Star: THE local authorities in Selangor have been urged to take into consideration the health aspects when evaluating and approving building plans and designs.
State health, estate workers’ affairs, poverty eradication and caring government committee chairman Dr Xavier Jeyakumar said developers and architects should not only give attention to a building’s aesthetic and sales value, but should also focus on the health factor in their building designs.
“They have to remember that in our country where the rain fall is high, certain designs of rooftops and gutters are not appropriate as they allow water to collect, providing the opportunity for mosquitoes, including the aedes mosquitoes, to breed,” he said.
“The developers should choose more practical designs that do not have such rooftops and nooks,” Dr Xavier said.
He pointed out that even a small amount of water collected over a few days could turn into a breeding ground for the mosquitoes.
Dr Xavier said the local councils should make sure that project plans would not allow for any place that could possibly become breeding places for mosquitoes.
According to Dr Xavier, a proposal with suggested designs has been sent to the local councils, urging them to include the health safety factor when approving building plans.
He said the move was part of the long-term efforts to tackle the dengue problems in the state.
“We have to take concerted measures involving everyone, including the architects and developers, as well as the residents and local authorities,” he said.
Dr Xavier said everyone should learn about and understand the breeding habits and life cycle of the aedes mosquitoes.
He said despite the annual outbreaks and regular government campaigns to raise awareness, many people still did not understand the mosquitoes life cycle and breeding habits.
Dr Xavier said some were not even aware of the risks involved in allowing mosquitoes to breed on their premises.
He said the dengue figure seemed to escalate each year during the past few years and the statistics for the first three months of this year revealed that it was high.
“But this is not unique to Malaysia, as similar patterns are seen throughout the world. This is a global trend and we see an increase in the number of dengue cases throughout the world, not only in Malaysia,” Dr Xavier said.
“Over the past few years, we have seen a constant increase in the number of reported cases. I think we have reached the peak, and the figure is predicted to go down after this,” he said.
According to a Health Ministry report, Selangor remains on the top of the chart with the highest number of reported dengue cases throughout the country.
From Jan 1 to March 7 this year, Selangor registered 5,703 dengue cases, with 22 of them fatal.
Kajang has the highest number in the state, with 955 cases and three deaths this year. Shah Alam is second with 949 cases and two deaths.
Although only 459 cases were reported in the Gombak district, seven people died from dengue this year.
Dr Xavier said about 40% of the reported cases were confirmed with dengue.
He said public apathy had been identified as one of the main reasons that contributed to the high dengue statistics.
“Most of the people do not clean and maintain their water tank, corridors and gutters at their houses, which become breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Some don’t even dispose of their garbage properly which aggravates the situation,” Dr Xavier said.
“When our health inspectors visit their homes, they do not allow them in or shut their windows when they come to fog the area,” he said.
According to Dr Xavier, fogging alone is not the only solution in combating dengue. Fogging would only kill the adult mosquitoes and was effective for only 48 hours.
“These mosquitoes can go up to a few kilometres in radius.
“So, people not only have to make sure that their own places are clean but also have to ensure that everyone in the neighbourhood does so too,” he said.
Dr Xavier said in addition to constant inspections at premises, the State Health Department, local councils and state assemblymen had also distributed fliers and brochures to raise awareness on the issue and remind the people to play their part in combating the ailment.
He said some even took the initiative of printing the brochures in Indonesian and Tagalog so that the Indonesian and Filipino workers could understand the issue.
Dr Xavier said action was also being taken against the owners of abandoned and vacant premises if the aedes mosquitoes were found to be breeding in them.
“The existing local authority bylaws allow us to go into the vacant premises and carry out fogging exercise and bill the owner for the service. There is a standard operations procedure that we follow when conducting this exercise, accompanied by policemen,” he said.
“If we have to break a door, we will repair it before leaving the premises,” he said.
Dr Xavier said he had also proposed the use of a new type of chemical instead of the current water and diesel-based type being used in the fogging exercise.
According to Dr Xavier, the chemical does not have harmful contents and is more environment-friendly. It also comes in pleasant scents and could even be sprayed on the body. The chemical is now being used in Singapore.
Dr Xavier said another new idea was the use of genetically altered mosquitoes.
“It involves releasing these genetically-altered mosquitoes to a controlled environment.
“But I do not think that it is a very good idea,” he said.
Malaysian Medical News: keeping you up to date with news sourced from various online sites, put in one place for your convenience, with a searchable archive
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Dengue deaths up by nearly 50pc
Star: BUKIT GANTANG: There have been 12,179 dengue cases this year leading to 33 deaths, a significant 48.7% increase compared with the number of deaths in the same period last year.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said there were only 8,212 cases with 14 deaths from Jan 1 to March 16 last year.
He also said dengue cases in Perak have also shown a rise with 1,068 cases reported compared with last year’s 946 cases from Jan 1 to March 16.
The state had the second highest number of reported cases, after Selangor, he said.
Liow said the rainy season and dirty housing areas were the main reasons for the rise in dengue cases.
“It’s also partly the apathetic attitude of the people in not taking care of the cleanliness of their homes,” he told reporters after a working visit to the Changkat Jering Health Clinic near here Thursday.
“Continuous efforts to educate the people and campaigns to eradicate dengue fever are on-going nationwide,” he said, adding that the Ministry has spent about RM10mil in campaigns to combat dengue and other diseases.
He stressed that the public should be more aware of the disease and seek immediate treatment at hospitals should any symptoms start to show.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said there were only 8,212 cases with 14 deaths from Jan 1 to March 16 last year.
He also said dengue cases in Perak have also shown a rise with 1,068 cases reported compared with last year’s 946 cases from Jan 1 to March 16.
The state had the second highest number of reported cases, after Selangor, he said.
Liow said the rainy season and dirty housing areas were the main reasons for the rise in dengue cases.
“It’s also partly the apathetic attitude of the people in not taking care of the cleanliness of their homes,” he told reporters after a working visit to the Changkat Jering Health Clinic near here Thursday.
“Continuous efforts to educate the people and campaigns to eradicate dengue fever are on-going nationwide,” he said, adding that the Ministry has spent about RM10mil in campaigns to combat dengue and other diseases.
He stressed that the public should be more aware of the disease and seek immediate treatment at hospitals should any symptoms start to show.
SOS for another 'Elizabeth'
NST: KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's dire need for a new hospital is well acknowledged by the government at both the state and federal levels.
Proposals have surfaced but nothing concrete has come out of them and the people of Sabah continue to be deprived of adequate medical services.
Medical services in the state have long been below par and it took a further blow last October.
The Tower Block at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Complex, the "heartbeat" of the state's medical and healthcare service, was declared unsafe and has since been vacated.
The block had 250 beds, eight surgery rooms, an intensive care ward, a radiology services unit, a pharmacy and a forensics unit, among others.
Other units in the hospital remain operational but the tower's closure has created a major void in services, to the extent that patients have had to be transferred to hospitals in nearby districts.
There has been a proposal for the construction of a new hospital, with the state government offering the Federal Government land for the purpose.
This, however, would only fit into a long-term plan and the state's medical and healthcare problem would not be able to wait that long, said a doctor at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital who declined to be named.
There has also been talk that the Health Ministry plans to purchase a private hospital, the Sabah Medical Centre (SMC), as well as acquire a vacant building, Wisma Khidmat, he added.
The proposal to acquire the SMC may cost RM460 million. As for Wisma Khidmat, it is likely to be cheaper.
At present, the SMC provides top-of- the-line facilities, including 460 beds and a cardiotherapy centre, a facility which the state never had although there were plans to build one at a cost of RM300 million.
"We could save on building a new cardiotherapy centre by acquiring the SMC," said the doctor.
Heart patients are currently referred to the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur.
"The cost of transporting a patient on a stretcher is the equivalent of 12 return airline tickets.
"Imagine how much can be saved if we had our own cardiotherapy centre."
The state government holds a 20 per cent stake in the SMC.
Proposals have surfaced but nothing concrete has come out of them and the people of Sabah continue to be deprived of adequate medical services.
Medical services in the state have long been below par and it took a further blow last October.
The Tower Block at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Complex, the "heartbeat" of the state's medical and healthcare service, was declared unsafe and has since been vacated.
The block had 250 beds, eight surgery rooms, an intensive care ward, a radiology services unit, a pharmacy and a forensics unit, among others.
Other units in the hospital remain operational but the tower's closure has created a major void in services, to the extent that patients have had to be transferred to hospitals in nearby districts.
There has been a proposal for the construction of a new hospital, with the state government offering the Federal Government land for the purpose.
This, however, would only fit into a long-term plan and the state's medical and healthcare problem would not be able to wait that long, said a doctor at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital who declined to be named.
There has also been talk that the Health Ministry plans to purchase a private hospital, the Sabah Medical Centre (SMC), as well as acquire a vacant building, Wisma Khidmat, he added.
The proposal to acquire the SMC may cost RM460 million. As for Wisma Khidmat, it is likely to be cheaper.
At present, the SMC provides top-of- the-line facilities, including 460 beds and a cardiotherapy centre, a facility which the state never had although there were plans to build one at a cost of RM300 million.
"We could save on building a new cardiotherapy centre by acquiring the SMC," said the doctor.
Heart patients are currently referred to the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur.
"The cost of transporting a patient on a stretcher is the equivalent of 12 return airline tickets.
"Imagine how much can be saved if we had our own cardiotherapy centre."
The state government holds a 20 per cent stake in the SMC.
Going early to avoid long wait
NST: KOTA KINABALU: Madam Yapp goes for her medical review twice a month at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Complex. Each visit starts at 6.15am.
"I would go for a blood test before I am given a number for my consultation with a specialist doctor," said the woman, who declined to give her full name.
"Normally, everything would be over by about 11am," said Yapp.
But if she was late by about an hour, she would have to stay until late afternoon. By then, the hospital would be packed with patients.
A nurse accompanying Yapp explained that priority was given to those who needed regular check-ups. It is for this reason that the registration counter is open as early as 6am.
"By the time the unit opens at 8am, this place would be crowded with people without appointments," said the nurse, referring to the outpatient waiting area which could swell with up to 100 people, exceeding its capacity.
"There used to be more outpatients but the number has been reduced by more than half since the Luyang Hospital opened more than five years ago," said the nurse.
Adjacent to the outpatient unit is the emergency ward, which has more than 10 beds but only three are properly equipped to perform thorough checks on patients.
Its called the "red zone", said a doctor on duty recently.
"On average, we get about 80 people in the emergency section. It's always busy here," said the doctor, who also declined to be named.
A businessman, Michael Liew, who was once taken to the hospital's emergency ward after collapsing in a coffeeshop, said it took about an hour before a doctor could take a look at him after an initial check by a nurse.
"I don't blame them at all because I could see four beds with people covered in blood and one man, I think, had just had a heart attack," he said, adding that he was put in a wheelchair.
"Imagine if there was a major bus accident. How would they cope?"
"I would go for a blood test before I am given a number for my consultation with a specialist doctor," said the woman, who declined to give her full name.
"Normally, everything would be over by about 11am," said Yapp.
But if she was late by about an hour, she would have to stay until late afternoon. By then, the hospital would be packed with patients.
A nurse accompanying Yapp explained that priority was given to those who needed regular check-ups. It is for this reason that the registration counter is open as early as 6am.
"By the time the unit opens at 8am, this place would be crowded with people without appointments," said the nurse, referring to the outpatient waiting area which could swell with up to 100 people, exceeding its capacity.
"There used to be more outpatients but the number has been reduced by more than half since the Luyang Hospital opened more than five years ago," said the nurse.
Adjacent to the outpatient unit is the emergency ward, which has more than 10 beds but only three are properly equipped to perform thorough checks on patients.
Its called the "red zone", said a doctor on duty recently.
"On average, we get about 80 people in the emergency section. It's always busy here," said the doctor, who also declined to be named.
A businessman, Michael Liew, who was once taken to the hospital's emergency ward after collapsing in a coffeeshop, said it took about an hour before a doctor could take a look at him after an initial check by a nurse.
"I don't blame them at all because I could see four beds with people covered in blood and one man, I think, had just had a heart attack," he said, adding that he was put in a wheelchair.
"Imagine if there was a major bus accident. How would they cope?"
When patients have to sleep on the fl
NST: KOTA KINABALU: There was a time when patients slept on mattresses on the floor at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Complex maternity ward.
When the Luyang Hospital and the Likas Women and Children's Hospital opened more than five years ago, it helped ease the congestion.
But, now, it's back to what it was as patients outnumber beds at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital following the closure of the Tower Block due to safety reasons. There is a 250-bed deficit.
"It is not every day we are forced to ask patients to sleep on the floor but it happened recently," said a doctor at the hospital.
As a result of the closure of the Tower Block, one of the hospital's most important machines, the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) unit, cannot be used.
Also inaccessible are 250 beds, eight surgical wards, the intensive care unit, the forensics department and a pharmacy there.
The most recent setback was the temporary halting of the service elevator at the three-storey medical ward.
"That was about a week ago. We now have to put at least four workers on standby between the ground floor and third floor to carry patients on stretchers to their wards," the doctor said.
There are some 2,000 staff members at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, including 400 doctors.
Patients from all the district hospitals in the state, as well as in Labuan, Lawas and Limbang in Sarawak, are referred to specialist doctors at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital
"Some of these patients are referred to specialists in the peninsula."
Sabah Health director Dr Marzukhi Md Isa recently revealed that urgent cases were normally referred to hospitals in Kuala Lumpur or Penang.
When the Luyang Hospital and the Likas Women and Children's Hospital opened more than five years ago, it helped ease the congestion.
But, now, it's back to what it was as patients outnumber beds at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital following the closure of the Tower Block due to safety reasons. There is a 250-bed deficit.
