate figures should be five doctors and 49 medical assistants.
Syed Hamid said although the shortage was a problem, it could be overcome if "creative" methods were found to attract doctors and medical assistants.
Among the reasons for the reluctance of doctors to work in prisons were the confined environment in which they had to work, the type of patients to be treated and the lack of incentives.
"I blame the prison environment," Syed Hamid said after attending the Malaysian Prison Day celebration, along with Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, yesterday.
"You require dedication to work here as you have to treat drug addicts and inmates with HIV and AIDS."
"Doctors can choose to open a clinic," he added. "Sitting in a prison all day may not be too encouraging."
Syed Hamid said the ministry had raised the matter with the Health Ministry, but out of the four doctors sent by the latter, only one remained.
The shortage of doctors, however, had not affected the welfare of prisoners as the ministry had outsourced medical practitioners from private clinics who were more willing to work in prisons for extra income.

Health university on the cards

NST: KUANTAN: A health university could be on the cards as the Health Ministry mulls ways to replace its training institutes, which have been turning out most of the country's public health workers.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad mooted the idea of the university after taking into account that all 35 nursing training colleges in the country had the necessary facilities to turn Malaysia into a nursing hub.
"All the colleges provide training programmes under a well-structured management team, which also has the necessary infrastructure.
"These colleges, which offer nursing and other training programmes, can accommodate up to 15,000 students and produce about 3,000 graduates every year," Latiff said after presenting scrolls at a graduation ceremony for nurses here yesterday.
Latiff said it was time that these training institutes, which had successfully produced thousands of nurses, health assistants and lab assistants, were upgraded to a health university.
In yesterday's event, 269 graduates from the Kuantan Nursing College and Jerantut Community Nursing College here received their certificates and diplomas.
On the issue of melamine contamination of products from China, Latiff said consumers should keep track of the food products banned by the ministry.
"We have been conducting checks on biscuit brands and would reveal if more items were to be banned.
"The manufacturers have been cooperative and followed our orders to remove the affected brands from the shelves."
The Khong Guan and Khian Guan biscuit brands were found to contain the banned industrial chemicals.

Don't buy biscuits that carry no label

NST: SEREMBAN: The public has been advised not to buy biscuits that carry no label.
The advice comes from the state Health Department after 18 types of biscuit from two manufacturers, Khong Guan and Khian Guan, were banned when they were found tainted with melamine.
Its director Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said some shops were repacking and selling the banned biscuits in loose packaging without any label at night markets to avoid losses.
"Based on our recent inspections, we have reasons to believe that some shops, unable to return these biscuits after purchasing large consignments, are selling them without any label at pasar malam.
"Therefore, we advise people to be extra careful and only purchase biscuits that are labelled," Dr Zainal said at his office yesterday.
The source of contamination is from the baking agent, ammonium bicarbonate, which is imported from China.
Following the discovery of melamine in both the household brands, Dr Zainal said officers from the Health Department sealed a warehouse belonging to Khong Guan at Jalan Rahang.

Melamine: Khong Guan, Khian Guan biscuits recalled

Star: PUTRAJAYA: PUTRAJAYA: Excessive melamine was found in 18 of 47 biscuits produced by the Khong Guan and Khian Guan brands and they have been ordered removed from the shelves immediately.
“We have also requested that they voluntarily recall the rest of the products (the remaining 29),” said Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai
Asked if they had agreed to do so, Liow said: “Yes, they are very responsive. They are all responsible companies.”
The 18 biscuit products were found to have melamine in excess of the permissable 2.5mg/kg or 2.5 parts per million (ppm).
Liow said the Ministry had traced the source of the melamine to ammonium bicarbonate imported by both manufacturers from China.
“Results from our tests found that Khong Guan biscuits contained 33.4ppm while Khian Guan contained 508ppm,” he said.
As such, Liow had banned the import of ammonium bicarbonate from China, placing the substance under Level 6 Examination (Auto Rejection), while ammonium bicarbonate from other countries were placed under Level 4 Examination (Surveilance Examination) under the Food Safety Information of Malaysia (FoSIM).
Excessive melamine was first linked to contaminated dairy products, but Liow said the Ministry would now be more alert and test more products other than those with dairy content due to the ammonium bicarbonate findings.
Ammonium bicarbonate is usually used as a raising agent in biscuit production and is allowed under the Food Rules 1985 but strict action had to be taken to protect the health of consumers, he said.
“All factories that use ammonium bicarbonate from China will have their products tested. We will test all biscuits in the country,” he said.
He said that food with dairy content from China had been placed under Level 6 Examination, and with the latest revelation, all imported biscuits had been placed under Level 4 Examination.
Meanwhile, he said the Ministry is looking into Julie’s Crackers and Mali unsweetened condensed milk, which was reported in the media to contain excessive levels of melamine.
Liow said consumers could contact the Food Services and Quality division at 03-8883 3655/3503/3652/3500.
On Oct 6, White Rabbit Creamy Candy was found to contain more than 50 times the permitted level of melamine and was banned by the ministry.

Not enough dialysis centres

Star: KUALA LUMPUR: The 132 dialysis centres under the Health Ministry are insufficient for 17,367 kidney patients diagnosed with end-stage failure who need to go for dialysis treatment, said deputy minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad.
Replying to Liang Teck Meng (BN - Simpang Renggam) in Parliament, Dr Abdul Latiff said the 132 dialysis centres comprising 1,836 machines can only provide dialysis treatment to 5,000 patients.
Dr Abdul Latiff said the Government works with non-governmental organisations like the Lions Club, Rotary Club and others, as well as the private sector which has a total of 186 centres with 1,787 machines to provide dialysis treatment to 6,000 patients.
He said the ratio of dialysis machines to renal failure patients is currently one to five.
“Government hospitals also have portable dialysis machines for those who can’t be at the dialysis units,” he said.

Fungus outbreak closes polyclinic

NST: MALACCA: A government polyclinic here will be temporarily closed following an outbreak of fungus there.
A faulty air-conditioning system is believed to have caused the fungus to grow on the ceiling and walls of the Ayer Keroh community polyclinic.
State Women's Affairs, Family Development and Health Committee chairman Norpipah Abdol confirmed the presence of spores but was unable to identify the species or determine if it was dangerous.
"At this point, I can only confirm that there is a fungal outbreak at the polyclinic, and we will make a press statement when we get a report from the state Health Department and the Health Ministry," she said.
The polyclinic is frequented by hundreds of people daily, especially those living in the Bukit Katil, Ayer Keroh, Bukit Beruang and nearby areas
A check by the New Straits Times showed that the spores had covered most of the polyclinic ceiling while some of the affected walls had been cleaned.
Sources said the polyclinic is expected to be closed for at least six months for cleaning and remedial works.
To facilitate this, the operations of the polyclinic would most probably be moved to the one in nearby Kota Cemerlang in November.
In September 2004, the RM557.8 million Sultan Ismail Specialist Hospital in Johor Baru was ordered closed after faulty air-conditioning led to the growth of aspergillus and penicillium fungi which spread throughout the hospital and contaminated the equipment.
Barely a month after that, the same problem was detected at the Alor Star Hospital.
The Alor Star Hospital shut down two of its seven operating theatres for three days after fungal spores were detected in the air. However, the hospital's microbiology laboratory said the spores were not from the dangerous species which had caused the temporary closure of the Sultan Ismail Hospital.
The Ayer Keroh community polyclinic was built at an estimated cost of RM10 million under the Seventh Malaysia Plan and is located in Jalan Ayer Keroh Lama.
The cleaning and repair work is expected to include the replacement of ceilings and the upgrading of the air-conditioning and ventilation system. The interior of the polyclinic will also be repainted.
Various tests, including measuring the density of fungal spores in the air, are expected to be carried out.
Checks will also be conducted to determine if the spores could have spread through the centralised air-conditioning system to other parts of the polyclinic, such as the outpatient centre, dental clinic, X-ray unit, centre for the elderly and the quit-smoking clinic.

HFMD suspected in boy's death

NST: IPOH: A 7-year-old boy who died after developing rashes on his palms, soles and mouth could be the first casualty of the hand, foot and mouth disease in Perak.
Toh Guan Hee, of Taman Assamara in Pokok Assam, Taiping, had shown symptoms of the disease when he was admitted to Taiping Hospital on Monday morning. He died the same night.
An 11-month-old infant from Aulong, Taiping, has also been admitted to the same hospital yesterday morning with similar symptoms.
State Health Committee chairman A. Sivanesan said the state Health Department had sent Toh's blood and tissue samples to the Institute of Medical Research in Kuala Lumpur to ascertain the cause of death.
"The state health authority suspects that the boy died of HFMD," he said at a press conference here yesterday.
While HFMD is not regarded as a dangerous disease, the infection can cause inflammation of the heart and brain membrane, resulting in death.
Sivanesan said although cases of HFMD occurred regularly in Perak, none had been fatal.
Perak recorded 258 HFMD cases from Jan 1 to Oct 4, the highest number, 72, in Kinta district.
The department has distributed pamphlets, conducted public talks and instructed doctors to notify the health authorities of patients with HFMD symptoms.