"It is not every day we are forced to ask patients to sleep on the floor but it happened recently," said a doctor at the hospital.
As a result of the closure of the Tower Block, one of the hospital's most important machines, the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) unit, cannot be used.
Also inaccessible are 250 beds, eight surgical wards, the intensive care unit, the forensics department and a pharmacy there.
The most recent setback was the temporary halting of the service elevator at the three-storey medical ward.
"That was about a week ago. We now have to put at least four workers on standby between the ground floor and third floor to carry patients on stretchers to their wards," the doctor said.
There are some 2,000 staff members at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, including 400 doctors.
Patients from all the district hospitals in the state, as well as in Labuan, Lawas and Limbang in Sarawak, are referred to specialist doctors at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital
"Some of these patients are referred to specialists in the peninsula."
Sabah Health director Dr Marzukhi Md Isa recently revealed that urgent cases were normally referred to hospitals in Kuala Lumpur or Penang.
Gatekeepers to help keep suicide rates down
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Gatekeeper training is the key to cutting down on suicides.
National Suicide Registry Malaysia (NSRM) principal investigator Dr Nor Hayati Ali said "gatekeepers" were people who may come into contact with suicidal individuals in their daily work, such as police officers, religious officers, cus-todial (prison officers) personnel, teachers and school staff, social workers and doctors.
She said very often, these individuals get little or no specific training in the identification of suicide risks and how to help suicidal individuals.
Besides risk assessment and intervention, these gatekeepers would also know where to direct the suicidal people for help such as treatment for depression, alcoholism and drug abuse.
Dr Nor Hayati also said the Health Ministry had taken measures towards suicide prevention, one of which was to encourage responsible reporting by the media.
The media, she said, should avoid sensational or too-detailed reports on suicide or attempted suicides.
On ways to curb suicides, Dr Nor Hayati said religion and spiritual faith appeared to have a protective effect.
"Religion promotes righteous conduct and the belief that God will not forsake us, which acts as an antidote against hopelessness.
"However if a patient is inflicted by mental disorders or an overwhelming life event, this might affect the person's ability to make a choice."
Dr Nor Hayati said it was vital for family members and friends to step in at such times to ensure that the person did not feel isolated and received assistance.
National Suicide Registry Malaysia (NSRM) principal investigator Dr Nor Hayati Ali said "gatekeepers" were people who may come into contact with suicidal individuals in their daily work, such as police officers, religious officers, cus-todial (prison officers) personnel, teachers and school staff, social workers and doctors.
She said very often, these individuals get little or no specific training in the identification of suicide risks and how to help suicidal individuals.
Besides risk assessment and intervention, these gatekeepers would also know where to direct the suicidal people for help such as treatment for depression, alcoholism and drug abuse.
Dr Nor Hayati also said the Health Ministry had taken measures towards suicide prevention, one of which was to encourage responsible reporting by the media.
The media, she said, should avoid sensational or too-detailed reports on suicide or attempted suicides.
On ways to curb suicides, Dr Nor Hayati said religion and spiritual faith appeared to have a protective effect.
"Religion promotes righteous conduct and the belief that God will not forsake us, which acts as an antidote against hopelessness.
"However if a patient is inflicted by mental disorders or an overwhelming life event, this might affect the person's ability to make a choice."
Dr Nor Hayati said it was vital for family members and friends to step in at such times to ensure that the person did not feel isolated and received assistance.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
MMC acts against 13 doctors for various offences
Star: PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Council has acted against 13 doctors — including striking the names of two of them off the medical register — for various offences last year.
The others were either suspended for six months or reprimanded for allowing unqualified and unregistered persons to treat their patients, MMC president Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said yesterday.
The doctor who had his name struck off claimed to be a medical graduate of University Kebangsaan Malaysia when his degree was from the University of North Sumatera, Indonesia, Dr Ismail said in a statement.
A woman doctor who had her name struck off the list had allowed an unqualified person to treat and prescribe medicine to a patient without her supervision. Dr Ismail said the council had not been able to contact her during most of the inquiry.
“Attempts were made to communicate with her through the post, advertisements in the local newspapers and personal delivery of documents. Despite these efforts, she did not turn up for the inquiry. She did not appeal and the punishment was meted out,” he said.
Dr Ismail, who is also the Health Ministry director-general, said three other doctors were reprimanded for neglecting their professional duties by failing to inform their patients that they were starting a medical examination and not explaining the details of the procedures performed on them.
Three more doctors were suspended for a period of between three and six months for offences including breaches under the Poisons Act, producing untrue or misleading reports, and for using a medical report as an exhibit in a court case without the patient’s consent.
The council received 87 complaints against doctors last year. The accumulated figure received by the council is 223 cases so far.
The council resolved 97 complaints last year. There are 17 complaints pending inquiry.
“Doctors should learn from the mistakes of their peers and avoid similar mistakes,” he said.
Based on 20,280 active doctors last year, the complaints received per 1,000 doctors were 4.3.
“Although the number is small, this is not acceptable. Being professionals, doctors are expected to abide to ethical practices at all times,” he said.
The others were either suspended for six months or reprimanded for allowing unqualified and unregistered persons to treat their patients, MMC president Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said yesterday.
The doctor who had his name struck off claimed to be a medical graduate of University Kebangsaan Malaysia when his degree was from the University of North Sumatera, Indonesia, Dr Ismail said in a statement.
A woman doctor who had her name struck off the list had allowed an unqualified person to treat and prescribe medicine to a patient without her supervision. Dr Ismail said the council had not been able to contact her during most of the inquiry.
“Attempts were made to communicate with her through the post, advertisements in the local newspapers and personal delivery of documents. Despite these efforts, she did not turn up for the inquiry. She did not appeal and the punishment was meted out,” he said.
Dr Ismail, who is also the Health Ministry director-general, said three other doctors were reprimanded for neglecting their professional duties by failing to inform their patients that they were starting a medical examination and not explaining the details of the procedures performed on them.
Three more doctors were suspended for a period of between three and six months for offences including breaches under the Poisons Act, producing untrue or misleading reports, and for using a medical report as an exhibit in a court case without the patient’s consent.
The council received 87 complaints against doctors last year. The accumulated figure received by the council is 223 cases so far.
The council resolved 97 complaints last year. There are 17 complaints pending inquiry.
“Doctors should learn from the mistakes of their peers and avoid similar mistakes,” he said.
Based on 20,280 active doctors last year, the complaints received per 1,000 doctors were 4.3.
“Although the number is small, this is not acceptable. Being professionals, doctors are expected to abide to ethical practices at all times,” he said.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Call for more nurses at baby ICUs
Star: KOTA KINABALU: More nurses are needed at neonatal intensive care units (NICU) at government hospitals to reduce morbidity and infection rates.
Perinatal Society of Malaysia president Dr Irene Cheah said the average ratio of nurses to patients at most NICUs was 1:4; while the ideal figure should be 1:1.
“About 10,000 babies a year require neonatal care,” she said at the opening of the society’s 16th annual congress here on Friday.
Noting that the nurse to patient ratio at many adult ICUs was already at the 1:1 standard, Dr Cheah hoped that the Health Ministry as well as principal matrons would look into implementing the 1:1 nursing ratio Nicus.
“Good neonatal nursing care is such an important factor in reducing morbidity and infection rates in NICUs,” she said, adding that the nurses needed to improve their skills as well.
Dr Cheah said more neonatal nursing training centres were needed as well, as some potential trainees were discouraged when such centres were too far away from home.
She said that while the neonatal mortality rate was 3.7 per 1,000 live births in 2006; there was however great variance among the various states with Selangor recording a low of 2.2, while among the highest were Sabah with 5.2 and Terengganu with 5.7.
Dr Cheah said that to improve the situation the Government should look at re-adopting successful maternal and child health service programmes carried out in the 1970s.
“These strategies can be selectively applied to the urban poor and deprived rural areas to bring down stillbirth rates in these areas,” she added.
Perinatal Society of Malaysia president Dr Irene Cheah said the average ratio of nurses to patients at most NICUs was 1:4; while the ideal figure should be 1:1.
“About 10,000 babies a year require neonatal care,” she said at the opening of the society’s 16th annual congress here on Friday.
Noting that the nurse to patient ratio at many adult ICUs was already at the 1:1 standard, Dr Cheah hoped that the Health Ministry as well as principal matrons would look into implementing the 1:1 nursing ratio Nicus.
“Good neonatal nursing care is such an important factor in reducing morbidity and infection rates in NICUs,” she said, adding that the nurses needed to improve their skills as well.
Dr Cheah said more neonatal nursing training centres were needed as well, as some potential trainees were discouraged when such centres were too far away from home.
She said that while the neonatal mortality rate was 3.7 per 1,000 live births in 2006; there was however great variance among the various states with Selangor recording a low of 2.2, while among the highest were Sabah with 5.2 and Terengganu with 5.7.
Dr Cheah said that to improve the situation the Government should look at re-adopting successful maternal and child health service programmes carried out in the 1970s.
“These strategies can be selectively applied to the urban poor and deprived rural areas to bring down stillbirth rates in these areas,” she added.
More govt perks to retain doctors
Star: PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry is providing “hard and soft rewards” to retain doctors in government service, deputy director-general of Health (Medical) Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said.
Speaking at a symposium on “Future challenges for Healthcare in Malaysia” here, he said the ministry had implemented several incentives and rewards to encourage government doctors to remain in service.
The incentives include more opportunities for promotion and fast-track promotions based on performance, the opportunity for those on the Employees Provident Fund scheme to opt for the pension scheme, on-call and location based allowances, and compensation for doctors who lecture in universities.
Speaking at a symposium on “Future challenges for Healthcare in Malaysia” here, he said the ministry had implemented several incentives and rewards to encourage government doctors to remain in service.
The incentives include more opportunities for promotion and fast-track promotions based on performance, the opportunity for those on the Employees Provident Fund scheme to opt for the pension scheme, on-call and location based allowances, and compensation for doctors who lecture in universities.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Don’t spread dengue on ‘balik kampung’ trips
Star: BENTONG: Take extra care not to spread the dengue fever during the balik kampung school holidays.
Holidaymakers can add to the increase in cases in several ways, said Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai.
He said those living in high prone areas in Klang Valley could unknowingly allow the aedes mosquitoes to hide in their cars.
“Some could be having the disease in them and when they are in the kampung, they could be bitten by mosquitoes which could then spread the virus to others,” Liow said after closing a seminar on the control of dengue fever yesterday.
Earlier, Liow gave away pamphlets on the dangers of dengue fever to the road users at the Bentong toll plazas.
Liow said Selangor and Kuala Lumpur recorded the most number of dengue cases, which was 63% of the total number of 49,335 cases in the country last year.
“The situation in other states is not alarming but we have to be prepared all the time.
“Everybody can be infected and that is why the ministry has been active in curbing the spread of dengue,” he said.
Holidaymakers can add to the increase in cases in several ways, said Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai.
He said those living in high prone areas in Klang Valley could unknowingly allow the aedes mosquitoes to hide in their cars.
“Some could be having the disease in them and when they are in the kampung, they could be bitten by mosquitoes which could then spread the virus to others,” Liow said after closing a seminar on the control of dengue fever yesterday.
Earlier, Liow gave away pamphlets on the dangers of dengue fever to the road users at the Bentong toll plazas.
Liow said Selangor and Kuala Lumpur recorded the most number of dengue cases, which was 63% of the total number of 49,335 cases in the country last year.
“The situation in other states is not alarming but we have to be prepared all the time.
“Everybody can be infected and that is why the ministry has been active in curbing the spread of dengue,” he said.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Free jabs for poor kidney patients from April 1
Star: SERDANG: All poor kidney patients needing dialysis treatment will be given free epoeitin injections starting April 1.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the government aid was in addition to the RM50 subsidy enjoyed by kidney patients presently.
The free injections, to be given three times weekly would save the patients RM30-RM60 per injection.
"The injections are needed to prevent anaemia as epoeitin helps to increase the haemoglobin level. Without them, patients will suffer and endure low quality of life," he said after launching World Kidney Day 2009 at Serdang Hospital here on Thursday.
Liow said the free injections would cost the government RM12.64mil annually.
Some 2,700 poor kidney patients are registered and undergoing dialysis treatment at 454 dialysis centres nationwide.
He said eight more dialysis centres would be set up at district hospitals in Pahang, Terengganu, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Sabah to cope with the rising number of patients annually.
The new dialysis centres are at Cameron Highlands (Pahang), Setiu (Terengganu), Jasin (Melaka), Jempol (Negeri Sembilan), Tuaran, Kunak, Kuala Penyu and Pitas (Sabah).
Liow said kidney patients needing dialysis treatment stood at 16,719 as of Dec 31, 2007 compared to only 4,540 in 1998.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the government aid was in addition to the RM50 subsidy enjoyed by kidney patients presently.
The free injections, to be given three times weekly would save the patients RM30-RM60 per injection.
"The injections are needed to prevent anaemia as epoeitin helps to increase the haemoglobin level. Without them, patients will suffer and endure low quality of life," he said after launching World Kidney Day 2009 at Serdang Hospital here on Thursday.
Liow said the free injections would cost the government RM12.64mil annually.
Some 2,700 poor kidney patients are registered and undergoing dialysis treatment at 454 dialysis centres nationwide.
He said eight more dialysis centres would be set up at district hospitals in Pahang, Terengganu, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Sabah to cope with the rising number of patients annually.
The new dialysis centres are at Cameron Highlands (Pahang), Setiu (Terengganu), Jasin (Melaka), Jempol (Negeri Sembilan), Tuaran, Kunak, Kuala Penyu and Pitas (Sabah).
Liow said kidney patients needing dialysis treatment stood at 16,719 as of Dec 31, 2007 compared to only 4,540 in 1998.
Call to set up glaucoma group
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: It is time to set up a glaucoma support group to counsel and encourage patients to fight the disease, an eye specialist said yesterday.
"Patients and their families need to be educated on the disease so that they will know how to control the progress of glaucoma," said Dr Linda Teoh, a consultant ophthalmologist at Tun Hussein Onn National Eye Hospital.
In conjunction with World Glaucoma Day today, the hospital is organising a forum titled "Understanding Glaucoma", followed by free eye screening for 200 people on Saturday.
The screening is open to people who have not been diagnosed with glaucoma, aged 40 and above.
"Patients and their families need to be educated on the disease so that they will know how to control the progress of glaucoma," said Dr Linda Teoh, a consultant ophthalmologist at Tun Hussein Onn National Eye Hospital.
In conjunction with World Glaucoma Day today, the hospital is organising a forum titled "Understanding Glaucoma", followed by free eye screening for 200 people on Saturday.
The screening is open to people who have not been diagnosed with glaucoma, aged 40 and above.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Vacant houses can be broken into to fog against dengue
Star: PUTRAJAYA: Vacant houses suspected of being mosquito breeding grounds will be broken into by local authorities for fogging purposes.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said local authorities had such right under the Vector Control Act if house owners failed to react to notices served to them within 14 days.
“We are also considering shortening the notification from 14 days to three to five days as part of the effort by the Government to tackle this problem,” he told a press conference here on Wednesday.
He said it was the ministry’s aim to reduce dengue cases throughout the country by 10,000 cases this year and the number of deaths caused by such cases from 0.22% to 0.2%.
Until March 7 this year, he said, the number of dengue cases was 10,916 cases with 31 deaths, which was 35% higher than the same period last year.
“A total of 52% cases and 71% deaths reported happened in Selangor while cases in Penang, Perak and Kedah have also increased,” he said.
Last year, there were 7,134 cases with 12 deaths. Liow said 53% of the death could be saved if patients were treated early.
“All these cases could be avoided if patients received treatment as soon as they showed symptoms of such disease,” he said.
He said the ministry would also conduct fogging work in a wider area of 400 metre radius, compared to the previous 200 metre radius in epidemic area.
“Local authorities must also ensure that 85% of the epidemic area is under control within two weeks.
“We will also cut the response time for fogging to 24 to 48 hours once a dengue case is reported to control the spreading of such cases,” he said.
He said 1,000 additional staff would be employed to tackle the problem and operation centres would also be set up in all states throughout the country to monitor such epidemic.
Liow said the ministry had issued 18,469 compounds last year and 59,518 compounds this year to owners who failed to ensure that their premises were clean and mosquito free.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said local authorities had such right under the Vector Control Act if house owners failed to react to notices served to them within 14 days.
“We are also considering shortening the notification from 14 days to three to five days as part of the effort by the Government to tackle this problem,” he told a press conference here on Wednesday.
He said it was the ministry’s aim to reduce dengue cases throughout the country by 10,000 cases this year and the number of deaths caused by such cases from 0.22% to 0.2%.
Until March 7 this year, he said, the number of dengue cases was 10,916 cases with 31 deaths, which was 35% higher than the same period last year.
“A total of 52% cases and 71% deaths reported happened in Selangor while cases in Penang, Perak and Kedah have also increased,” he said.
Last year, there were 7,134 cases with 12 deaths. Liow said 53% of the death could be saved if patients were treated early.
“All these cases could be avoided if patients received treatment as soon as they showed symptoms of such disease,” he said.
He said the ministry would also conduct fogging work in a wider area of 400 metre radius, compared to the previous 200 metre radius in epidemic area.
“Local authorities must also ensure that 85% of the epidemic area is under control within two weeks.
“We will also cut the response time for fogging to 24 to 48 hours once a dengue case is reported to control the spreading of such cases,” he said.
He said 1,000 additional staff would be employed to tackle the problem and operation centres would also be set up in all states throughout the country to monitor such epidemic.
Liow said the ministry had issued 18,469 compounds last year and 59,518 compounds this year to owners who failed to ensure that their premises were clean and mosquito free.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Sabah seeks to use empty building as interim hospital
Star: KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government is proposing the takeover of the abandoned Wisma Khidmat as an interim measure to resolve severe shortage of beds at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
The state cabinet led by Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman held a special meeting with Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai and top officials of the ministry to discuss the proposal to resolve the problems at the hospital.
“This is an urgent issue and we will study the proposal made by the state government,” Liow told reporters after the meeting with Musa at the Chief Minister’s official residence Sri Gaya.
The state has proposed to use the now abandoned nine-storey Wisma Khidmat and a four-storey office block about 400m from the QEH. The buildings will be refurbished and fitted with 250 beds as an immediate alternative following the QEH’s tower block being declared unsafe.
Liow said his officers would study the viability of the state’s proposal and make a decision quickly because there was an urgent need to resolve problems faced by patients.
He said the state’s proposal was a stop-gap measure as plans to build two tower blocks at the QEH were still on under the current Ninth Malaysia Plan.
“It is just a matter of negotiating the price for the tower project,” he said.
Musa told reporters that the state government’s plan was for a 250-bed surgical hospital to be built within five months.
He also said a 200 to 240-bed ward should be built to handle patients who could not use the QEH’s tower block.
The state cabinet led by Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman held a special meeting with Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai and top officials of the ministry to discuss the proposal to resolve the problems at the hospital.
“This is an urgent issue and we will study the proposal made by the state government,” Liow told reporters after the meeting with Musa at the Chief Minister’s official residence Sri Gaya.
The state has proposed to use the now abandoned nine-storey Wisma Khidmat and a four-storey office block about 400m from the QEH. The buildings will be refurbished and fitted with 250 beds as an immediate alternative following the QEH’s tower block being declared unsafe.
Liow said his officers would study the viability of the state’s proposal and make a decision quickly because there was an urgent need to resolve problems faced by patients.
He said the state’s proposal was a stop-gap measure as plans to build two tower blocks at the QEH were still on under the current Ninth Malaysia Plan.
“It is just a matter of negotiating the price for the tower project,” he said.
Musa told reporters that the state government’s plan was for a 250-bed surgical hospital to be built within five months.
He also said a 200 to 240-bed ward should be built to handle patients who could not use the QEH’s tower block.
90 days maternity leave for Selangor civil servants
Star: SHAH ALAM: Female civil servants with the Selangor Government are now entitled to 90 days maternity leave starting this year.
Announcing this yesterday, Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the extra days of leave was part of the state’s economic welfare programme.
“Husbands whose wives gave birth will also enjoy a 14-day paternity leave, up from a week previously. Female staff whose husbands pass away, will also get 30 days’ leave, compared to three days emergency leave in the past,” he told reporters after presenting appointment letters to more than 6,000 village committee members here yesterday.
The Pakatan Rakyat state government had proposed the extra days after it came into power last year.
On another matter, Khalid said Selangor was meeting with various groups, including insurance companies, to work out a plan to help the 300,000 to 400,000 senior citizens in the state to cope with their medical expenses.
Under the programme, senior citizens might only need to pay a maximum of RM5 each time they received treatment from a clinic, he said, adding that the elderly must, however, be registered with the state government to receive the benefit.
Khalid said Selangor would use its over RM50mil revenue from sand mining to fund various “people-centred’ activities and welfare programmes, adding that the state planned to introduce a coupon system which allowed for rebates.
Khalid said it was also looking into paying village committee members a work allowance for their activities, work and services, and would appoint more Indian leaders to head committees of villages with many Indian residents.
He said the state had identified about 40 villages to be headed by Indians and their appointment would be made next month.
Announcing this yesterday, Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the extra days of leave was part of the state’s economic welfare programme.
“Husbands whose wives gave birth will also enjoy a 14-day paternity leave, up from a week previously. Female staff whose husbands pass away, will also get 30 days’ leave, compared to three days emergency leave in the past,” he told reporters after presenting appointment letters to more than 6,000 village committee members here yesterday.
The Pakatan Rakyat state government had proposed the extra days after it came into power last year.
On another matter, Khalid said Selangor was meeting with various groups, including insurance companies, to work out a plan to help the 300,000 to 400,000 senior citizens in the state to cope with their medical expenses.
Under the programme, senior citizens might only need to pay a maximum of RM5 each time they received treatment from a clinic, he said, adding that the elderly must, however, be registered with the state government to receive the benefit.
Khalid said Selangor would use its over RM50mil revenue from sand mining to fund various “people-centred’ activities and welfare programmes, adding that the state planned to introduce a coupon system which allowed for rebates.
Khalid said it was also looking into paying village committee members a work allowance for their activities, work and services, and would appoint more Indian leaders to head committees of villages with many Indian residents.
He said the state had identified about 40 villages to be headed by Indians and their appointment would be made next month.
Friday, March 06, 2009
Illegal sex pills seized in raids
NST: SEREMBAN: The state Health Department on Wednesday seized 270 types of illegal medicines worth RM58,000, promoted as sexual aids.
The enforcement unit, with officers from Malacca, along with the narcotics unit, carried out an operation about 3.30pm, focusing on six medicine peddlers in Jalan Utham Singh.
Department director Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said among the brands seized were Cialis, Viagra, Powerman, American Viagra, France T253, One Night 8 Times, Fly D5, Yuan Ye, Street Evil Overload and Playboy Cream, all from China.
"We are clamping down on the sale of illegal medicines because they are a health hazard.
"The medicines seized are not registered with the Health Ministry.
"We believe they contain sidenafil and tadalafil, which can be dangerous to those with allergies and asthma, hypertension and heart disease."
Dr Zainal said people should not buy medicines from street vendors or unlicensed medicine shops.
"They should be careful and make sure what they buy is registered with the Health Ministry.
"Medicines registered by the ministry should carry the MAL registration code as well as a Meditag security hologram label.
"Registered medicines are guaranteed to be safe, of quality and effective."
The enforcement unit, with officers from Malacca, along with the narcotics unit, carried out an operation about 3.30pm, focusing on six medicine peddlers in Jalan Utham Singh.
Department director Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said among the brands seized were Cialis, Viagra, Powerman, American Viagra, France T253, One Night 8 Times, Fly D5, Yuan Ye, Street Evil Overload and Playboy Cream, all from China.
"We are clamping down on the sale of illegal medicines because they are a health hazard.
"The medicines seized are not registered with the Health Ministry.
"We believe they contain sidenafil and tadalafil, which can be dangerous to those with allergies and asthma, hypertension and heart disease."
Dr Zainal said people should not buy medicines from street vendors or unlicensed medicine shops.
"They should be careful and make sure what they buy is registered with the Health Ministry.
"Medicines registered by the ministry should carry the MAL registration code as well as a Meditag security hologram label.
"Registered medicines are guaranteed to be safe, of quality and effective."
Seven died of dengue last week
Star: PETALING JAYA: A total of 1,017 new dengue cases were reported with seven deaths last week.
The figure was a slight drop from the 1,020 cases and five deaths recorded the week before, said Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican.
The cases were all from Selangor in areas like Petaling, Gombak, Kuala Langat, Klang and Kajang. Dr Ismail said this in a press statement on the current situation of dengue fever and chikungunya cases from Feb 22 to 28.
Selangor still tops the states with the highest number of reported cases. Other states that reported a spike in the number of cases are Sabah, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, and the Federal Territories of Labuan, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
Twelve localities have been declared dengue-free throughout last week. However, seven new hot spots were identified.
Checks also found 948 premises to be Aedes-breeding grounds and their occupants were compounded RM38,150 while 378 notices were issued.
Dr Ismail said 81 chikungunya cases were reported – a decrease of 13 cases compared to the previous week.
The figure was a slight drop from the 1,020 cases and five deaths recorded the week before, said Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican.
The cases were all from Selangor in areas like Petaling, Gombak, Kuala Langat, Klang and Kajang. Dr Ismail said this in a press statement on the current situation of dengue fever and chikungunya cases from Feb 22 to 28.
Selangor still tops the states with the highest number of reported cases. Other states that reported a spike in the number of cases are Sabah, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, and the Federal Territories of Labuan, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
Twelve localities have been declared dengue-free throughout last week. However, seven new hot spots were identified.
Checks also found 948 premises to be Aedes-breeding grounds and their occupants were compounded RM38,150 while 378 notices were issued.
Dr Ismail said 81 chikungunya cases were reported – a decrease of 13 cases compared to the previous week.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Pain can mask depression, say experts
Star: PETALING JAYA: Medical experts believe that one reason why most cases of depression are untreated is because the illness may be masked as pain in the body.
Malaysian Psychiatric Association president Dr Yen Teck Hoe said many patients and medical practitioners fail to recognise physical pain as a common symptom of depression.
“Doctors often dispense painkillers to relieve the pain as it is presumed that the root of the problem is from the area that hurts.
“However, people forget that it is the brain and mind which controls the body,” he said at the first Malaysian Pain and Depression Day Media Workshop at the PJ Hilton here yesterday.
Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) psychological medicine department senior lecturer Dr Jesjeet Singh Gill said depression may be manifested as pain because the illness would disrupt serotonin activity in the body. Serotonin is the bodily chemical which regulates pain.
“When this happens, depressed people are unable to control the painful sensation compared to someone who is not depressed,” he said.
The department’s consultant psychiatrist Prof Dr Nor Zuraida Zainal said depression also weakens the body’s immunity and increases a person’s chances of getting an infection.
She revealed that 59% of lower back pain patients were diagnosed with depression while previous case studies showed that pain also occurred in other areas such as the chest and jaw.
Asean Federation for Psychiatry and Mental Health president Prof Dr Mohamad Hussain Habil said the current economic crisis, including risk of unemployment were factors leading to depression today.
“It is projected that depression will be the second most disabling disease by 2020,” he said.
Another department senior lecturer Dr Ting Joe Hang said doctors should interact more with their patients to pick up hints on depression during diagnosis.