Kindergarten closed after HFMD detected

Star: MIRI: A kindergarten in Tudan residential area was closed after three cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFDM) were detected.
Miri health director Dr Chin Zin Hing said the kindergarten would be closed for the next two weeks.
“We are now helping the kindergarten to contain the outbreak,” said Dr Chin.
“We have also advised other kindergartens to shut down if the need arises. It is better to take early precautions.”
This is the first pre-school in the state to close following the sharp rise in HFMD infections statewide.
Last year, 13 children died from the Enterovirus 71 strain of HFMD while thousands were infected in the state.
Nurseries and kindergartens have also placed their staff and pupils on high alert following the death of a four-year old boy in Sibu from suspected infection of HFMD.
HFMD is a common yearly occurrence in Sarawak. The main fear is caused by the Enterovirus 71 strain that can be fatal.

Sarawak on alert for disease outbreak

NST: KUCHING: Sarawak is on high alert for the hand, foot and mouth disease after one Enterovirus 71 (EV71) case was detected following the death of a 4-year-old boy from Sibu last week.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan said the Health Department was stepping up prevention and control measures.
From the department's statistics released yesterday, 5,686 cases of HFMD had been reported so far this year.
Kuching received the highest number of reported cases with 2,187, followed by Miri (889), Bintulu (781) and Sibu (532). The rest were reported in smaller towns.
"Except for the death of the boy in Sibu last week, none of the cases involved EV71, which potentially causes death," said Dr Chan, who is also chairman of the state disaster and relief management committee.
"In Sarawak, it is like a cycle where every three years, we will have a case of EV71. For this year, the situation is under control."
Dr Chan urged parents with young children and operators of childcare centres to practise good hygiene at all times.
"From our experience, once EV71 starts, it will spread very quickly. Although there is no outbreak yet, the situation will worsen if parents do not take the disease seriously."
At present, there is no specific effective anti-virul drugs and vaccine for the treatment of HFMD. Symptomatic treatment is given to provide relief from fever, aches, or pain from the mouth ulcers.
Dehydration is a concern because the mouth sores may make it painful for children to eat and drink.
"Although HFMD occurs mainly in children under 10 years' old, it may also occur in adults. Everyone is at risk of infection, but not everyone who is infected becomes ill."
Sarawak's last major outbreak of HFMD was in 2006, when more than 14,000 cases and 13 deaths were reported.

Malaysia can be hub for orthopaedic surgeries

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has huge potential of becoming a hub for orthopaedic surgeries where the operations cost a fraction of that in countries such as the the United States and Britain.
Asean Orthopaedic Association president Dr Jamal Azmi Mohamad and Malaysian Orthopaedic Association president Dr Robert Penafort said the skills and facilities available locally were not being fully exploited.
"There are a few (orthopaedic) surgeries done in the name of health tourism but much more can be done," said Dr Jamal.
Dr Jamal and Dr Robert said the government and private sector should do more to promote such surgeries abroad.
Dr Jamal said the Malaysian health tourism sector was not being promoted "fully".
"There is a need to encourage and create more awareness on this sector, especially among the foreigners."
He said patients wanting to do a joint replacement surgery in Malaysia would have to spend at least two weeks in the country.
"This includes the surgery and recovery period," he said, adding that this meant the patients would have time to see parts of the country.
It would cost RM20,000 to do the surgery in Malaysia, compared with RM150,000 in the United States.
Malaysia has more than 500 orthopaedic surgeons, most of whom are in the Klang Valley.

Sinseh, dukun can register online soon

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) practitioners will soon be able to register online with the Health Ministry through e-Pengamal, a free voluntary registration system.
Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said the system would be available from next month ahead of the mandatory registration of TCM practitioners under the Traditional and Complementary Healthcare Practices Act.
The Act aims to regulate TCM practitioners such as sinseh and dukun by validating their qualifications, enforcing their compulsory registration with the ministry and managing the issuance of practising certificates.
He said a roadshow would be held soon to demonstrate how TCM practitioners can use e-Pengamal, which was developed by the ministry's TCM division.
Speaking after launching the Golden Horses Health Sanctuary TCM Wellness Centre in Seri Kembangan near here yesterday, Liow said as of May, there were 7,578 TCM practitioners registered under seven umbrella bodies.
They are the Federation of Chinese Physicians and Medicine Dealers Associations of Malaysia, Federation of Chinese Physicians and Acupuncturists Associations of Malaysia, Federation of Malay Traditional Medicine Practitioners, Federation of Indian Traditional Medicine Malaysia, Malaysian Homeopathic Medical Council, Malaysian Society of Complementary Therapies and Chinese Physician's Association of Malaysia.
Liow said three more hospitals, in Terengganu, Sabah and Sarawak, would offer TCM services.
"The three pilot projects which offered traditional complementary medicine have received overwhelming response."
The three hospitals currently offering TCM are the Kepala Batas Hospital, Putrajaya Hospital and Hospital Sultan Ismail in Johor.
"In Hospital Putrajaya, appointments have been made up to three months in advance.
"The TCM unit in hospital Kepala Batas has recorded almost 4,000 cases, collectively, for traditional Malay massage, acupuncture and adjunct herbal treatment for cancer patients on chemotherapy," he said.
Also present at yesterday's ceremony was Country Heights Holdings founder and deputy chairman Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew.

Kampung folk go to surgeons 'as last resort'

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Many people prefer to refer their bone ailments to bomoh and sinseh rather than to orthopaedists.

This practice is especially noted in rural areas where such surgeons are almost non-existent.
Asean Orthopaedic Association president Dr Jamal Azmi Mohamad said they knew of this because orthopaedic surgeons had received numerous referrals from traditional medicine men.
"Instead of coming to us first, people in kampung and sometimes even the cities prefer to see these traditional medicine men," he said at the 28th Asean Orthopaedic Association Congress and the 38th Malaysian Orthopaedic Association (MOA) annual general meeting and scientific meeting at a hotel here recently.
He said it was therefore crucial for the government to post more orthopaedists at rural hospitals.
Most of the 500 orthopaedic surgeons in the country are based in the Klang Valley.
MOA president Dr Robert Penafort suggested that sinseh and bomoh be regulated.
"Because they have no regulations governing them, they are free to do anything with their patients.
"When we get referrals from them, it was already too late for the patient, especially if they have cancer or a tumour," Dr Penafort said.
"We hope the Health Ministry will take steps to regulate bomoh and sinseh because a lot of people prefer to go to them just because they are scared of going through operations, " he said, adding that patients were also put off by the three- to six-month waiting period.

More hospitals get traditional medicine units

Star: KUALA LUMPUR: Three more government hospitals will be offering traditional complementary medicine (TCM) next year.
Terengganu, Sabah and Sarawak will house one TCM unit each, in addition to the current ones in Hospital Putrajaya, Hospital Kepala Batas in Penang and Hospital Sultan Ismail in Johor.
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said this was due to the good response received at the first three hospitals.
“In Putrajaya, you need to make an appointment three months in advance for TCM service. In Kepala Batas, more than 4,000 patients had been treated since January,” he said.
Liow said seven professional bodies are currently helping regulate TCM practitioners as the Health Ministry is in the midst of drafting the Traditional and Complementary Healthcare Practices Act.
There are 7,578 local TCM practitioners registered under the seven bodies.
The public can contact these bodies to ensure that their TCM practitioners are not bogus practitioners, Liow said.
The seven bodies are the Chinese Physician’s Association of Malaysia, Federation of Chinese Physicians and Medicine Dealers Associations of Malaysia, Federation of Chinese Physicians and Acupuncturists of Malaysia, Persekutuan Perubatan Tradisional Melayu, Pertubuhan Perubatan Tradisional India Malaysia, Majlis Perubatan Homeopathy Malaysia and Malaysian Society for Complementary Therapies.
The Traditional and Complementary Healthcare Practices Act is aimed at regulating TCM practitioners by validating their qualifications against set standards, compulsory registration and the issuance of practising certificates.
While waiting for the Act to be debated in Parliament, which could be as soon as next year, Liow said the ministry is launching a voluntary registration scheme next month.
“TCM practitioners can voluntarily register themselves online via the e-Pengamal scheme; when the Act is passed, registration will become compulsory,” he said after launching the Golden Horses Health Sanctuary-TCM Wellness.

No outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Sarawak

NST: KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan has assured the public there was no outbreak of the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in the state.
He said the death of a 4-year-old in Sibu last week did not constitute an outbreak.
"If the boy did die from the disease, it was probably an isolated case," he said.
The confirmation on the cause of death of the preschooler would only be known on Thursday.
Dr Chan, who is also the chairman of the state Disaster and Relief Management Committee, said the state usually experienced an outbreak of HFMD once every three years. The last was in 2006.
To prevent an outbreak and minimise its impact, the state Health Department had been directed to take precautionary steps now.
This includes advising the public on preventive steps and what to do when they suspect their children were infected.
"We're trying to nip it in the bud before it spreads," said Dr Chan.
He said in view of the toddler's death last week, the authorities would step up the dissemination of information on the disease.
Local non-governmental organisations, such as the Red Crescent, and those dealing with children, and operators of kindergartens and childcare centres would be roped in to help spread awareness about the disease.
Yesterday, two more cases were reported in the state, but Dr Chan said they were "normal".

Docs okay e-Kesihatan revamp

Star: PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association and Koperasi Doktor Malaysia Bhd are happy with the revamp of the e-Kesihatan scheme.
Association president Datuk Dr Khoo Kah Lin said doctors should play a major role in the medical aspect of the scheme.
He said the association and the Health Ministry regularly hold discussions about the scheme over the past 12 months, and would like to meet up with the Transport Minister as well.
“We hope that while implementing the new scheme, there are sufficient safeguards to ensure orderly and ethical work practices. “The association’s technical committee has prepared a detailed format of clinical and laboratory tests relevant for screening and certification of drivers to drive commercial vehicles,” he said.
Dr Khoo agreed with removing the exclusivity of Supremme Systems, saying that all doctors registered with the Malaysian Medical Council should be allowed to carry out examinations on the drivers.
According to the cooperative’s chairman, Dr J.S. Deo, check-ups can be conducted at the cost of RM65 per driver — lower than the RM80 that Supremme Systems wanted to charge.
“We feel it is not right to make money from this. And without a middleman, we hope the Road Transport Department will have a transparent system and also incorporate a mechanism to catch medical frauds. We are willing to help,” he said.
Dr Deo said urine tests for amphetamines should be dropped from the regular check-ups and should only be requested during spot checks.
“The test is not absolute. If the driver stopped taking the drugs three to four days before a check-up, his result will be negative,” he said.
The revised scheme will allow doctors to conduct medical check-ups for commercial vehicle drivers instead of it being run solely by private company Supremme Systems Sdn Bhd.
Pan Malaysian Lorry Owners Association president Er Sui See said it was a good move to cut off the middlemen. “We don’t want anyone making money from us. And with the scheme, runners cannot cari makan anymore. This will put an end to bogus medical certificates,” he said.

White Rabbit candy test positive for melamine

Star: PETALING JAYA: Samples of White Rabbit Creamy Candy have been found to contain more than 50 times the permitted level of melamine.
Tests on Ego White Rabbit Creamy Candy samples showed that the content of melamine was 135 parts per million (ppm) compared with 2.5ppm, the level permitted by the Health Ministry.
Heath Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai has ordered outlets to remove the candy from their shelves and destroy all stocks.
Those found disobeying the directive can be prosecuted under the Food Act.
“The ministry has identified the product and company involved and has issued a directive to the state health departments to destroy the product,” he told reporters yesterday at the National Public Health Laboratory.
“They shouldn’t be selling it or giving it away for free. Consumers should also read food labels properly and call us if they have doubts.”
The public should also be on the alert when giving away food hampers or products from China, he said, adding that there were 64 products which have been tested and cleared by the ministry to date.
The latest 14 products to be cleared include Menthos Yogurt, Sam’s Real Scotch Milk Candy, Miow Miow Lobster Peanut Crisp, Crisp Lobster Peanut Crisp, Sanwa Strawberry, Double Lantern Peanut Cake, Daysun Rice Crisp Cheese and Tongxi Foods Chocolate Egg Rolls.
The others are Tongxi Foods Milk Chocolate Egg Roll, Hong Da Food Crisp Blue Berry Layer Biscuit, Lotte Koala Chocolate Snack, ZQ Chocolate Digest Biscuits, Frontier Chocolate Cream Centerfilled and Passion Frugurt Yogurt Style Snack.
He added that 775 product samples had been taken while 2,719 items were taken off the shelves.
On reports which appeared on the Health News and Earthtimes.org websites on Sept 26 that Pizza Hut Taiwan had found melamine at 70ppm in cheese packet made out of creamer and cheese powder, he said tests had found it to be free from the chemical.
The creamer for the cheese packet is supplied by a Malaysian company and it is also used to make products such as three-in-one instant coffee and cereal while the cheese powder is imported from New Zealand.
He said the ministry was also investigating the biscuit factories which were mentioned in media reports that Vietnam had found melamine in their products.
To expedite sample testing, the Chemistry Department, the National Public Health Laboratory, Universiti Malaya and the Doping Control Centre in Universiti Sains Malaysia have been roped in to help out.
Liow said that he hoped to have laboratories in Ipoh, Johor Baru and Kota Kinabalu to conduct testing.
He also said that the ministry would continue with its Level Four alert on fruits and vegetables from China.
Under Level Four, the products are allowed into the market but will be tested and rejected if they are found to contain melamine.

PTA: Radiation causing pupils' nose bleeds

NST: GEORGE TOWN: Many parents are complaining that their children are suffering from nose bleeds and headaches and this has Ong Bee Lai concerned.
Ong, the SRJK (C) Shun Wu Parent-Teacher Association chairman, yesterday voiced her fears about the telecommunications antennas mounted on a giant billboard at the Scouts Headquarters in Jalan Scotland.
The school, which is situated in Jalan Air Itam, is a stone's throw from the billboard.
"I receive an average of three complaints a week from parents who say that their children have nose bleeds and headaches.
"The radiation emitted by the nearby antennas is a major factor affecting the pupils' health," she said at the site, where she was joined by some 100 residents of the nearby Desa Timur Apartments.
Ong said the billboard was five years old and the antennas had been attached to it two months ago.
"We want to ask the authorities to look into the matter to ensure telecommunication antennas are not put up in the vicinity of schools and public places."
Kebun Bunga assemblyman Jason Ong Khan Le, who was also present, said he would take up the matter with Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

No wireless project if proven bad for health

NST: GEORGE TOWN: Penang is ready to stop the free Wireless@Penang broadband project if there is scientific proof to show that the health of the people will be adversely affected.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government was prepared to widen its consultations to include holding public forums with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and members of the public who were uneasy about the health risks posed by the use of wireless connections to the Internet.
"Public consultation is a continuing process even after a project is announced.
"We believe in accountability. We are open to cancelling the wireless project, which is aimed at providing free WiFi connection to the entire state within 24 months, if NGOs or any party can show incontrovertible evidence that there are harmful health risks," he said in a statement yesterday.
Last month, the state government announced the staggered implementation of wireless broadband services statewide. They are the free-of-charge WiFi and the affordably-priced wireless WiMAX.
The project is being undertaken by REDTone-Hotgate consortium and Packet One (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.
They are service providers licensed by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and have the approval of Sirim and the Malaysian Nuclear Agency.
The Consumers Association of Penang has proposed that the project be stopped until the state government proves that it is safe.
Lim said previous informal consultations with various sectors had not indicated any controversy or opposition.
On the contrary, there had been strong support for the project because of the opportunities it would create in education and business.
Lim said prior to the launching of Wireless@Penang, his officers had consulted the MCMC and the local industry regulator, who pointed to their adherence to safety Code 6 of Health Canada, which covers RF exposure compliance of Radiocommunication Apparatus for all frequency bands.
This refers to the conclusions of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in a report that considered 10 years of research.
The report from the United Nations body stated that the amount of non-ionising radiation absorbed by a person's body from a WiFi station was less than one-fifth what they received from FM radios and TVs that surrounded them day and night.
"We are assured that the WiFi and WiMAX apparatus and equipment being used in Malaysia are within the safety guidelines."
Lim said that having a state-wide wireless network for Internet access and bringing the service to all segments of society would help the government attain its vision of transforming Penang into an international city, one that was a location of choice for investors, destination of choice for tourists and habitat of choice for residents desiring sustainable living.
"Nevertheless, for the purpose of public education, the state government will make available the various research papers pertaining to public concern over RF radiation that have been wrongly linked to WiFi and WiMAX."
The chief minister added that should there be proof to show that the WHO report and studies made by others were wrong, the state government would immediately cancel and abandon the project.