“Depressed patients should not stop medication prematurely because there is a 60% to 70% chance of a relapse,” he added.
Malaysian Psychiatric Association president Dr Yen Teck Hoe said many patients and medical practitioners fail to recognise physical pain as a common symptom of depression.
“Doctors often dispense painkillers to relieve the pain as it is presumed that the root of the problem is from the area that hurts.
“However, people forget that it is the brain and mind which controls the body,” he said at the first Malaysian Pain and Depression Day Media Workshop at the PJ Hilton here yesterday.
Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) psychological medicine department senior lecturer Dr Jesjeet Singh Gill said depression may be manifested as pain because the illness would disrupt serotonin activity in the body. Serotonin is the bodily chemical which regulates pain.
“When this happens, depressed people are unable to control the painful sensation compared to someone who is not depressed,” he said.
The department’s consultant psychiatrist Prof Dr Nor Zuraida Zainal said depression also weakens the body’s immunity and increases a person’s chances of getting an infection.
She revealed that 59% of lower back pain patients were diagnosed with depression while previous case studies showed that pain also occurred in other areas such as the chest and jaw.
Asean Federation for Psychiatry and Mental Health president Prof Dr Mohamad Hussain Habil said the current economic crisis, including risk of unemployment were factors leading to depression today.
“It is projected that depression will be the second most disabling disease by 2020,” he said.
Another department senior lecturer Dr Ting Joe Hang said doctors should interact more with their patients to pick up hints on depression during diagnosis.
“Depressed patients should not stop medication prematurely because there is a 60% to 70% chance of a relapse,” he added.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Healthcare hub plan
NST: KOTA KINABALU: School-leavers in Sabah could fill the shortage in nursing and critical healthcare services by taking up courses at the newly-opened RM30 million Masterskill College of Nursing and Health in the city.
With six programmes on offer at the Plaza Juta campus, the group is helping to reduce the need for locals to travel to the peninsula to study nursing and health science.
Group executive director and chief executive officer Datuk Edmund Santhara said five more courses, including diplomas in paramedic science, occupational therapy and forensic science, would soon be introduced locally.
"Most ambulance drivers do not have enough training to handle patients. We are working with an Australian institute to offer a three-year diploma in paramedic science, the first of its kind in Asia.
"We have started with the first batch of 30 students in Kuala Lumpur, and in Sabah, we will take another batch of 30 students in September.
"The programmes that we are offering are critical ones due to shortage of skilled people to fill the needs of hospitals and others (healthcare providers)."
The World Health Organisation standard is one nurse for every 200 patients, but recent statistics show that a Malaysian nurse cares for 645 patients. The country will require 130,000 healthcare professionals in 2020, double the current 75,000.
Santhara said that since a third of its students at campuses in the peninsula were from Sabah and Sarawak, the group decided to spend another RM50 million to build a second campus in the city which is expected to be ready at the end of next year.
"We want Sabah to become a healthcare hub for East Malaysia. With a second campus, we can take in 10,000 students, including foreign nationals from China, India and Indonesia."
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, who opened the campus yesterday, said the college fits into the Sabah Development Corridor framework which aims to maximise economic growth based on skilled and knowledge workers.
"With more education and employment opportunities in Sabah, we can move towards improving the socio-economic status of the people."
With six programmes on offer at the Plaza Juta campus, the group is helping to reduce the need for locals to travel to the peninsula to study nursing and health science.
Group executive director and chief executive officer Datuk Edmund Santhara said five more courses, including diplomas in paramedic science, occupational therapy and forensic science, would soon be introduced locally.
"Most ambulance drivers do not have enough training to handle patients. We are working with an Australian institute to offer a three-year diploma in paramedic science, the first of its kind in Asia.
"We have started with the first batch of 30 students in Kuala Lumpur, and in Sabah, we will take another batch of 30 students in September.
"The programmes that we are offering are critical ones due to shortage of skilled people to fill the needs of hospitals and others (healthcare providers)."
The World Health Organisation standard is one nurse for every 200 patients, but recent statistics show that a Malaysian nurse cares for 645 patients. The country will require 130,000 healthcare professionals in 2020, double the current 75,000.
Santhara said that since a third of its students at campuses in the peninsula were from Sabah and Sarawak, the group decided to spend another RM50 million to build a second campus in the city which is expected to be ready at the end of next year.
"We want Sabah to become a healthcare hub for East Malaysia. With a second campus, we can take in 10,000 students, including foreign nationals from China, India and Indonesia."
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, who opened the campus yesterday, said the college fits into the Sabah Development Corridor framework which aims to maximise economic growth based on skilled and knowledge workers.
"With more education and employment opportunities in Sabah, we can move towards improving the socio-economic status of the people."
CM looks into lack of hospital beds
NST: KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government is working closely with the Health Ministry to seek the best solution to the current shortage of hospital beds after the closure of the tower block of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital four months ago.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the state government was recommending that patients be placed at medical facilities closer to the city.
He also said the state government would also work with the ministry in providing suitable locations for such facilities.
He had earlier opened the Masterskill College of Nursing and Health at Plaza Juta, near here yesterday where he had told reporters that several proposals were being looked at to solve the problem.
To an earlier question on whether there was an offer to purchase the privately-owned Sabah Medical Centre (SMC) as indicated previously, Musa said it was up to the ministry to make a decision.
The tower block, which housed 250 beds, eight surgery rooms, radiology services and several other key facilities, was deemed unsafe by Ikram Group Sdn Bhd, which was appointed by the ministry to assess the building.
While some patients are putting up at hospitals near the city, others have had to be sent to the Beaufort and Keningau hospitals which are more than two hours away by road.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the state government was recommending that patients be placed at medical facilities closer to the city.
He also said the state government would also work with the ministry in providing suitable locations for such facilities.
He had earlier opened the Masterskill College of Nursing and Health at Plaza Juta, near here yesterday where he had told reporters that several proposals were being looked at to solve the problem.
To an earlier question on whether there was an offer to purchase the privately-owned Sabah Medical Centre (SMC) as indicated previously, Musa said it was up to the ministry to make a decision.
The tower block, which housed 250 beds, eight surgery rooms, radiology services and several other key facilities, was deemed unsafe by Ikram Group Sdn Bhd, which was appointed by the ministry to assess the building.
While some patients are putting up at hospitals near the city, others have had to be sent to the Beaufort and Keningau hospitals which are more than two hours away by road.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Agency also at fault, say unions
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: It isn't only ignorant doctors who are "robbing" workers of their Social Security Organisation aid and disability pensions.
Unions said Socso itself sometimes denied workers' claims by appealing the findings of its medical panels.
The Malaysian Trades Union Congress said since 2000 it had received 13 complaints of the organisation challenging its panels' decisions that claimants were entitled to disability pensions.
A dozen complaints were filed with MTUC between 2000 and 2004.
These members told MTUC that Socso questioned the panel's medical opinions by forcing them to appear before an appellate medical board.
"There should be an end to this practice, which is aimed at frustrating and delaying the legitimate claims of members," MTUC vice-president A. Balasubramaniam told the New Straits Times.
He also questioned Socso for disputing the findings of competent doctors.
"Who in Socso has the medical expertise to decide that the findings of doctors are wrong?"
Socso chief executive officer K. Selvarajah insisted that Socso and the claimant were within their rights to appeal any initial findings. Socso "very rarely" appealed, he noted.
"We have not appealed any of the 3,000-odd invalidity pension cases that came before us in the last eight months."
Human Resource Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said the ministry and Socso were trying to improve the skills of doctors on the medical panels to reduce the need for an appeal.
The minister said he had instructed Socso to minimise their appeals.
Unions said Socso itself sometimes denied workers' claims by appealing the findings of its medical panels.
The Malaysian Trades Union Congress said since 2000 it had received 13 complaints of the organisation challenging its panels' decisions that claimants were entitled to disability pensions.
A dozen complaints were filed with MTUC between 2000 and 2004.
These members told MTUC that Socso questioned the panel's medical opinions by forcing them to appear before an appellate medical board.
"There should be an end to this practice, which is aimed at frustrating and delaying the legitimate claims of members," MTUC vice-president A. Balasubramaniam told the New Straits Times.
He also questioned Socso for disputing the findings of competent doctors.
"Who in Socso has the medical expertise to decide that the findings of doctors are wrong?"
Socso chief executive officer K. Selvarajah insisted that Socso and the claimant were within their rights to appeal any initial findings. Socso "very rarely" appealed, he noted.
"We have not appealed any of the 3,000-odd invalidity pension cases that came before us in the last eight months."
Human Resource Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said the ministry and Socso were trying to improve the skills of doctors on the medical panels to reduce the need for an appeal.
The minister said he had instructed Socso to minimise their appeals.
Refer cases to specialists if unsure
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Doctors who suspect an occupational disease should send the patient to a specialist.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr Subramaniam said the specialist would then carry out tests to see if there was a link between the health problem and the workplace.
The most common occupational diseases reported to Socso are noise-induced hearing loss, musculoskeletal, lung and skin diseases.
There are 226 occupational diseases listed under the Social Security Act 1969.
Dr Subramaniam said Socso published the Diagnosis of Occupational Diseases two years ago and doctors could get copies at no charge.
"The guidelines are to assist those on the Socso medical, specialist medical and medical appellate boards as well as doctors to conduct more objective occupational and medical history taking, clinical examination and investigations of occupational diseases.
"We train doctors who sit in the boards in occupational diseases and disability assessment using the standard guidelines on impairment and disability assessment.
"We also work with NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) in training doctors, employees and employers."
Socso were also involved in training doctors through professional bodies such as the Academy and Society of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and Malaysian Industrial Hygiene Association, he said.
To further help doctors diagnose occupational diseases, Socso has introduced a standard medical report form.
The number of occupational disease cases reported has steadily risen, from 189 in 2003 to 515 last year.
"It's a good sign but I still feel it's very much underreported," he said, adding that doctors should be more alert for occupational diseases.
For example, he said, if a baker complained of asthma then it could be because of the flour.
"If the doctor cannot confirm it, then he should refer the worker to a respiratory specialist."
Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr Subramaniam said the specialist would then carry out tests to see if there was a link between the health problem and the workplace.
The most common occupational diseases reported to Socso are noise-induced hearing loss, musculoskeletal, lung and skin diseases.
There are 226 occupational diseases listed under the Social Security Act 1969.
Dr Subramaniam said Socso published the Diagnosis of Occupational Diseases two years ago and doctors could get copies at no charge.
"The guidelines are to assist those on the Socso medical, specialist medical and medical appellate boards as well as doctors to conduct more objective occupational and medical history taking, clinical examination and investigations of occupational diseases.
"We train doctors who sit in the boards in occupational diseases and disability assessment using the standard guidelines on impairment and disability assessment.
"We also work with NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) in training doctors, employees and employers."
Socso were also involved in training doctors through professional bodies such as the Academy and Society of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and Malaysian Industrial Hygiene Association, he said.
To further help doctors diagnose occupational diseases, Socso has introduced a standard medical report form.
The number of occupational disease cases reported has steadily risen, from 189 in 2003 to 515 last year.
"It's a good sign but I still feel it's very much underreported," he said, adding that doctors should be more alert for occupational diseases.
For example, he said, if a baker complained of asthma then it could be because of the flour.
"If the doctor cannot confirm it, then he should refer the worker to a respiratory specialist."
Doctors want employers to conduct courses
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Teach us -- that's the appeal of doctors to both the Human Resources Ministry and employers.
Doctors have been blamed for causing workers to lose life-long pensions from Socso because their health problems are not linked to their jobs or the work environment.
Malaysian Medical Association president Datuk Dr Khoo Kah Lin admitted that doctors treated patients based on symptoms as it was difficult to link an illness to work.
He said employers were more aware of the health risks in their workplace and should conduct courses for their panel doctors on occupational diseases.
"If a doctor is made aware of this, then he can recognise a possible link between work and disease when a worker comes in for treatment."
Several doctors admitted that early diagnosis of an occupational illness may prevent the disease, such as asthma, from worsening.
Malaysian Society Otorhinolaryngology Head Neck Surgery president Dr Kuljit Singh agreed that doctors should find out details on the workplace whenever a patient sought treatment for hearing problem.
He said hearing loss developed slowly as a result of exposure to continuous or intermittent loud noise at the workplace.
Dr Kuljit said employers should abide by the Factories and Machinery (Noise exposure) Regulations 1989 and not expose workers to noise above the permissible levels.
"Employers should provide ear plugs to those who work in noisy environment."
A Kuala Lumpur Hospital senior consultant, who sits in the Socso board, said occupation-related lung diseases were rarely reported because questions about the workplace were not asked when workers sought treatment.
"The respiratory tract is often the site of injury and diseases due to toxic occupational exposures," he said.
Occupational lung diseases include asthma, pneumoconiosis (due to silicosis, asbestosis), tuberculosis, chronic bronchitis, metal lung-induced disease and lung cancer.
Doctors have been blamed for causing workers to lose life-long pensions from Socso because their health problems are not linked to their jobs or the work environment.
Malaysian Medical Association president Datuk Dr Khoo Kah Lin admitted that doctors treated patients based on symptoms as it was difficult to link an illness to work.
He said employers were more aware of the health risks in their workplace and should conduct courses for their panel doctors on occupational diseases.
"If a doctor is made aware of this, then he can recognise a possible link between work and disease when a worker comes in for treatment."
Several doctors admitted that early diagnosis of an occupational illness may prevent the disease, such as asthma, from worsening.
Malaysian Society Otorhinolaryngology Head Neck Surgery president Dr Kuljit Singh agreed that doctors should find out details on the workplace whenever a patient sought treatment for hearing problem.
He said hearing loss developed slowly as a result of exposure to continuous or intermittent loud noise at the workplace.
Dr Kuljit said employers should abide by the Factories and Machinery (Noise exposure) Regulations 1989 and not expose workers to noise above the permissible levels.
"Employers should provide ear plugs to those who work in noisy environment."
A Kuala Lumpur Hospital senior consultant, who sits in the Socso board, said occupation-related lung diseases were rarely reported because questions about the workplace were not asked when workers sought treatment.
"The respiratory tract is often the site of injury and diseases due to toxic occupational exposures," he said.
Occupational lung diseases include asthma, pneumoconiosis (due to silicosis, asbestosis), tuberculosis, chronic bronchitis, metal lung-induced disease and lung cancer.
3 more medical colleges recognised
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Three more medical colleges owned by Vinayaka Missions University have received recognition from the Public Service Department and Malaysian Medical Council. VMU Pro-Chancellor Datuk Dr. S Sharavanan said the colleges are Aarupadai Veedu Medical College, Vinayaka Missions Medical College in Pondicherry and VMKV Medical College in Salem, Tamil Nadu. "These colleges would enable more students from Malaysia to study medicine cost-effectively."
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Workers losing out on Sosco aid, pension
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Ignorant doctors have "robbed" thousands of workers of Socso aid and pensions.
Human Resource Minister Da-tuk Dr S. Subramaniam said that in other countries, thousands of workers filed for such claims yearly "but here, we receive 300 to 400. Our doctors are unable to link many diseases and health problems to the job".
Workers, Dr Subramaniam said, were missing out on medical and cash benefits offered by the Social Security Organisation.
He said eight in 10 workers were denied Socso medical aid because of ignorant doctors.
He was speaking after launching the second TNB safety seminar for top management in Subang yesterday.
He said it was important to raise awareness of the issue among doctors, especially those working in factories or treating their workers. He cited asthma and skin diseases as health problems which doctors often failed to link to the work environment.
"The doctor should be able to tell if the asthma is triggered or caused by the work environment. It could be triggered by fumes.
"The disease might continue after the worker's retirement. He might not receive his pension because the doctor did not link his condition to his job."
He said the ministry would conduct training to create awareness among doctors treating occupational diseases.
He raised the alarm over increasing work-related fatalities, which shot up from 607 in 2002 to 1,303 two years ago.
He said the increase could be due to more high-rise buildings being constructed.
Human Resource Minister Da-tuk Dr S. Subramaniam said that in other countries, thousands of workers filed for such claims yearly "but here, we receive 300 to 400. Our doctors are unable to link many diseases and health problems to the job".
Workers, Dr Subramaniam said, were missing out on medical and cash benefits offered by the Social Security Organisation.
He said eight in 10 workers were denied Socso medical aid because of ignorant doctors.
He was speaking after launching the second TNB safety seminar for top management in Subang yesterday.
He said it was important to raise awareness of the issue among doctors, especially those working in factories or treating their workers. He cited asthma and skin diseases as health problems which doctors often failed to link to the work environment.
"The doctor should be able to tell if the asthma is triggered or caused by the work environment. It could be triggered by fumes.
"The disease might continue after the worker's retirement. He might not receive his pension because the doctor did not link his condition to his job."
He said the ministry would conduct training to create awareness among doctors treating occupational diseases.
He raised the alarm over increasing work-related fatalities, which shot up from 607 in 2002 to 1,303 two years ago.
He said the increase could be due to more high-rise buildings being constructed.
Doctors don't ask about workplaces
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: The 50-year-old man faces the doctor and keeps repeating "Huh? Huh?" as he is asked questions.
Suddenly, he said almost too loudly: "Oh, ya, my ear is painful."
The doctor prescribes pain-killers and ear drops, and points to the door.
Six years later, the man has retired. He can't hear his wife or music. The TV is just a flicker of images without sound.
He has lost his hearing. But more than that, the worker who has given the best years of his life to the factory has also been "robbed" of a pension from Socso. This is thanks to the doctor who failed to find out more about his hearing problem and what caused it.
Like thousands of others who face noise pollution and other hazards at the workplace, Socso members are losing out on one-off payments of RM3,000, monthly pensions and medical aid all because doctors failed to link their medical problems to their jobs.
The Social Security Organisation has schemes to help such workers if doctors can certify the link between the medical problem and the work environment.
However, a staffer from the Human Resource Ministry said most doctors were only interested in the symptoms.
"Most of them do not ask questions about the workplace."
Last year, only 350 occupational disease cases were filed with Socso, with the highest being for loss of hearing, followed by breathing difficulties and skin disease.
Socso members are also largely unaware that they can get more if their diseases can be linked to their job or the workplace.
Bosses also do not inform the staff as they fear extra expenses.
The ministry official said: "But the onus is on the doctor. He should take the initiative to ask more questions, not just about symptoms."
Suddenly, he said almost too loudly: "Oh, ya, my ear is painful."
The doctor prescribes pain-killers and ear drops, and points to the door.
Six years later, the man has retired. He can't hear his wife or music. The TV is just a flicker of images without sound.
He has lost his hearing. But more than that, the worker who has given the best years of his life to the factory has also been "robbed" of a pension from Socso. This is thanks to the doctor who failed to find out more about his hearing problem and what caused it.
Like thousands of others who face noise pollution and other hazards at the workplace, Socso members are losing out on one-off payments of RM3,000, monthly pensions and medical aid all because doctors failed to link their medical problems to their jobs.
The Social Security Organisation has schemes to help such workers if doctors can certify the link between the medical problem and the work environment.
However, a staffer from the Human Resource Ministry said most doctors were only interested in the symptoms.
"Most of them do not ask questions about the workplace."
Last year, only 350 occupational disease cases were filed with Socso, with the highest being for loss of hearing, followed by breathing difficulties and skin disease.
Socso members are also largely unaware that they can get more if their diseases can be linked to their job or the workplace.
Bosses also do not inform the staff as they fear extra expenses.
The ministry official said: "But the onus is on the doctor. He should take the initiative to ask more questions, not just about symptoms."
Malaysia approves bird flu vaccine
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is the first country outside Europe to approve a pre-pandemic avian influenza vaccine called Prepandrix.
The Malaysia Drug Control Authority recently approved the new vaccine developed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
GSK Pharmaceutical Malaysia managing director Francis Del Val said the company was looking forward to working with the Health Ministry in its efforts to prepare for a possible pandemic.
He said GSK's Prepandrix is a pre-pandemic drug to vaccinate populations prior to a H5N1 avian influenza pandemic.
Prepandrix is designed to provide cross-protection against a range of avian influenza caused by H5N1 strains.
A total of 408 people have been infected by bird flu since 2003, of which 255, mostly in Asia, died.
The H5N1 virus spreads from birds to humans via direct contact but experts fear it could mutate into a form transmissible among humans, with the potential to kill millions in a pandemic.
GSK clinical research and development and medical affairs public health physician and director Dr Teoh Yee Leong said Prepandrix was approved by all 27 European Union member states as well as Switzerland.
"The vaccine has proven in clinical trials that it is immunogenic against a number of H5N1 viral strains, including those circulating in Asia."
Teoh said there were two types of avian influenza vaccines: pandemic and pre-pandemic vaccines.
A pandemic vaccine carries the actual pandemic strain and is produced after it has been isolated.
Teoh said the problem with this vaccine was that it took four to six months to produce, leaving populations highly vulnerable during the initial period of a pandemic.
Pre-pandemic vaccines, she said, were produced before an influenza pandemic and are based on current circulating avian H5N1 influenza viruses.
The Malaysia Drug Control Authority recently approved the new vaccine developed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
GSK Pharmaceutical Malaysia managing director Francis Del Val said the company was looking forward to working with the Health Ministry in its efforts to prepare for a possible pandemic.
He said GSK's Prepandrix is a pre-pandemic drug to vaccinate populations prior to a H5N1 avian influenza pandemic.
Prepandrix is designed to provide cross-protection against a range of avian influenza caused by H5N1 strains.
A total of 408 people have been infected by bird flu since 2003, of which 255, mostly in Asia, died.
The H5N1 virus spreads from birds to humans via direct contact but experts fear it could mutate into a form transmissible among humans, with the potential to kill millions in a pandemic.
GSK clinical research and development and medical affairs public health physician and director Dr Teoh Yee Leong said Prepandrix was approved by all 27 European Union member states as well as Switzerland.
"The vaccine has proven in clinical trials that it is immunogenic against a number of H5N1 viral strains, including those circulating in Asia."
Teoh said there were two types of avian influenza vaccines: pandemic and pre-pandemic vaccines.
A pandemic vaccine carries the actual pandemic strain and is produced after it has been isolated.
Teoh said the problem with this vaccine was that it took four to six months to produce, leaving populations highly vulnerable during the initial period of a pandemic.
Pre-pandemic vaccines, she said, were produced before an influenza pandemic and are based on current circulating avian H5N1 influenza viruses.
ER doctors to play a role in boosting organ donations
Star: PUTRAJAYA: Doctors stationed at emergency rooms can play a role by talking to family members about organ donations.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said while the number of organ pledges was high, the actual donation was low.
“There is good response to the organ donation campaign but it is at the ‘last lap’ that we face difficulties.
“We are getting doctors at emergency rooms to remind family members about organ donation. This is applicable to families and relatives of patients who are brain dead or accident victims,” he told reporters at his ministry.
“It can be done whether or not the person has pledged their organs. Pledges can be done on the spot,” he said.
Over 120,800 people pledged to become donors last December.
According to the National Transplant Resource Centre, 4,181 people are on the waiting list for kidney, heart and lung transplants.
Statistics show that one in three patients on the waiting list dies before a donor is found.
A total of 206 people donated 435 organs and tissues between 1976 and last year.
Liow said there was a lot of resistance from families when it came to fulfilling the pledges.
He said the Government had no plans to pass a law to compel Malaysians to donate their organs.
Malaysian Medical Association president Datuk Dr Khoo Kah Lin said the emergency room was a likely catchment area for organ donations.
He said support staff like nurses and hospital assistants could be roped in to talk to family members on pledges that had been made.
He said the staff should be trained on how to approach the bereaved relatives to talk about the pledges.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said while the number of organ pledges was high, the actual donation was low.
“There is good response to the organ donation campaign but it is at the ‘last lap’ that we face difficulties.
“We are getting doctors at emergency rooms to remind family members about organ donation. This is applicable to families and relatives of patients who are brain dead or accident victims,” he told reporters at his ministry.
“It can be done whether or not the person has pledged their organs. Pledges can be done on the spot,” he said.
Over 120,800 people pledged to become donors last December.
According to the National Transplant Resource Centre, 4,181 people are on the waiting list for kidney, heart and lung transplants.
Statistics show that one in three patients on the waiting list dies before a donor is found.
A total of 206 people donated 435 organs and tissues between 1976 and last year.
Liow said there was a lot of resistance from families when it came to fulfilling the pledges.
He said the Government had no plans to pass a law to compel Malaysians to donate their organs.
Malaysian Medical Association president Datuk Dr Khoo Kah Lin said the emergency room was a likely catchment area for organ donations.
He said support staff like nurses and hospital assistants could be roped in to talk to family members on pledges that had been made.
He said the staff should be trained on how to approach the bereaved relatives to talk about the pledges.
Having a heart for patients
Star: PUTRAJAYA: It may be a simple logo depicting a hand on a heart, but it means a lot to Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
It symbolises the care he wants his staff to have for their patients.
Ministry staff began wearing the badge from Monday when the Corporate Culture Campaign was launched.
“The heart on the hand shows that we are caring and can make our patients feel comfortable with us. It is a very simple badge but carries a lot of meaning,” Liow said recently.
He said the campaign was necessary as while the staff knew of the corporate culture value system when they underwent orientation, they did not practise it enough.
“We appreciate their contributions but we want to make it better,’’ he added.
The revamp also includes a motto “We Are Here For You”, an initiative to ensure that healthcare services are delivered to the people as a team in a cheerful, sincere, caring and professional way.
There are also three core values involved - caring, professionalism and teamwork.
“What I want is to translate all these corporate values into action. By having this motto all over the place, it not only reminds the people of it, but ourselves too,” Liow said.
The minister said a mere smile provided important boost to patients, adding that “it has a healing effect and can motivate patients”.
Liow said staff would be evaluated every three months to ensure the campaign worked.
The minister has begun to get things going, visiting several states to check on the key performance index of employees to determine if they were performing up to mark.
Liow added that the public’s feedback in an international survey found that overall patient satisfaction was good at about 90%, with the caring criteria scoring 40%, professionalism (60%) and teamwork (70%).
It symbolises the care he wants his staff to have for their patients.
Ministry staff began wearing the badge from Monday when the Corporate Culture Campaign was launched.
“The heart on the hand shows that we are caring and can make our patients feel comfortable with us. It is a very simple badge but carries a lot of meaning,” Liow said recently.
He said the campaign was necessary as while the staff knew of the corporate culture value system when they underwent orientation, they did not practise it enough.
“We appreciate their contributions but we want to make it better,’’ he added.
The revamp also includes a motto “We Are Here For You”, an initiative to ensure that healthcare services are delivered to the people as a team in a cheerful, sincere, caring and professional way.
There are also three core values involved - caring, professionalism and teamwork.
“What I want is to translate all these corporate values into action. By having this motto all over the place, it not only reminds the people of it, but ourselves too,” Liow said.
The minister said a mere smile provided important boost to patients, adding that “it has a healing effect and can motivate patients”.
Liow said staff would be evaluated every three months to ensure the campaign worked.
The minister has begun to get things going, visiting several states to check on the key performance index of employees to determine if they were performing up to mark.
Liow added that the public’s feedback in an international survey found that overall patient satisfaction was good at about 90%, with the caring criteria scoring 40%, professionalism (60%) and teamwork (70%).