Penang’s WiFi forum

Star: GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government will hold a forum to discuss the concerns raised over its plan for free wireless Internet access throughout the state.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the forum, to be held soon, was part of the state’s efforts to educate the public on wireless Internet usage and implementation, especially with regards to health issues.
He said the forum would address objections raised by non-governmental organisations on the wireless broadband project aimed at providing free round-the-clock WiFi connection in the state.
He said he had instructed “tech-savvy” MP Jeff Ooi to organise the forum. “We will make available various research papers on radio frequency (RF) radiation that has been wrongly linked to WiFi and WiMAX,” he said.
“We are receptive to public requests for continued consultative and educational sessions with the government pertaining to the implementation of the free Wireless@PENANG project. Public consultation is a continuing process even after a project is announced.”
Lim said the state government would cancel the project “if there is scientific proof that the people’s health will be adversely affected by the wireless network”.
He expressed regret that efforts to make Penang the first WiFi state in Malaysia had been equated with the proposed RM25bil Penang Global City Centre (PGCC) project by the previous government.
“PGCC merely enriched one company and did not benefit the people. But the two companies undertaking this wireless effort will not be paid any money by the state or its people,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Kebun Bunga assemblyman Jason Ong said concerns over the RF antenna erected at the Penang Scouts Association headquarters would be looked into.
According to SJKC Shang Wu Parent-Teacher Association chairman Ong Bee Lay, there had been an increase in the number of students complaining of headaches and nose bleeds recently.
“The RF antenna was put up a few months ago. While there is no concrete evidence to show a link between the antenna and the children’s health, we cannot take any risk. There are several schools in the area, and their health must be a priority,” she said.
About 20 residents turned up at the headquarters to highlight their concern.
Desa Timur Apartment Residents Association treasurer S. Thanneer-malai said the residents were concerned the RF antenna could be harmful to their health.

e-Kesihatan plan taken away from private firm and could be cheaper

Star: KUALA LUMPUR: The Government will scrap the controversial plan to allow a private company to run its medical check-up scheme for commercial vehicle drivers.
The scheme, called e-Kesihatan, will instead be handled by the Road Transport Department (JPJ).
Under the revamp, the fees for medical check-ups would be lower than the RM80 proposed earlier, the tests would only cover relevant ones, and more doctors and not just a selected panel would be allowed to conduct the medical check-ups.
Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat said he held discussions with various parties including the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), Health Ministry, industry players and the medical fraternity before revamping the scheme.
He said weaknesses in the original e-Kesihatan scheme were identified and improved upon.
The original e-Kesihatan programme, which was to have started on Oct 1 last year, would have seen medical check-up results of commercial vehicle drivers being electronically transmitted from panel clinics and laboratories to JPJ.
The JPJ would then issue or renew a licence once the medical check-up result is seen.
The concession for the scheme was given to Supremme Systems Sdn Bhd, which was also allowed to maintain a database of the drivers.
The move to appoint Supremme Systems as well as the limited number of panel clinics and the high fees for check-ups drew criticism from the Malaysian Medical Association and associations representing the commercial vehicle drivers.
The opposition resulted in the ministry shelving the scheme.
The e-Kesihatan scheme was originally proposed to curb fraud in commercial vehicle driver medical check-ups where medical approvals were said to be “sold”.
Ong said with the revocation of the private company’s role in the scheme, certain legal aspects had to be sorted out.
Ong said the programme would now be expanded to accommodate any doctor registered with the Health Ministry. “We want to do it in a way where it is not monopolised by groups or cartels,” he said.
Ong also wanted the fees to be revised downwards from the earlier RM80.
He said the format and content of the medical tests would also be revised to ensure that only relevant tests were carried out.
Ong said he expected JPJ to finalise the programme by the end of the year, after which it would be tabled to the Cabinet and rolled out early next year.
“JPJ must reconstitute their entire format and modus operandi before submitting the proposal to me for consideration,” he said.

Liow: Melamine is at permissible level

NST: KOTA KINABALU: Food containing 2.5 parts per million (ppm) or less of melamine is acceptable, Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said yesterday.
For baby food, the permissible level is 1ppm.
Melamine is used in the manufacture of plastics.
"So far, all the products we have tested have melamine within the permissible level," Liow said after attending the state MCA annual congress here.
Liow assured the public that small amounts of melamine in food products was safe for consumption.
There was bound to be some transfer of melamine to food products wrapped in plastic, he said.
The European Union countries allowed 30ppm of melamine in all food products.
Melamine-tainted milk products in China have the chemical compound at 2,653ppm.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry is now on high alert over melamine-tainted vegetables imported from China.
"We have learnt from Korea that it has detected a high level of melamine in vegetables from China.
"We have started a level four check on all food products from China where we will take samples to ensure they are safe for consumption before releasing them into the market.
"Products from China are still being examined. Today (yesterday), the Korean government announced that fruits and vegetables from China contain melamine, so we will be asking them for details."

Death of boy sparks HFMD fear

NST: KUCHING: The death of a 4-year-old boy in Sibu on Thursday from suspected hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) has sparked fears of a new outbreak of the disease.
HFMD, a common acute viral illness that primarily affects infants and young children, killed 39 children in Sarawak during an outbreak in 1997.
The state's deputy director of the Health Department, Raja Lope Ahmad Raja Ariffin, confirmed that the pre-schooler had "clinical symptoms of HFMD".
"There were rashes on the boy's hands and feet, ulcers in his mouth, loss of appetite and high fever.
"However, it could not be ascertained if he had died of HFMD until tests of samples taken from him are completed," he said yesterday.
The tests were done at the Unimas medical laboratory and Raja Lope said the results should be known in a week's time.
A local newspaper reported the boy fell ill on Sept 29 but was only brought to Sibu general hospital on Oct 1 in an "extremely weak" condition with high fever. He died at 4.50pm in the intensive care unit the next day.
Bukit Assek assemblyman Wong Ho Leng, in a news conference on Friday, called on the Health Department to be transparent about the death.
The DAP representative claimed that there was an attempt to cover up the cause of the death by the department.
Minister of Environment and Public Health Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh dismissed the claim and said they were waiting for result of the tests.
The department had reportedly sanitised the boy's home as his 6-year-old sister was also suffering from the same symptoms.
HFMD is an endemic disease. A total of 6,571 cases have been reported at clinics and hospitals throughout the state this year.

Women and Child Hospital project delayed

NST: The completion of the Women and Child Hospital project in the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) complex has been delayed due to the current economic situation.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad said the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department would have to decide whether or not to continue the programme or postpone it to the 10th Malaysia Plan.
Speaking after handing out Hari Raya gift packets at the maternity ward on Wednesday, he said phase one had been completed with the acquisition of land.
Under phase two, the existing 250 beds in the maternity hospital would be increased to 600.
Asked about staff support, he said there were ongoing programmes to train the nursing staff and specialists.
Currently, some 40 to 50 babies are delivered daily, accounting for some 16,000 babies annually.
By Wednesday afternoon, the stork delivered 11 babies — five girls and six boys.
Dr Latiff said that the 2,350-bed HKL, the largest in Southeast Asia, aims to be a centre of excellence and provide from primary to tertiary healthcare to patients.
Meanwhile, HKL chief dietician Tan Yoke Hwa advised all new mothers to practice exclusive breast-feeding as mother’s milk was the best and most complete food for babies.
“The biggest resistance to the breast-feeding programme is the lack of motivation among mothers and their giving up easily when insufficient milk is produced.
“Breast-fed babies have the least health problems as human milk has a lot of antibodies that formula milk cannot provide,” she said.

Ministry to look at alternate funding for new hospital

Star: KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry will seek alternative funding via Private Financing Initiatives for the development of the Women and Children’s Hospital near the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL).
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latif Ahmad said the ministry would try to obtain financial support through this “unconventional” means due to the current tight economic situation.
“If we pushed this project to be financed under the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP), then it would seem that we were running away from our problems,” Dr Abdul Latif told reporters after meeting patients in the HKL maternity ward for Hari Raya on Wednesday.
The hospital, originally budgeted for under the 9MP, would cost about RM700mil and consist of 600 beds.
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai had said on Tuesday that RM300mil was cut from the ministry’s budget under the 9MP, causing certain projects to be pushed to the 10MP.
HKL delivers 16,000 babies a year and currently has 250 beds in its maternity section.

More labs to be set up for testing melamine

Star: KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry will set up its own laboratories as current melamine tests are proceeding “too slowly.”
Its minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said that of 866 product samples which have been taken, only 26 have been tested and found to be melamine-free.
“That’s too slow. So we are going to set up labs in every state because there are a lot of samples and the (Chemistry Department) lab cannot cope.
“We don’t want the people to have to wait,” he told reporters at the Prime Minister’s Hari Raya open house at Putra World Trade Centre here on Wednesday.
The ministry will set up more than 13 labs, and will also get the aid of Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Universiti Malaya.
“These are qualified labs. They have the equipment and they have the capability,” Liow said.
He also asked the public not to panic if they found small portions of melamine in their food, as long as they were within the permissible level.
“European Union countries allow 30 parts per million (ppm) of melamine in all food products.
“When a food product is wrapped in plastic, there may be some transfer of melamine to the food. But if it’s in small amounts then it’s still safe as our bodies should be able to excrete it,” he said.
He said the melamine-tainted milk products in China were at dangerous levels of about 2,653ppm.