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
More going to govt hospitals
NST: IPOH: There has been an increase in the number of people seeking treatment at government hospitals and clinics over the last six months.
Deputy Minister of Health Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad attributes this to the global economic slowdown. The concern over money had affected the public's capacity to seek treatment at private hospitals.
"Patients only need pay RM1 to consult a doctor and seek treatment at government hospitals. Although they have to wait to see the doctors, more of them are visiting government hospitals and clinics now," he said after opening the 3rd Perak Health Conference here yesterday.
The conference, themed "Bridging Public Health Practice and Clinical Medicine", was organised by the Perak Health Department and the Malaysian Public Health Specialists Association (Perak).
Also present were Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican and Perak Health Department director Datuk Dr Ahmad Razin Ahmad Mahir.
Asked if the government healthcare sector would be able to cope with the rising number of patients, Dr Abdul Latiff said the situation was manageable with extended hours at several clinics nationwide. These clinics are open until 9.30pm.
He said he had told hospital staff to be "flexible" when collecting payments for hospitalisation and surgeries from the lower income group.
"Patients with financial difficulties can raise the matter with the hospital directors or social medical officers," he said, pointing out that the officers had been vested with powers to reduce or cancel the charges.
Deputy Minister of Health Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad attributes this to the global economic slowdown. The concern over money had affected the public's capacity to seek treatment at private hospitals.
"Patients only need pay RM1 to consult a doctor and seek treatment at government hospitals. Although they have to wait to see the doctors, more of them are visiting government hospitals and clinics now," he said after opening the 3rd Perak Health Conference here yesterday.
The conference, themed "Bridging Public Health Practice and Clinical Medicine", was organised by the Perak Health Department and the Malaysian Public Health Specialists Association (Perak).
Also present were Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican and Perak Health Department director Datuk Dr Ahmad Razin Ahmad Mahir.
Asked if the government healthcare sector would be able to cope with the rising number of patients, Dr Abdul Latiff said the situation was manageable with extended hours at several clinics nationwide. These clinics are open until 9.30pm.
He said he had told hospital staff to be "flexible" when collecting payments for hospitalisation and surgeries from the lower income group.
"Patients with financial difficulties can raise the matter with the hospital directors or social medical officers," he said, pointing out that the officers had been vested with powers to reduce or cancel the charges.
When it's healthy to show more care
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: There is a perception that medical staff, including doctors and nurses, are not caring enough. This was revealed in a survey done by the Health Ministry recently.
However, the same survey showed that medical staff did not compromise on professionalism and team work.
The survey also showed that waiting time to see doctors or to have surgeries done had improved, with hospitals and health clinics extending working hours and even working on Saturdays.
The survey was done at all hospitals and government health clinics to evaluate staff performance. A previous survey was conducted in 2004.
Realising the need to change this perception, the Health Ministry has relaunched its corporate culture campaign -- which emphasises a caring attitude, professionalism and teamwork.
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said the perception that medical staff were not caring enough needed to be rectified by inculcating in all 145,000 staff the importance of showing genuine care for patients.
"It's not that our staff do not care. It's just that they do not care enough. Care, affection and a smile can have a healing effect on patients."
With its motto "Kami sedia membantu" (We are ready to help), the campaign is part of a move to ensure that health services reach the people in an atmosphere of professionalism, team work and an attitude of genuine caring.
Liow said ministry staff needed to be reminded about incorporating the corporate culture into their daily work and that the attitude of caring for patients must come from the heart.
All staff will wear a badge with a logo of a hand on the heart, with the words "Kami sedia membantu".
Liow said the badge was to remind staff that they were committed to serving their customers responsibly and professionally.
However, the same survey showed that medical staff did not compromise on professionalism and team work.
The survey also showed that waiting time to see doctors or to have surgeries done had improved, with hospitals and health clinics extending working hours and even working on Saturdays.
The survey was done at all hospitals and government health clinics to evaluate staff performance. A previous survey was conducted in 2004.
Realising the need to change this perception, the Health Ministry has relaunched its corporate culture campaign -- which emphasises a caring attitude, professionalism and teamwork.
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said the perception that medical staff were not caring enough needed to be rectified by inculcating in all 145,000 staff the importance of showing genuine care for patients.
"It's not that our staff do not care. It's just that they do not care enough. Care, affection and a smile can have a healing effect on patients."
With its motto "Kami sedia membantu" (We are ready to help), the campaign is part of a move to ensure that health services reach the people in an atmosphere of professionalism, team work and an attitude of genuine caring.
Liow said ministry staff needed to be reminded about incorporating the corporate culture into their daily work and that the attitude of caring for patients must come from the heart.
All staff will wear a badge with a logo of a hand on the heart, with the words "Kami sedia membantu".
Liow said the badge was to remind staff that they were committed to serving their customers responsibly and professionally.
The soft findings in sex survey
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Four in 10 men cannot achieve a full erection while three in 10 women in Malaysia professed to wanting better sex.
This is revealed in a survey conducted by pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc.
The survey also showed that 62 per cent of men and 73 per cent of women respondents were less than very or completely satisfied with sex.
The survey was conducted in 13 Asia Pacific countries.
A total of 102 men and 100 women in Malaysia responded to the survey online from May to July last year.
Survey consultant Dr Rosie King said some men claimed that their penis was not "completely hard and fully rigid" during sexual activity.
"They scored about grade one to three on the Erection Hardness Score (EHS), which meant that they engaged in less sexual intercourse compared to men with optimal hardness.
"And for men, erection hardness, rather than size, is linked to greater sex satisfaction," she said when announcing the Asia-Pacific Sexual Health and Overall Wellness Survey (Malaysia results) yesterday.
Dr King said the EHS, developed by the European Association of Urology, graded erection hardness from one to four to provide a simple guide. Grade four is best.
"We can say that grade one is only as hard as tofu, followed by peeled banana and unpeeled banana, while grade four is as hard as cucumber," she said to the laughter of those present.
The sex therapist and relationship counselor said that social burdens, including stress, lack of confidence and intimacy, were the reasons for low EHS.
"But clinical studies show that medical therapy and positive perceptions can help a man improve his erection hardness and sex satisfaction," she added.
On Malaysian women, Dr King said 30 per cent of respondents said they were "very highly" or "highly" interested in having better sexual experience.
"Women here consider sex as more important, compared with other countries," Dr King said.
They ranked sex in 14th place out of 17 in a list of life priorities compared with women in other countries, who ranked sex as the last or second last priority.
"A high number of women (58 per cent of respondents) who are 'completely' or 'very satisfied' with sex also describe their health as 'excellent' or 'very good'."
She said Malaysians continued to find sex important even as they grew older.
Malaysia ranked seventh among the 13 countries surveyed in terms of sexual satisfaction.
India scored the highest and Japan has the lowest rate of satisfaction.
This is revealed in a survey conducted by pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc.
The survey also showed that 62 per cent of men and 73 per cent of women respondents were less than very or completely satisfied with sex.
The survey was conducted in 13 Asia Pacific countries.
A total of 102 men and 100 women in Malaysia responded to the survey online from May to July last year.
Survey consultant Dr Rosie King said some men claimed that their penis was not "completely hard and fully rigid" during sexual activity.
"They scored about grade one to three on the Erection Hardness Score (EHS), which meant that they engaged in less sexual intercourse compared to men with optimal hardness.
"And for men, erection hardness, rather than size, is linked to greater sex satisfaction," she said when announcing the Asia-Pacific Sexual Health and Overall Wellness Survey (Malaysia results) yesterday.
Dr King said the EHS, developed by the European Association of Urology, graded erection hardness from one to four to provide a simple guide. Grade four is best.
"We can say that grade one is only as hard as tofu, followed by peeled banana and unpeeled banana, while grade four is as hard as cucumber," she said to the laughter of those present.
The sex therapist and relationship counselor said that social burdens, including stress, lack of confidence and intimacy, were the reasons for low EHS.
"But clinical studies show that medical therapy and positive perceptions can help a man improve his erection hardness and sex satisfaction," she added.
On Malaysian women, Dr King said 30 per cent of respondents said they were "very highly" or "highly" interested in having better sexual experience.
"Women here consider sex as more important, compared with other countries," Dr King said.
They ranked sex in 14th place out of 17 in a list of life priorities compared with women in other countries, who ranked sex as the last or second last priority.
"A high number of women (58 per cent of respondents) who are 'completely' or 'very satisfied' with sex also describe their health as 'excellent' or 'very good'."
She said Malaysians continued to find sex important even as they grew older.
Malaysia ranked seventh among the 13 countries surveyed in terms of sexual satisfaction.
India scored the highest and Japan has the lowest rate of satisfaction.
Ministry extends on-line medical service for rural folk
Star: KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry hopes to extend its rural on-line medical service Teleprimary Care (TPC) to Sabah, Sarawak and Pahang.
The service, launched in 2005, now covers 87 areas in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Perlis and Sarawak. The system covers specialist services in family medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, internal medicine, dermatology, epidermatology and paediatrics.Cases in rural areas would be transmitted to urban hospitals for diagnosis and advice by specialists so that the patients need not travel.
Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the extension of the service would benefit millions in rural areas without good transportation.
“We want to save them time and money and to get more specialists to look into rural patients,” he said after launching the HiMSS Asia Pac 2009 Conference and Exhibition yesterday.
Liow said the allocation for the extension would depend on the second economic stimulus package next month. So far, RM35.5mil had been spent on the services.
Meanwhile, he said the public should not be worried about higher healthcare costs with the implementation of more information technology because it would only improve healthcare quality and make delivery systems more efficient.
“Actually, it should lower the costs (of healthcare) since we’re improving productivity,” he said.
The service, launched in 2005, now covers 87 areas in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Perlis and Sarawak. The system covers specialist services in family medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, internal medicine, dermatology, epidermatology and paediatrics.Cases in rural areas would be transmitted to urban hospitals for diagnosis and advice by specialists so that the patients need not travel.
Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the extension of the service would benefit millions in rural areas without good transportation.
“We want to save them time and money and to get more specialists to look into rural patients,” he said after launching the HiMSS Asia Pac 2009 Conference and Exhibition yesterday.
Liow said the allocation for the extension would depend on the second economic stimulus package next month. So far, RM35.5mil had been spent on the services.
Meanwhile, he said the public should not be worried about higher healthcare costs with the implementation of more information technology because it would only improve healthcare quality and make delivery systems more efficient.
“Actually, it should lower the costs (of healthcare) since we’re improving productivity,” he said.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
A song to show that doctors, nurses care
NST: PUTRAJAYA: Doctors and nurses won't break into song even though one has been composed for them.
The song with a catchy tune is a "mantra" for public medical personnel while executing their duties.
The Health Ministry, tarnished by being among the top 5 ministries with the most complaints, has produced a song with a catchy tune.
This is to remind medical staff to be more compassionate by speaking kindly to their patients.
We are ready to help was composed by Fauzi Marzuki with lyrics written by Habsah Hassan.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the ministry has started a campaign to instill the culture of compassion, professionalism and teamwork in health workers of the public sector.
"The doctors and nurses have to remember that when they are working, they are not just treating illnesses, but are also caring for the patients.
"To get the message across, we have simplified our mission and vision statement, come up with the song 'We are ready to serve' and even made a catchy tune for it," he said.
Last month alone, the ministry had 34 complaints lodged against it through the Public Bureau of Complaints.
Most of the complaints were regarding how doctors and nurses talked to patients or their relatives. Liow admitted that he had received reports of rude doctors and nurses.
"We also heard that the staff in call centres were obnoxious to the callers," he said.
"But this is still a small number (1,896 complaints last year) compared with the 36.4 million outpatient cases we treated last year," he said after launching the ministry's corporate culture campaign here yesterday.
Other ministries which also fared poorly were Home Affairs which raked in the most grouses, followed by Energy, Water and Communications, Finance and the Prime Minister's Department.
The song with a catchy tune is a "mantra" for public medical personnel while executing their duties.
The Health Ministry, tarnished by being among the top 5 ministries with the most complaints, has produced a song with a catchy tune.
This is to remind medical staff to be more compassionate by speaking kindly to their patients.
We are ready to help was composed by Fauzi Marzuki with lyrics written by Habsah Hassan.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the ministry has started a campaign to instill the culture of compassion, professionalism and teamwork in health workers of the public sector.
"The doctors and nurses have to remember that when they are working, they are not just treating illnesses, but are also caring for the patients.
"To get the message across, we have simplified our mission and vision statement, come up with the song 'We are ready to serve' and even made a catchy tune for it," he said.
Last month alone, the ministry had 34 complaints lodged against it through the Public Bureau of Complaints.
Most of the complaints were regarding how doctors and nurses talked to patients or their relatives. Liow admitted that he had received reports of rude doctors and nurses.
"We also heard that the staff in call centres were obnoxious to the callers," he said.
"But this is still a small number (1,896 complaints last year) compared with the 36.4 million outpatient cases we treated last year," he said after launching the ministry's corporate culture campaign here yesterday.
Other ministries which also fared poorly were Home Affairs which raked in the most grouses, followed by Energy, Water and Communications, Finance and the Prime Minister's Department.
More government clinics to extend operating hours
Star: PUTRAJAYA: All state health department directors have been asked to submit applications to extend the operating hours for government clinics to 9.30pm or even later.
This followed the good response to the 16 clinics already providing such late-hours services since last year, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
If needed, the ministry was even prepared to increase the number of such clinics up to three times the current number.
There are about 800 government clinics nationwide.
On another matter, Liow said the ministry would be providing communication skills training to its medical staff to reduce the 1,896 complaints received from the public last year.
He added the ministry took seriously the complaints, as well as another 34 registered with the Public Complaints Bureau under the Prime Minister’s Department.
Liow said complaints included rude behaviour by medical staff; uncaring attitude and failing to inform patients and family members about the medical conditions.