Malaysians not ready to let Internet play doctor

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Politics is not the only hot topic on the Internet: many Malaysians also turn to the World Wide Web for a first opinion on health ailments.
A survey shows that more than a third of Malaysians believe that Internet information will improve their knowledge and ability in caring for their health.
But doctors remain the number one source of advice on health for 52 per cent of the 500 adult Internet users surveyed in Malaysia.
More than half the Malaysians who responded to the global online survey, conducted in April by the Nielsen Company with the Association of the European Self-Medication Industry, hoped more health education was made available to them.
A total of 28,253 Internet users in 51 countries were interviewed to decipher consumer attitudes and consumption habits of non-prescription medicines as well as cultural factors that influence consumer behaviour towards self-medication and treatment of minor ailments.
Nielson Company Malaysia managing director Paul Richmond said: "At a time when governments all over the world are increasingly looking for consumers to take responsibility for their health and self-care, consumers still expect their doctor to play a key role in helping them to take better care of their health and minor ailments.
"When asked what would help them in understanding treatment of minor ailments in the future, one in two people said they would like more support from their doctor."
Consumers in Asia Pacific (57 per cent) led by Hong Kong, Korea and the Philippines topped global rankings in wanting more advice and support from their doctor, while 53 per cent of Latin Americans said they would like more health education.
Emerging markets in Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe topped global rankings for wanting clearer labelling and information on packaging.
The survey also showed that 65 per cent of Malaysians would rather wait to see if a minor ailment gets better on its own before treating it, while 30 per cent instantly self-medicate at the first sign of sickness.
A minority of five per cent would let their body fight the illness and not take medicine at all.
Richmond said the Malaysian results were in line with international insights which saw 65 per cent of respondents preferring to monitor their symptoms first before taking medicines for minor ailments, particularly in Korea, Germany, Austria and Denmark.
"Conversely, three in 10 global consumers take medication for such minor ailments as head-aches, colds and indigestion as soon as they start to feel unwell.
"This is most common in Central and Eastern European countries and also above average in Latin America and North America."
Richmond said a Nielson healthcare survey last year showed that headache, cold, backache and sleeping problems were the most common ailments globally.
"Malaysians were more susceptible to heartburn and flu, with about four in 10 having suffered from either one within a month prior to the survey."
"Our latest consumer survey demonstrated a need and demand for more health education and communication from all sectors of the healthcare industry, from doctors and pharmacists to over-the-counter medicines manufacturers and health media, to help consumers understand treatment of minor ailments and medicines better.
"Malaysians in particular aren't about to dice with danger when it comes to choosing a non-prescription medicine to treat minor ailments, with 59 per cent ranking 'safety' as a priority.
"Another 47 per cent relied on confidence in the product while 37 per cent banked on the effectiveness of the medicines."

Health Ministry to source for more funds

Star: KOTA TINGGI: Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai will appeal to the Ministry of Finance to allow his ministry to adopt the Private Financing Initiative (PFI) for urgent projects, after the ministry’s budget was slashed.
Liow said that through PFI, the ministry could obtain enough funds to carry out vital projects at government hospitals where some of the development plans were recently postponed.
“A total of RM300mil was cut from the ministry’s budget under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, pushing some projects to the Tenth Malaysia Plan.
“But from my visits to the hospitals, I found out that some of the projects need to materialise as soon as possible,” he said.
During his visit to the Hospital Kota Tinggi here yesterday for instance, he noted an urgent need for an emergency room.
Liow said it was not conducive for the hospital’s emergency room, outpatient waiting area and pharmacy to be in the same area but this was the case here.
“If an emergency case arises, it will cause panic among the public who are here to get their medication,” he said.
Liow also reminded the hospital employees to be caring to their patients and carry out their duties professionally.
He told them not to have a territorial mindset.
“Teamwork is very important because in the end, it is the entire performance of the hospital that is judged by the people,” he said.

Penang resort hospital to be ready in 2011

Star: GEORGE TOWN: A specialist centre cum resort providing Western and Eastern medical and homeopathy treatment -- touted to be the first in Asia -- will be built in Batu Kawan in Penang.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the Farrali International Specialist Hospital and Wellness Resort (FISH-WR) to be completed by 2011 would attract more medical tourists to Penang.
He said medical tourism would be further developed to increase the state tourism’s contribution to the GDP from 22% to 30% by 2013.
“Medical tourism’s potential has increased since people discovered they can enjoy five-star medical treatment at affordable costs at different locations in the world.
“We do not want to be left out of this industry and FISH-WR will make medical tourism a success in Penang,” he said at the agreement signing ceremony between Penang Develop- ment Corporation and Farrali Mutiara Medical Group (KPFM).
Lim, who is chairman of the corporation, said the state-of-the-art FISH-WR would change the country’s medical tourism landscape and set itself apart from other healthcare centres focusing on medical tourism.
To be built by the 100% Bumiputra-owned KPFM, the 60,703 sq m hospital will be a leading diabetic and cancer care centre in the region and provide complementary healing methods like acupuncture and ayurvedic treatments.
Other facilities include 200 service apartments, 30 floating chalets, 100 hotel rooms and a nursing institute run by an established international nursing college to provide education and training in the field.
KPFM chief executive officer Dr Mohd Ghouse Mohd Noor said the RM300mil project would be completed in 2011 and create 300 jobs in the early stages.

Melamine fears unfounded

Star: PETALING JAYA: The recent melamine-in-milk scare has caused another round of panic among consumers, who worry that using melamine made utensils would poison their food.
While experts have said there should be no cause for undue concern, consumer officials advised the people to stop using plastics to wrap food.
Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) adviser Dr T. Jayabalan, who is a member of the National Poison Centre, said melamine ware such as plates and ladles were safe for use, “and would not result in death.”
“Even if the melamine utensils leach residue due to extremely high temperatures, it is in a very tiny quantity,” added Dr Jayabalan, who likened this amount to a cube of sugar in a lake.
Melamine is used to make plastic kitchen utensils and plates which are similar in appearance to porcelain.
It is a thermosetting plastic which does not modify in form until exposed to a temperature of above 200°C.
However, Dr Jayabalan urged consumers to avoid using plastic bags, polystyrene boxes and cling wrap to package their food.
“When exposed to high heat from food, the plastic could leach and release chemicals which may disrupt the human reproductive system and affect hormone production,” he said.
“We may not be able to see the effects immediately, but our children will be at risk of mutation and even sex changes,” added Dr Jayabalan, who is also a National Poison Centre member.
Muslim Consumer Association of Malaysia secretary-general Datuk Dr Ma’amor Osman advised consumers to stay away from plastic completely, be it dining in restaurants or buying back food.
“Consumers should use their own containers such as stainless steel tins if they want to bring food home and request for clay or glass cutlery in restaurants,” he said.
“It is our right as a consumer to be served in a good and healthy way,” added Dr Ma’amor.
He said labels should be placed on containers to clearly state any warnings, what it is made of and whether it is microwave-safe.
Fomca chief executive officer Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman hoped the authorities would conduct more research to determine what is safe for consumers to ease their doubts.
“The Government could also ask hawkers and traders to abstain from using plastic for the time being as it may be hazardous to health,” he added.
Char koay teow seller Lim Cheng Joo, 35, said customers were being health conscious by bringing their own metal containers for take-aways instead of accepting plastic bags and polystyrene boxes.

Dept confiscates 866 melamine-tainted items

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 866 food products suspected of containing melamine have been confiscated. The products were worth more than RM318,000 on the local market.
Health Ministry food quality and safety department director Noraini Mohd Othman said yesterday they included cereals worth RM2,284, solids worth RM6,469, confectionery worth RM236,099, chocolate products worth RM34,397 and milk worth RM39,492.
Until yesterday, the department had found that 994 food products from 35 companies were not affected by melamine.
Noraini said food samples had been taken and analysed by the Chemistry Department to ensure they were up to standard before being sold in the market.
The results of the analyses on 10 more product samples had been obtained, all of which adhered to the standard.
Consumers can contact the food safety and quality division at 03-88833655/ 88833503 / 88833652 and 88833500 between 8am and 9pm, including on public holidays.