“There were also complaints over delays in releasing medical reports but the ministry has already tackled the problem by directing all hospitals to issue them within eight weeks,” said Liow after launching the Health Ministry Corporate Culture Campaign here yesterday.
Although there were close to 2,000 complaints, Liow said the ministry also received 3,184 commendations.
“We have to bear in mind that we have the same number of medical staff as privately-run facilities, but we attend to 80% of total patients nationwide.
“They work during the festive seasons when most other people are enjoying their leave; and often even during their meal times too. They should be given credit for this,” he said.
This followed the good response to the 16 clinics already providing such late-hours services since last year, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
If needed, the ministry was even prepared to increase the number of such clinics up to three times the current number.
There are about 800 government clinics nationwide.
On another matter, Liow said the ministry would be providing communication skills training to its medical staff to reduce the 1,896 complaints received from the public last year.
He added the ministry took seriously the complaints, as well as another 34 registered with the Public Complaints Bureau under the Prime Minister’s Department.
Liow said complaints included rude behaviour by medical staff; uncaring attitude and failing to inform patients and family members about the medical conditions.
“There were also complaints over delays in releasing medical reports but the ministry has already tackled the problem by directing all hospitals to issue them within eight weeks,” said Liow after launching the Health Ministry Corporate Culture Campaign here yesterday.
Although there were close to 2,000 complaints, Liow said the ministry also received 3,184 commendations.
“We have to bear in mind that we have the same number of medical staff as privately-run facilities, but we attend to 80% of total patients nationwide.
“They work during the festive seasons when most other people are enjoying their leave; and often even during their meal times too. They should be given credit for this,” he said.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Public unhappy with govt medical services
Star: PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry will provide training to improve communication skills among government medical staff in view of the 1,896 comments it received from the public last year highlighting unsatisfactory service.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the ministry took seriously the complaints it received, and the other 34 registered by the Public Complaints Bureau under the Prime Minister’s Department.
He said the grouses were aimed at doctors, nurses, workers manning hotlines and also staff at Accident and Emergency units.
“Complaints included rude behaviour by medical staff, attitude showing lack of care, and failing to inform patients and family members of medical conditions,” he told reporters after launching the Health Ministry Corporate Culture Campaign here Monday.
He said there were also complaints over delays in releasing medical reports but the ministry had already tackled the problem by issuing a directive to all hospitals to release them within eight weeks.
Liow however said the reports on the weaknesses in the government medical service made up less than half of the total comments the ministry received; most of the other 3,148 actually commended the services and performance of the staff.
“We have to bear in mind that we have the same number of medical staff as privately run facilities, but we have to attend to 80% of the total patients nationwide; we are able to do this due to the dedication and commitment of our staff.
“They work during festive seasons when most other people are enjoying their leave and often even during their meal time too when there is a large number of patients -- they should be given credit for this,” he said.
He said the ministry received a RM600mil allocation under the Ninth Malaysia Plan to improve the performance of medical personnel at all levels, and communication skills training would be among the areas looked at.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the ministry took seriously the complaints it received, and the other 34 registered by the Public Complaints Bureau under the Prime Minister’s Department.
He said the grouses were aimed at doctors, nurses, workers manning hotlines and also staff at Accident and Emergency units.
“Complaints included rude behaviour by medical staff, attitude showing lack of care, and failing to inform patients and family members of medical conditions,” he told reporters after launching the Health Ministry Corporate Culture Campaign here Monday.
He said there were also complaints over delays in releasing medical reports but the ministry had already tackled the problem by issuing a directive to all hospitals to release them within eight weeks.
Liow however said the reports on the weaknesses in the government medical service made up less than half of the total comments the ministry received; most of the other 3,148 actually commended the services and performance of the staff.
“We have to bear in mind that we have the same number of medical staff as privately run facilities, but we have to attend to 80% of the total patients nationwide; we are able to do this due to the dedication and commitment of our staff.
“They work during festive seasons when most other people are enjoying their leave and often even during their meal time too when there is a large number of patients -- they should be given credit for this,” he said.
He said the ministry received a RM600mil allocation under the Ninth Malaysia Plan to improve the performance of medical personnel at all levels, and communication skills training would be among the areas looked at.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
New rule good for healthcare services
Star: PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry requirement for all private healthcare providers to report deaths resulting from anaesthetic, medical and surgical procedures will turn Malaysia into a premier medical tourism hub in the region.
Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) president Datuk Dr Jacob Thomas said the requirement would make Malaysia’s public and private healthcare services on par with those of developed countries.
“This requirement is good for the country. APHM is fully supportive of this because we are championing medical tourism and ensuring patient safety,” he said in response to Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai’s announcement on Thursday that all private healthcare providers must send an incident report to the ministry’s director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican within 72 hours of such deaths.
Dr Thomas noted that the low maternal and infant mortality rate in Malaysia was in keeping with the World Health Organisation’s own standards for determining the health status of a country.
“We are seeing a lot of foreigners coming to Malaysia for treatment and they are amazed by the quality of our healthcare services.”
He said the reporting of assessable deaths from anaesthetic, medical and surgical procedures had been implemented since the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act was passed in 1998 and its accompanying regulations in 2006. However, a standard format had yet to be formulated by the ministry.
In making the announcement, Liow had also said that Dr Ismail would meet with all private healthcare companies to brief them on the government’s requirements in incident reports and their implementation.
Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) president Datuk Dr Jacob Thomas said the requirement would make Malaysia’s public and private healthcare services on par with those of developed countries.
“This requirement is good for the country. APHM is fully supportive of this because we are championing medical tourism and ensuring patient safety,” he said in response to Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai’s announcement on Thursday that all private healthcare providers must send an incident report to the ministry’s director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican within 72 hours of such deaths.
Dr Thomas noted that the low maternal and infant mortality rate in Malaysia was in keeping with the World Health Organisation’s own standards for determining the health status of a country.
“We are seeing a lot of foreigners coming to Malaysia for treatment and they are amazed by the quality of our healthcare services.”
He said the reporting of assessable deaths from anaesthetic, medical and surgical procedures had been implemented since the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act was passed in 1998 and its accompanying regulations in 2006. However, a standard format had yet to be formulated by the ministry.
In making the announcement, Liow had also said that Dr Ismail would meet with all private healthcare companies to brief them on the government’s requirements in incident reports and their implementation.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Hypertension Among Malaysian Adults Increased
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 (Bernama) -- The prevalence of hypertension among Malaysian adults has increased compared to 10 years ago, said Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai.
He said the latest National Health and Morbidity Survey in 2006 reported that 43 percent of Malaysian adults age 30 years and above had hypertension, an increase from 33 percent recorded 10 years earlier.
"The survey also revealed that among hypertension patients who were on drug treatment, only 26 percent of them had achieved the target blood pressure," he said when launching the 7th Asian-Pacific Congress on Hypertension 2009 here Thursday.
The congress will be held for four days beginning today.
Liow said what was alarming was that almost two thirds of individuals with hypertension in Malaysia were unaware of it, and although there was an increase in the treatment rate for patients who had been diagnosed, the control rate was still poor.
He said it was estimated that there were about 4.8 million individuals with hypertension in Malaysia, while the estimated figure worldwide was around 1 billion.
In order to improve the situation, Liow urged Malaysians to go for regular medical check ups and to check their blood pressure to prevent getting hypertension.
He said the latest National Health and Morbidity Survey in 2006 reported that 43 percent of Malaysian adults age 30 years and above had hypertension, an increase from 33 percent recorded 10 years earlier.
"The survey also revealed that among hypertension patients who were on drug treatment, only 26 percent of them had achieved the target blood pressure," he said when launching the 7th Asian-Pacific Congress on Hypertension 2009 here Thursday.
The congress will be held for four days beginning today.
Liow said what was alarming was that almost two thirds of individuals with hypertension in Malaysia were unaware of it, and although there was an increase in the treatment rate for patients who had been diagnosed, the control rate was still poor.
He said it was estimated that there were about 4.8 million individuals with hypertension in Malaysia, while the estimated figure worldwide was around 1 billion.
In order to improve the situation, Liow urged Malaysians to go for regular medical check ups and to check their blood pressure to prevent getting hypertension.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Positive response from doctors
NST: ALOR STAR: The Health Ministry has received encouraging response to its drive to get Malaysian doctors working abroad to return home. Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said, among others, the government had relaxed the requirement that made it mandatory for them to serve in government hospitals and allowing their spouse to work in the same area. Liow said this after visiting the Pokok Sena Health Clinic, about 30km from here, yesterday.
RM13m to upgrade hospitals
NST: ALOR STAR: Nine hospitals and 51 health clinics in the state will be upgraded at a cost of RM13.4 million this year.
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said the allocation was part of the RM7 billion stimulus package announced by the government last year.
"We need to improve facilities and services, as 85 per cent of the country's population require treatment at government hospitals and clinics," he said after inspecting the facilities at Pokok Sena district health clinic near here yesterday.
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said the allocation was part of the RM7 billion stimulus package announced by the government last year.
"We need to improve facilities and services, as 85 per cent of the country's population require treatment at government hospitals and clinics," he said after inspecting the facilities at Pokok Sena district health clinic near here yesterday.
Monday, February 09, 2009
Plan for more eye doctors
Star: KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry plans to increase the number of eye doctors in the country from 350 to 525 by 2020, said minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai.
“Our target is to have 1.5 ophthalmologists per 100,000 population by that time. Currently, the ratio is 1.3 to 100,000,” he told a press conference after officially opening the Lions Eye Clinic at Mahsa College here yesterday.
The clinic was set up by the Lions Clubs in District 308 B1 Malaysia in collaboration with the college to restore sight to the poor and elderly who had cataracts.
Liow said the ministry took in 25 trainees every year to supplement the lack of specialists dealing with eye-related diseases and surgery.
He said there was also a need for more medical staff in the government sector as about 47% of the positions were yet to be filled.
“The ministry is continuously carrying out measures to increase the number of doctors, such as by raising their allowances and placing graduates directly in positions suited to their qualifications,” Liow said.
He stressed on the importance of eye care and urged parents to pay greater attention to their children’s vision by complying with their optometrists’ advice and taking them for regular eye assessments.
An average of 200,000 kindergarten and 4.5 million school students undergo the ministry’s free eye examination and visual screening every year.
Asked to comment on the political developments in Perak, Liow said he personally did not agree to party-hopping but emphasised that whoever led the state must be fair and look after the interest of all races.
“I also hope the people in Perak will not be overly emotional about the recent changes,” he added.
“Our target is to have 1.5 ophthalmologists per 100,000 population by that time. Currently, the ratio is 1.3 to 100,000,” he told a press conference after officially opening the Lions Eye Clinic at Mahsa College here yesterday.
The clinic was set up by the Lions Clubs in District 308 B1 Malaysia in collaboration with the college to restore sight to the poor and elderly who had cataracts.
Liow said the ministry took in 25 trainees every year to supplement the lack of specialists dealing with eye-related diseases and surgery.
He said there was also a need for more medical staff in the government sector as about 47% of the positions were yet to be filled.
“The ministry is continuously carrying out measures to increase the number of doctors, such as by raising their allowances and placing graduates directly in positions suited to their qualifications,” Liow said.
He stressed on the importance of eye care and urged parents to pay greater attention to their children’s vision by complying with their optometrists’ advice and taking them for regular eye assessments.
An average of 200,000 kindergarten and 4.5 million school students undergo the ministry’s free eye examination and visual screening every year.
Asked to comment on the political developments in Perak, Liow said he personally did not agree to party-hopping but emphasised that whoever led the state must be fair and look after the interest of all races.
“I also hope the people in Perak will not be overly emotional about the recent changes,” he added.
Monday, February 02, 2009
AIDS Council to target men with extra sexual liaisons
Star: PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) will now target male groups that engaged in sex outside their marriage or relationship.
MAC programme director Parimelazhagan Ellan said there is an increasing number of women being infected by their partners who engaged in sex outside their relationship and contracted the HIV.
“In the past, women were mainly infected by drug injecting partners, and we had carried out harm reduction programmes among drug users,” he said.
This year, the council will target men engaged in sex outside their main relationship since work had begun for drug injecting people and vulnerable women groups, said Parimelazhagan when asked if men too need to be made responsible in containing the spread of the HIV.
“We will work with the Health Ministry to see how we can tackle this growing trend.”
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai recently said the ministry had set up a task force to check the increasing rate of women being infected with HIV and had until April to come out with an action plan based on the World Health Organisation’s recommendations.
The ministry’s statistics from 1986 to June 2008 showed that 7,162 women were infected with HIV and 1,516 developed AIDS, and of the 2,565 housewives infected, 525 developed AIDS.
Sungai Buloh Hospital Infectious Diseases unit head Dr Christopher Lee said it was easier to target harm reduction work among injecting drug users than non-drug users. Dr Lee said housewives from the lower income group formed the vulnerable women’s group, and blue collared male workers the main group of men infected.
MAC programme director Parimelazhagan Ellan said there is an increasing number of women being infected by their partners who engaged in sex outside their relationship and contracted the HIV.
“In the past, women were mainly infected by drug injecting partners, and we had carried out harm reduction programmes among drug users,” he said.
This year, the council will target men engaged in sex outside their main relationship since work had begun for drug injecting people and vulnerable women groups, said Parimelazhagan when asked if men too need to be made responsible in containing the spread of the HIV.
“We will work with the Health Ministry to see how we can tackle this growing trend.”
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai recently said the ministry had set up a task force to check the increasing rate of women being infected with HIV and had until April to come out with an action plan based on the World Health Organisation’s recommendations.
The ministry’s statistics from 1986 to June 2008 showed that 7,162 women were infected with HIV and 1,516 developed AIDS, and of the 2,565 housewives infected, 525 developed AIDS.