132 products on suspect list

Star: PUTRAJAYA: There are now 132 products placed under the Govern­ment’s list of items suspected of having melamine.
This is up from 53 items on Wednesday.
Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said the list of suspected dairy products consisted of items that the ministry had sealed during enforcement operations.
“These items will be taken and tested. We expect to have results for a few of the items each day. If it is given the all-clear, it will then be allowed back into the market,” he told a press conference at the ministry here yesterday.
He said the 132 items comprised confectioneries, cereals, breads, chocolates and milk.
He said the value of items sealed by the ministry so far stood at RM18,344.
Ismail also cleared seven items as free of melamine.
The items are: Passion Chocolate Coated Wafer; Kraft Oreo White Chocolate Wafer Stick; Wall’s Mini Cornetto Chocomint & Tiramisu Flavoured; Wall’s Moo Soft Cookie Sandwich; Dutch Lady 123 Honey milk powder; Dutch Lady strawberry flavoured milk; and Frisolac Infant Formula.
To date, a total of 574 items - in addition to the seven - have been declared safe.
Ismail said the ministry was not able to release the results on all the items at one go because there was a lack of capacity. He said it took 48 hours to get results for one item.
Ismail said the ministry was concerned about pre-mixed tea and coffee and that such items would be analysed as well.
“I also urge all those receiving and packing hampers to check the items in them properly. People also have to be more alert if they are receiving gifts containing Chinese-made food products.”
Ismail said consumers could now call four telephone numbers between 8am and 9pm every day for information about the melamine issue.
The numbers are 03-8883­3655, 8883­3652, 88833503 and 88­8­­­­3­3500.
They could also check for the latest information at http://fsq.moh.gov.my

Hospital’s endoscopic procedures go online

Star: KUALA LUMPUR: A group of Malaysian doctors will perform advanced endoscopic procedures at Selayang Hospital and have it transmitted live worldwide today.
The event is in conjunction with the annual Harvard Medical Univer-sity endoscopy workshop in Boston.
The procedures, performed by doctors Ryan Ponnudurai, Sharmila Sachithanandan and Krishnan Raman, would be the first time the university is preparing a worldwide web telecast of live endoscopy cases.
Ponnudurai would be leading a team of experts from Malaysia, Thailand, Japan and Singapore to carry out the procedures.
The event would be opened by Health director-general Tan Sri Mohd Ismail Merican, who would also address the world audience via live telecast organised by the Malaysian Research and Education Network.
The purpose of the workshop is to teach participants from around the world the finer techniques in endoscopy, he said in a statement issued by the Health Ministry yesterday.
Endoscopy is a medical procedure by surgeons to look inside the body using an endoscope.

53 China-made food items sent for testing

NST: PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has sealed 53 milk-related products produced in China for testing.
Samples of the items, including chocolate, candy, yogurt and biscuits, have been sent to the Chemistry Department for tests on suspicion that they may contain milk tainted by the banned substance, melamine.
Household names, including distributors of M&M's chocolates, Snickers chocolate bars and the White Rabbit creamy candy, will know their fate when the tests results are released today.
The ministry will also start seizing products off shelves if the test results show that they contain dangerous amounts of the substance.
"But, this is no cause for alarm at the moment. We are doing our best to check everything and we hope to get cooperation from the manufacturers, importers and retailers," Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said yesterday.
He also said other food products imported from China and suspected of containing melamine had been placed on Level 5 of the six-level Food Safety Information System of Malaysia, which requires that products be detained pending results of sample analysis.
Milk-related products from China have been placed at the Level 6 alert since Sept 13, which means an automatic rejection.
Liow confirmed that there were no dairy products (milk or milk powder) from China sold in Malaysia since last year.
"To sell milk here, you would need a special licence from the Veterinary Services Department. The department has said that none had been given to Chinese companies since last year."
Liow said it was normal for food items to contain a small amount of melamine as a result of using plastic wrappers. A directive from the European Commission said up to 30 parts per million (ppm) of the substance was still safe.
Powdered milk produced by China's largest dairy producer, Sanlu Group, was found to have a melamine content of up to 2,563ppm.
Liow urged doctors who come across kidney disorders suspected to be caused by tainted milk products to report the cases to the ministry.

Government imposes new ruling on China food

Star: PUTRAJAYA: With immediate effect, food products from China that could be contaminated with melamine will also be held at entry points in the country for tests to ensure they are safe for consumption.
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said the procedure would be in place until the melamine-tainted milk issue was resolved.
“We are very careful. This is a new precaution,” he told reporters at his ministry yesterday. “The Chinese government must solve the issue as quickly as possible.
“We are checking all the time. It is not only on melamine. We oversee the whole aspect of food safety in the country.”
He said constant monitoring was already a routine prior to the latest health scare, resulting in 55 products being banned last year.
Since the ministry started inspection of dairy products from China on Tuesday, 53 items including chocolate, candies and ice cream have been barred from entry pending Chemistry De-partment tests.
Liow said automatic rejection of baby milk from China was started after the first infant death was reported there on Sept 13. The ban was widened two days later to include dairy products.
“We were quicker than Singa-pore in banning products from China and expanding our scope.”
Asked whether it was necessary to consider having separate guidelines for food from China, Liow said the ministry’s Food Safety Information System was sufficient.
He asked doctors at clinics and hospitals to inform the ministry if they had treated patients for suspected melamine poisoning.
At the Cabinet meeting yesterday, all relevant ministries and agencies were ordered to work together, he said.
He also said his Chinese counterpart, Chen Zhu, had given an assurance that China would give its full co-operation to the World Health Organisation and follow its recommendations.

Malaysian reaching puberty younger, says Liow

Star: GEORGE TOWN: Malaysian boys and girls are reaching puberty at a much younger age than the generations before them, said Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai.
He said that while girls attained menarche at the age of 12.6 years in 1994, many were now having their first menstruation when they are barely 10 years old.
“Early puberty and delayed marriage increases the opportunity for youths to cohabit outside of marriage,” he said when giving a talk on “Local Challenges of Malaysian Youth” at the National Day celebrations of the Methodist Boys School here yesterday.
He said a 1996 survey found that 1.8% of Malaysian youths admitted having premarital sex.
“In a similar survey conducted 10 years later, the prevalence of premarital sexual behaviour was 8% among boys and 1.9% among girls,” he said.
Replying to a question during a dialogue session with students later, Liow said there were many opportunities for youths to obtain tertiary education now compared to 20 years ago.
“When I was studying in university, there were only five public universities. Now there are 20 public universities, 18 private universities and about 500 colleges,” he said.
He said there was no reason for youths not to pursue tertiary education if their marks were good as they could easily obtain study loans from many institutions.
Former Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, who is an old boy of the school, said only 2% of those aged 19 or 20 in the country could obtain places in Universiti Malaya in the 1960s and 1970s.
“Now, it has risen to more than 30% among the age group because of ample opportunities for tertiary education in the country,” he said.

RM1.3m for Seberang Jaya Hospital

Star: BUTTERWORTH: The Health Ministry will allocate RM1.3mil to the Seberang Jaya Hospital to overcome power supply problems and related technical difficulties, said Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai.
He also announced that the Ministry will give the hospital RM280,000 to upgrade the air handling units (AHU) in the hospital’s operation theatres.
“We are aware of the hospital’s space constraints due to rising numbers of patients.
“We will look into plans to build a new block in the hospital and provide 500 additional beds to the existing over 300,” he said during a visit to the hospital Wednesday.

Be courteous to your patients, Liow reminds new nurses

Star: SEREMBAN: Medical assistants and nurses should be more courteous to patients, said Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai.
“We often hear of complaints from patients on the poor service at hospitals both in rural and urban areas.
“This happens because some of us have a negative attitude, poor communication skills and lack of respect for them ... this is not good,” he said at the convocation of 1,290 nurses, medical assistants and community nurses at the Medical Assistants’ Training College (MATC).
His speech was read by state health, science, technology and innovation committee chairman Datuk Ismail Taib.
Liow said it was pointless if medical assistants and nurses were knowledgeable but lacked the human touch.
“Patients have different needs. This can be complex and sophisticated,” Liow added.
Liow said medical assistants and nurses must strive to improve because they formed the backbone of the medical industry.
“The three-year training for your diploma only gives you basic knowledge in this field. It is my hope that all of you would pursue advanced courses in specific fields,” he said, adding that courses like post-basic forensic medicine and sports medicine had already been made available by the ministry.
He said they should also believe in “lifelong learning” to keep abreast of developments in the medical field.
Of the 1,290 graduates, 718 were from the Port Dickson Community Nurses College, 299 from MATC and 273 from Seremban Nursing College.

Chikungunya virus still a threat in Johor, Perak

NST: MUAR: The Chikungunya outbreak in Negri Sembilan and Malacca was finally declared over but in Perak and Johor it was still being monitored, Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said yesterday.
He said up to last Saturday, 835 people in Johor were down with Chikungunya, and Muar and Ledang had 71 cases.
Liow said to date, there was no casualty caused by the virus and he advised the public not to panic.
"The disease can be eliminated in the country if the people adhere to a simple formula by keeping their houses and compounds clean," he said after visiting the Tangkak hospital in Ledang on Sunday.
Liow said there was no clinical proof of coconut water as an alternative cure for Chikungunya.
He agreed, however, that coconut water had a cooling effect and could help reduce the high temperature in patients suffering from the virus. He said it was generally accepted that coconut water was a nutritious drink and a thirst quencher.
Liow said although there was no known vaccine against the virus which was spread by the Aedes mosquito, the doctors in government hospitals and clinics have prescribed Voltaren, Indocid and Ponstan to reduce the pain suffered by victims of the virus.
He was asked to comment on the advice of Chinese physicians to drink coconut water, water chestnut or herbal medicine for those afflicted with Chikungunya as reported in the New Sunday Times.
"Unless the Chinese physicians can substantiate the claim with scientific proof that coconut water can cure Chikungunya, the Health Ministry will not endorse the claim."
Chikungunya is endemic in many countries such as India, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, and sub-Saharan Africa.
The first Chikungunya outbreak in Malaysia was recorded in 1999.

Doctors 'giving fitness certs without examining drivers'

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Doctors have been accused of issuing physical fitness certificates to commercial vehicle drivers without examining them.
While refusing to reveal details, Transport Minister Da-tuk Ong Tee Keat confirmed the problem existed as his officers had gone undercover to check on the complaints.
"We cannot wait until the problem is rampant. We must take the bull by its horns," Ong said after officiating the Sweden-Malaysia International Road Safety Seminar at a hotel here yesterday.
All commercial vehicle drivers must undergo a medical examination as a prerequisite to renew the class E licence annually.
Random investigations revealed that most cases involved clinics and runners.
Ong also said that his ministry was revising the eKesihatan scheme. The system, proposed last year, was supposed to allow the annual health checks of commercial vehicle drivers to be electronically submitted to the Road Transport Department.
However, it was criticised by doctors, taxi and bus operators who claimed that the scheme was a money-making operation.
Ong said the ministry was practising "positive engagement" with all stakeholders to obtain their views and opinions. The ministry will also look into the medical tests to determine whether "they serve the purpose".

Tee Keat: Errant clinics a snag to eKesihatan

Star: KUALA LUMPUR: Commercial drivers who pay off medical practitioners to pass their check-ups for their permits are the biggest hurdles to the revamp of the eKesihatan system.
“I view this with great concern and I’ve sent my boys to the ground to see how these people do it,” said Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat.
He added that errant medical practitioners were usually clinics and it also involved runners acting on the drivers’ behalf.
“Yes, it is corruption. When I talked to the (transport) operators, they said they don’t want to be the target of a witch-hunt,” he said, adding that the corporate sector needed to take greater responsibility to follow health, safety and environmental regulations.
He was speaking to the press after launching the second Sweden-Malaysia International Road Safety Seminar here yesterday.
Ong also said the test formats of the system and the fee structure would need to be revised to revive the eKesihatan system.
“There are several formats for the test. Do they serve the purpose or not?” he asked, adding that the Health Ministry and Koperasi Doktor Malaysia were consulted on the project.
Ong also said the fees related to eKesihatan would be revised to make it more affordable for the drivers and the corporate sector.
He said the revamp of the online system would take time as associations related to commercial vehicles and the medical practitioners had to be consulted.
The eKesihatan system would allow appointed clinics to send medical reports of commercial vehicle drivers directly to the Road Transport Department.
The system to be implemented in October last year was suspended pending further discussions.

Chikungunya and dengue situation in Perak, Negri and KL has improved

Star: TANGKAK: The chikungunya and dengue fever outbreaks in Perak, Negri Sembilan and Kuala Lumpur are under control.
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai urged the people to help clean up villages, housing areas and towns to ensure their premises do not become mosquito-breeding grounds.
He said that apart from the three areas, Johor and Malacca too had been affected by the chikungunya outbreak.
He added that the ministry had declared an all-out war against the culprit mosquitoes to further curb the menace.
Liow, who was earlier briefed on the chikungunya outbreak by Muar Health Department officer Dr Mohd Zulkifli Othman, said that as of Sunday Johor had recorded more than 830 cases of chikungunya.
He said the ministry had set up special units to monitor all affected areas and taken preventive measures, including fogging, to curb the spread of the disease.
On the shortage of doctors in government hospitals, Liow said the ministry would implement measures to increase their numbers, especially in Johor, Sabah and Sarawak.
He said one way was to increase the number of new doctors in big hospitals so that experienced professionals could become visiting doctors at smaller hospitals.
“We will also resolve the shortage by asking the Public Services Department to take in more doctors immediately, and we will also engage foreign doctors,” he added.
“I have directed the ministry's director-general to expedite the plan, and also to recall local doctors now serving abroad.”

Malaysian invention eases effects of knee surgery

NST: KANGAR: Researchers from Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) are offering relief to knee surgery patients.
A team from the university's school of mechatronics engineering has developed a computer program for orthopaedic surgeons to use in surgeries involving the knee joints.
The software, known as the Virtual Arthroscopy Knee Reconstruction or VR-AKR, won a special humanitarian award at the annual Invention and New Products Exposition (Inpex) in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania in the United States.
The invention also won a gold and two silver medals in three other categories at the exposition in June.
In a nutshell, the software provides visual assistance to surgeons through the use of three-dimensional images of the knee joints during surgery. It has been developed specifically for arthroscopy knee construction.
Prof Dr Kenneth Sundaraj, who is leading the research team, said the VR-AKR would hopefully lessen the after-effects of knee surgery for patients.
He said medical specialists reported that about 65 per cent of patients with knee-related conditions complained of joint discomfort after surgery.
Sundaraj said the VR-AKR idea came about following the government's call for more innovation in the biomedical sector.
"One of my interests is virtual reality and I want to heed the government's call for more serious involvement in the biomedical sector. I feel engineers from various fields can contribute to biotechnology."
Sundaraj holds a doctorate in robotics from the National Polytechnics Institute in Grenoble, France. He previously graduated in the same field from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Describing the win at Inpex as unexpected, Sundaraj said it was an honour to contest alongside inventors from more than 20 countries with almost 800 products.
Inpex, one of the biggest invention trade shows in the US, provides a platform for inventors to showcase their creations and establish links with companies interested in licensing, marketing and manufacturing their products.
"UniMAP's dean of the school of engineering and the research unit, the deputy vice-chancellor of research and innovation and the vice-chancellor himself, have always supported my work. This victory is as much theirs as it is mine."
Not one to rest on his laurels, Sundaraj and his research students will continue tweaking their invention to suit the ever-changing world of medical technology.
Following clinical trials in France, plans are under way for more tests at local medical institutions.
"We have shown it to surgeons in France. It received good response there. We are now seeking partners in Malaysia."

Concern over rising kidney patients

NST: PETALING JAYA: There are 18,000 kidney patients undergoing haemodialysis treatment in the country and the number is expected to rise to 20,000 in two years.
National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia medical director Dr K. Sivashanker said the trend was worrying as every year between 2,500 and 3,000 Malaysians were diagnosed with kidney failure.
"There were only 3,698 people undergoing dialysis in 1996 and now it has soared to 18,000," he said at the launch of the haemodialysis subsidy programme by SP Setia Foundation yesterday.
The foundation has pledged RM600,000 annually to subsidise kidney patients from low-income families in need of haemodialysis treatment, a move Dr Sivashanker described as timely.
It costs a patient RM110 per treatment at a non-profit haemodialysis centre.
He said the Health Ministry provided a subsidy of RM50 per treatment for households earning less than RM5,000 a month.He said on average, a kidney patient needed to undergo three treatments a week which amounts to RM780 per month. If additional treatment is required, the bill can come up to RM1,500 a month.
The foundation's chairman, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, said they had always been sensitive to Malaysians who found it difficult to pay for their medical treatment.
"Every year we set aside RM4 million to help the needy.
"Now we pledge RM600,000 every year to help at least 100 poor kidney patients undergo dialysis free of charge at 28 non-proft haemodialysis centres in the Klang Valley, Penang and Johor."

Malacca varsity still recognised by India

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Students at the Malacca-Manipal Medical University (MMMC) can breathe easy.
The university is still recognised by Indian medical authorities, who recently recommended the de-recognition of the Kasturba Medical Colleges (KMC) in Manipal and Mangalore which are affiliated to the Manipal University.
Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) president Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said the decision only affected the two KMCs and had no bearing on the MMMC.
"The MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Sur-gery) degree from MMMC has been recognised by the MMC since July 2003 and its graduates allowed to register as medical practitioners in Malaysia."
Dr Ismail said the MMMC was registered and licensed with the Higher Education Ministry to conduct the MBBS programme in collaboration with the Manipal University.
"As the MMMC never sought recognition from the Medical Council of India (MCI), it has never been placed under the latter's purview. Hence, the ruling doesn't affect the MMMC."
He said the MMC had also been informed in writing by Manipal University that the MCI was only a recommendatory body and that the power to recognise or de-recognise lay with the Indian health and family welfare ministry.
"I advise parents and students not to be worried as the MMC is monitoring the situation."

Programme in the offing to address shortage of paramedics

Star: GEORGE TOWN: St John Ambulance of Malaysia (SJAM) and Open University are planning to offer a Diploma in Pre-Hospital programme by January in a bid to address the country’s acute shortage of paramedics.
Apart from being the first of its kind in the country, this online programme is the first to be offered by the non-governmental organisation.
Currently, there are about 100 paramedics in the country, said SJAM Commander-in-Chief Datuk Dr Low Bin Tick.
He said the university would conduct the diploma’s theory syllabus, while the students would receive their skills training from the organisation.
SJAM and Open University are designing the syllabus, which will be submitted to the National Accreditation Board and Health Ministry for approval.
“There’s no point awarding a piece of paper if it’s not recognised by the board and ministry.
“We want our graduates to be employable,” he said after the annual marching inspection attended by Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas at Padang Polo yesterday.
Dr Low said they hope the programme would be subsequently developed into a degree.
On another matter, he said SJAM planned to raise RM1mil by December for the Sichuan Earthquake Rebuilding Fund to build an orphanage in Sichuan. Earlier, Star Publications (M) Bhd executive director Datuk Seri Kamal M. Hashim presented a new ambulance to the SJAM Penang branch. The vehicle was bought from the proceeds collected at the Starwalk Carnival Charity Concert 2006.

Mobile units for breast checks

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is studying the possibility of setting up mobile mammogram clinics.
Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen said the clinics would serve the rural areas, especially those in Sabah and Sarawak, and would help to increase awareness of breast cancer.
She said her ministry had also endorsed 50 clinics in the country run by the National Population and Family Development Board.
"These clinics provide a RM50 subsidy for mammograms. Women over 40 with a nett annual income of below RM5,000 are eligible for the subsidy.
"Yet not many are coming forward to do the test due to their fears."
Dr Ng said that her ministry could not afford to mobilise a clinic to every part of the country.
"Money is one thing. We also need the manpower and approval from the machines and facilities to carry out tests if the mobile clinics are set up."
She also advised women not to resort to complementary medicine without first consulting their doctors.
"Complementary medicine alone is not the answer. It is meant to complement," she said after flagging off the Avon Walk Around the World for Breast Cancer.
The campaign comprises specially designed programmes, which include various activities such as walks, runs, carnivals and concerts.
It has mobilised more than 600,000 people from over 50 countries and raised over US$52 million (RM171.7 million) since its launch in 2005.
Yesterday's walk, organised by Avon Cosmetics Malaysia, was held for the fourth time here with over 5,000 participants joining in a 3km charity walk around the Titiwangsa Lake Gardens.
Several celebrities, including Angkasawan Negara Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, singers Shafinaz Selamat and Rohana Jalil, and actress Nasha Aziz, also joined in the walk.
The charity walk raised RM50,000 for Avon's "Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer" programme.
A mock cheque was presented by Avon human resources director Azlan Ismail to Nasirah Aris, the adviser of Pride Foundation.
The donation will be used for the foundation's Prostheses Bra Fund.
The fund benefits breast cancer patients and survivors who have undergone mastectomy and radical lumpectomy by providing them with breast prostheses and special bras.

Enjoying better health with gene screening

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: "Early warning systems" like molecular screening will allow people to better manage their health.
Molecular screening is an examination of a person's genetic makeup to establish his or her genetic predisposition to certain diseases like cancer, hypertension, chronic renal failure, diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican, however, said that neither molecular technology nor biotechnology promised immortality.
"Healthy people are the greatest asset of any nation and molecular screening promises better management of health risk," he said in his speech read by Health Ministry Disease Control director Datuk Dr Hassan Abdul Rahman at the launch of the National INFOHaem Molecular Screening Services 2008, organised by the Malaysian Liver Foundation and Infovalley Group of Companies yesterday.
Present were Dr James Mackay, a consultant in clinical genetic oncology from University College London, and iGENE Sdn Bhd chief operating officer Dr Suresh A. Chandran.
Dr Suresh said the public should start perceiving health care as preventive medicine instead of being a sick-care sector.
He said when related molecular indicators were detected early, potentially life-saving medical management could be implemented.
"This will lead to specific interventions aimed at reducing risks, including adjustments for nutrition, lifestyle and environment."
A recent study, he said, had shown that changing one's lifestyle could switch on good genes and reverse damage at the genetic level.

Government docs want on-call allowance raised to overtime rate

Star: PETALING JAYA: Government doctors certainly have a lot to complain about, and they’re mostly to do with the much better perks offered by the private sector.
But this time, they are griping about their counterparts who do overtime at government health clinics. And it’s all about a vast discrepancy in the on-call allowance and overtime rate.
Doctors at government hospitals get a RM10 hourly on-call allowance, while those at government health clinics get RM80 for every hour’s overtime.
The hospital doctors say they have to attend to life threatening and emergency cases at casualty units, while the clinic doctors mostly only attend to patients complaining about coughs and colds.
Doctors at government hospitals have to perform on-call duty several times a month, and have called on the Health Ministry to standardise the payment rates.
“The RM10 hourly allowance for on-call doctors is grossly unfair,” said a senior doctor at a government hospital in the Klang Valley.
The doctor revealed that eight to 16 doctors were rostered for on-call duty in most large government hospitals.
”On the other hand, our counterparts at the health clinics are being paid RM80 hourly for treating patients with coughs and flu,” he said.
Other doctors, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they preferred to serve at government health clinics which have extended operating hours to 9.30pm on weekdays, and from 8am to noon on Saturdays.
“We don’t have to work long hours and the workload is also not that heavy at health clinics,” said one doctor.
A 29-year-old doctor from Malacca said that with the current inflationary pressure, young doctors could hardly survive, especially if they were married with children.
The ministry reviewed the on-call allowance after two decades in 2005.
For weekdays, the on-call allowance was increased from RM75 to RM150 per day (calculated at the compulsory 15 hours of on-call duty which has to be performed daily), while such allowance on weekends was increased from RM113 to RM170.
The ministry started the overtime scheme at 16 government health clinics earlier this year for doctors who volunteered to work from 5pm to 9pm.
This means that a health clinic doctor who volunteers to work the four-hour period will earn RM320, compared with RM150 for a hospital doctor's 15 hours' work.
A specialist doctor cautioned that young doctors may be discouraged from serving in government hospitals if this issue was not resolved.
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai explained that “overtime” and “on-call” were different, likening them to an apple and orange situation.
“Being on call is something that all government doctors have to do while working overtime is voluntary. You cannot compare working overtime with being on call,” he clarified.
He said the ministry was not considering raising the on-call rate but pledged to work on improving benefits for doctors to retain more of them in the public sector.

Pall over Manipal degrees

Star: KUALA LUMPUR: The Medical Council of India (MCI), which regulates medical institutions in the country will no longer recognise degrees offered by India’s Manipal University.
MCI announced last week that it would no longer recognise Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBs) courses offered by Kasturba Medical Colleges in Manipal and Mangalore.
“There were several inadequacies in the college which would not allow students to benefit completely from the course,” Bernama quoted a senior MCI official as saying.
Manipal University Pro-Chancellor Dr H.S Ballal said although the MCI had derecognised the institution, the ultimate decision would depend on the Indian Health Ministry.
“We have written to the Health Ministry and they have sent a team to observe the university.
“We have also submitted a report and the matter is still pending, and hope to get a reply within two to three weeks,” he said.
Manipal is popular among Malaysian students. Students at the Melaka Manipal Medical College (MMMC) do three years of clinical training in Malaysia and two years of pre-clinical in India.
An official from the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) said the decision by the MCI would result in the public thinking that the quality of Manipal’s medical degree had gone down.
The MMC governs the recognition of medical courses for Malaysia.
“Students in Malaysia might be affected as they are studying in a university that has been derecognised by its own council,” the spokesman said.
“The decision means that to a certain extent, the quality must have gone down,” the spokesman said, adding that recognition of doctors as well as medical programmes and institutions come under the purview of the MMC.
The spokesman added that the MMC would write to the MCI as well as the Manipal Academy of Higher Education to ask for a further explanation on the ruling.
MMMC dean Dr John Arokiasamy said MCI's decision would not affect its twinning programme.

Tasty food may not be healthy, says Minister

Star: KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians need to practice restraint and not choose food based on their cravings.
“Tasty food does not mean healthy food,” Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said yesterday in launching the ministry’s Healthy Cafeteria campaign.
“Some people eat non-stop and excessively. And, there are those who get up during the night to eat again. This is unhealthy.”
Liow said the people needed instead to choose healthy and nutritious food.
“Nutritionists always remind us that the key to healthy eating is a balanced diet, diversifying food choices and practising moderation,” he said.
Liow said the ministry tried its best to help maintain the health of Malaysians, but the people also had to help themselves by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
He said the Healthy Cafeteria concept was to create prepared food that was nutritious, safe, clean, and of a quality, acceptable to customers.
Interested food outlets can obtain from the ministry's My Healthy Eating software, which has information on nutrient intake as well as verify a person's body mass index.
Liow later opened the MyNutri Biz Bistro and healthy eating mini carnival. He told reporters the ministry encouraged food outlet operators to obtain the software and to seek advice from ministry officers on how to implement the concept.
The ministry also encouraged other government agencies, including the National Service department, to practise the concept.
The rise of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, coronary problems and hypertension had led to the ministry requesting increased allocations under the annual Budget, he said.
While the budget this year was RM12.9bil, it was expected to increase by 10% under Budget 2009 because of increased medicine prices, he added.
He said the ministry was working with the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry on a “less sugar” campaign where food manufacturers and handlers would be asked to use less of the ingredient in their products.
On the Chikungunya outbreak, he said the public needed to cooperate with the ministry to curb the disease from spreading.