Sungai Buloh Hospital Infectious Diseases unit head Dr Christopher Lee said it was easier to target harm reduction work among injecting drug users than non-drug users. Dr Lee said housewives from the lower income group formed the vulnerable women’s group, and blue collared male workers the main group of men infected.
Selangor medical officers told to take measures to control dengue outbreak
Star: SHAH ALAM: Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai has taken the Selangor Health Department to task for failing to take effective measures which led to the outbreak of 68 dengue fever cases at eight apartment blocks here over the last 100 days.
Among the 68 victims living off Jalan Plumbum in Section 7, 70% were students age 17 to 35 from the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM).
Liow told department director Dr Rosnah Hadis and Petaling medical officer Dr Ismail Samad that effective and proactive measures should have been taken to contain the disease within the two weeks.
“With immediate effect, all measures must be taken if there are more than two cases and within two weeks, the health department and local councils must overcome the problem,” he said. Liow added that there were 48 hot spots in Selangor which are concentrated in the urban areas.
“Even friends of mine are coming down with dengue fever. Our Selangor MCA state liaison committee deputy chairman Datuk Liew Yuen Keong was struck with the disease two weeks ago,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Rosnah blamed the dengue outbreak at the Section 7 apartments to the higher rainfall and public apathy that encouraged the breeding of the Aedes mosquitoes.
She added that officers from the department were not able to contain the situation as most of the breeding grounds were actually inside the apartments, especially bath tubs filled with water for weeks while the tenants returned to their home towns for holidays.
Selangor Health Committee chairman Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar called on the residents to cooperate with health officers during fogging operations.
“Residents must allow our men to fog their homes. We are using water-based chemicals for fogging, so it will not leave an oily residue.”
Among the 68 victims living off Jalan Plumbum in Section 7, 70% were students age 17 to 35 from the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM).
Liow told department director Dr Rosnah Hadis and Petaling medical officer Dr Ismail Samad that effective and proactive measures should have been taken to contain the disease within the two weeks.
“With immediate effect, all measures must be taken if there are more than two cases and within two weeks, the health department and local councils must overcome the problem,” he said. Liow added that there were 48 hot spots in Selangor which are concentrated in the urban areas.
“Even friends of mine are coming down with dengue fever. Our Selangor MCA state liaison committee deputy chairman Datuk Liew Yuen Keong was struck with the disease two weeks ago,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Rosnah blamed the dengue outbreak at the Section 7 apartments to the higher rainfall and public apathy that encouraged the breeding of the Aedes mosquitoes.
She added that officers from the department were not able to contain the situation as most of the breeding grounds were actually inside the apartments, especially bath tubs filled with water for weeks while the tenants returned to their home towns for holidays.
Selangor Health Committee chairman Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar called on the residents to cooperate with health officers during fogging operations.
“Residents must allow our men to fog their homes. We are using water-based chemicals for fogging, so it will not leave an oily residue.”
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Dengue hotspots
NST: PUTRAJAYA: Fifty-four areas in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Pahang and Perak have been identified as dengue hotspots.
Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said these areas were not free of dengue although it had been a month since the first case was reported.
An area should be free of new dengue cases for two weeks, following prevention and control measures, as well as cooperation from residents, he said on Friday.
Dr Ismail said 1,255 dengue cases were reported in the areas, with epidemic periods of between 30 and 125 days.
He said the 54 hotspots were as follows:
- SELANGOR: Petaling (Flat A and Flat C Section 7, Terrace A Section 7, Terrace A and Terrace B Section 18, Section U3 Subang Perdana and Section U10 Puncak Perdana); Kajang: (Taman Kajang Perdana, Taman Semenyih Indah, Taman Koperasi Cuepacs Batu 12, Taman Cheras Jaya, Taman Industri Mega, Taman Sri Jelok, Taman Zamrud, Taman Kajang Baru, Taman Kajang Jaya, Section 2 Bandar Sri Putra, Section 2 Bandar Rinching, Zone 1 Taman Sepakat Indah, Zone 1 Section 8 Bandar Baru Bangi, Zon 3 Section 16 Bandar Baru Bangi, Zone 5 Section 16 Bandar Baru Bangi and Zone 4 Taman Bukit Mewah); Shah Alam: (Perdana Apartments Section 13, Flat 18/3 (Eps 2), PKNS Flats Section 20, Section 6 flats, Padang Jawa B, Padang Jawa C, Pangsapuri Anggerik Section 16, Section 10, Section 11, Taman Alam Indah Section 33, Terrace A Section 25, Terrace C Section 27, Terrace A Section 25 and Terrace A Section 8); Gombak: (Bandar Baru Selayang F2, Kampung Laksamana, Taman Pinggiran Batu Caves Z2, Taman Samudera Timur and Taman Sri Gombak Zone 3); Subang Jaya: (Taman Puchong Perdana and Taman Serdang Perdana); Hulu Selangor: (Bandar Baru Batang Kali); Hulu Langat: (Kampung Sg Kantan Kajang and Kajang Prison quarters); and Sepang: (Taman Seroja Zone A).
- KUALA LUMPUR: Mentari, Lestari, and Cendana Apartments, Bandar Sri Permaisuri, Sentul Utama Flats, Menara Orkid Bandar Baru Sentul and Taman Setiawangsa.
- PAHANG: Taman Mahkota Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan.
- PERAK: Taman Mewah Kamunting in Taiping.
Dr Ismail said 273 localities were affected by the epidemic, following at least two cases reported in each locality in the last two weeks.
Selangor reported 195 cases, Kuala Lumpur 32, Johor (11), Pahang (nine), Perak (eight), Penang (six), Sabah (three), two each in Kedah, Negri Sembilan and Malacca, and one case each in Terengganu, Kelantan and Sarawak.
Commenting on the dengue situation, Dr Ismail said 1,310 cases and five deaths were reported nationwide from Jan 18 to 25, compared with 1,578 cases and four deaths the previous week.
Dr Ismail said 136 Chikugunya cases were reported in the same period, with the majority of cases in Perak (48), Selangor (24), Johor (17) and Kelantan (16).
The overall number of dengue cases recorded from Jan 1 to 25 had increased, with 4,521 cases and 13 deaths.
Information on dengue and chikugunya can be obtained from the Health Ministry's website www.moh.gov.my
Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said these areas were not free of dengue although it had been a month since the first case was reported.
An area should be free of new dengue cases for two weeks, following prevention and control measures, as well as cooperation from residents, he said on Friday.
Dr Ismail said 1,255 dengue cases were reported in the areas, with epidemic periods of between 30 and 125 days.
He said the 54 hotspots were as follows:
- SELANGOR: Petaling (Flat A and Flat C Section 7, Terrace A Section 7, Terrace A and Terrace B Section 18, Section U3 Subang Perdana and Section U10 Puncak Perdana); Kajang: (Taman Kajang Perdana, Taman Semenyih Indah, Taman Koperasi Cuepacs Batu 12, Taman Cheras Jaya, Taman Industri Mega, Taman Sri Jelok, Taman Zamrud, Taman Kajang Baru, Taman Kajang Jaya, Section 2 Bandar Sri Putra, Section 2 Bandar Rinching, Zone 1 Taman Sepakat Indah, Zone 1 Section 8 Bandar Baru Bangi, Zon 3 Section 16 Bandar Baru Bangi, Zone 5 Section 16 Bandar Baru Bangi and Zone 4 Taman Bukit Mewah); Shah Alam: (Perdana Apartments Section 13, Flat 18/3 (Eps 2), PKNS Flats Section 20, Section 6 flats, Padang Jawa B, Padang Jawa C, Pangsapuri Anggerik Section 16, Section 10, Section 11, Taman Alam Indah Section 33, Terrace A Section 25, Terrace C Section 27, Terrace A Section 25 and Terrace A Section 8); Gombak: (Bandar Baru Selayang F2, Kampung Laksamana, Taman Pinggiran Batu Caves Z2, Taman Samudera Timur and Taman Sri Gombak Zone 3); Subang Jaya: (Taman Puchong Perdana and Taman Serdang Perdana); Hulu Selangor: (Bandar Baru Batang Kali); Hulu Langat: (Kampung Sg Kantan Kajang and Kajang Prison quarters); and Sepang: (Taman Seroja Zone A).
- KUALA LUMPUR: Mentari, Lestari, and Cendana Apartments, Bandar Sri Permaisuri, Sentul Utama Flats, Menara Orkid Bandar Baru Sentul and Taman Setiawangsa.
- PAHANG: Taman Mahkota Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan.
- PERAK: Taman Mewah Kamunting in Taiping.
Dr Ismail said 273 localities were affected by the epidemic, following at least two cases reported in each locality in the last two weeks.
Selangor reported 195 cases, Kuala Lumpur 32, Johor (11), Pahang (nine), Perak (eight), Penang (six), Sabah (three), two each in Kedah, Negri Sembilan and Malacca, and one case each in Terengganu, Kelantan and Sarawak.
Commenting on the dengue situation, Dr Ismail said 1,310 cases and five deaths were reported nationwide from Jan 18 to 25, compared with 1,578 cases and four deaths the previous week.
Dr Ismail said 136 Chikugunya cases were reported in the same period, with the majority of cases in Perak (48), Selangor (24), Johor (17) and Kelantan (16).
The overall number of dengue cases recorded from Jan 1 to 25 had increased, with 4,521 cases and 13 deaths.
Information on dengue and chikugunya can be obtained from the Health Ministry's website www.moh.gov.my
Housemen lack basic know-how
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Some medical universities, both local and overseas, are churning out doctors who cannot carry out common medical procedures, have no proper clinical exposure, cannot communicate effectively and cannot even take down the history of patients properly for diagnosis and treatment.
Senior medical consultants in government hospitals are now saddled with the task of having to retrain these people to ensure they meet the country's standard of medical practice.
Some of these fresh doctors are retained in their houseman training postings for years, some even up to six years, because they cannot meet the standards. The compulsory housemanship is two years.
In view of this problem, the Malaysian Medical Council has issued letters to all heads of department in government hospitals where housemen are posted to open a file on each of them, containing information on the university they graduated from, their performance and shortcomings.
It is learnt that by the end of the year, the MMC and Health Ministry will nail down the sub-standard medical universities and tell them to buck up.
Kuala Lumpur Hospital's Medical Department head, Datuk Dr Jeyaindran Sinnadurai, said housemen come from 300 medical colleges all over the world. These colleges churn out 1,200 doctors a year and this number is expected to increase to almost 2,000 next year.
"When they come back to work in Malaysia we have been forced to extend the period of housemanship from one year to two years in order to ensure the standard of medical practice is maintained in this country for the safety of our patients," he told the New Straits Times.
Dr Jeyaindran handles about 140 housemen a year and he noticed that some 15 per cent of them do not have enough experience to take down the medical history of patients.
"When they are taught to take the history properly and put the findings and various symptoms in a sequential order they can come to a proper diagnosis very rapidly," he said.
However, he added, this was seriously lacking in many new doctors because they have not been trained during their years in clinical exposure. Thus, during their housemanship training programme they needed to be retrained to do this properly.
"Because they have to be retrained, some of their postings are extended," he said.
Dr Jeyaindran has come up with a syllabus where a house officer must have core knowledge and experience before he leaves for his next posting.
"A houseman who comes in for training should be able to manage hypertension, asthma, diabetes and common medical emergencies appropriately based on current clinical practice guidelines, besides acquiring adequate generic skills," he added.
He said some were never taught this properly during their years in medical school and hence they were taught and assessed in a fair and objective manner during their training.
"We want doctors to examine patients properly and not take notes from the nurses' chart.
"We also do not want doctors to be over-dependent on investigative procedures which is time-consuming and expensive.
"One loses the ability to use clinical acumen to make judgment when he becomes too dependent on procedures for a result and diagnosis," said Dr Jeyaindran.
He also expressed great concern that some house officers were not able to perform even the most common procedures such as setting up an intravenous line, central line, and inserting a chest tube.
There have been complaints from patients that there were housemen who cannot even draw blood for a blood test and had to seek the help of nurses.
"Miscommunication with patients can also lead to a lot of problem and this we have encountered with housemen," he said.
"To be a good doctor it is not how much knowledge you have... it is clinical acumen and the skills developed in treating a patient.
"Medicine is not black and white but lots of grey in between and in order to identify the grey areas the only way is the more you see, the more you do, the more you understand," he added.
Dr Jeyaindran said housemen have become something like a production line.
"They come, they take some history of patients and go away.
"They never come back to check whether their diagnosis of the patient was correct or wrong," he added.
Senior medical consultants in government hospitals are now saddled with the task of having to retrain these people to ensure they meet the country's standard of medical practice.
Some of these fresh doctors are retained in their houseman training postings for years, some even up to six years, because they cannot meet the standards. The compulsory housemanship is two years.
In view of this problem, the Malaysian Medical Council has issued letters to all heads of department in government hospitals where housemen are posted to open a file on each of them, containing information on the university they graduated from, their performance and shortcomings.
It is learnt that by the end of the year, the MMC and Health Ministry will nail down the sub-standard medical universities and tell them to buck up.
Kuala Lumpur Hospital's Medical Department head, Datuk Dr Jeyaindran Sinnadurai, said housemen come from 300 medical colleges all over the world. These colleges churn out 1,200 doctors a year and this number is expected to increase to almost 2,000 next year.
"When they come back to work in Malaysia we have been forced to extend the period of housemanship from one year to two years in order to ensure the standard of medical practice is maintained in this country for the safety of our patients," he told the New Straits Times.
Dr Jeyaindran handles about 140 housemen a year and he noticed that some 15 per cent of them do not have enough experience to take down the medical history of patients.
"When they are taught to take the history properly and put the findings and various symptoms in a sequential order they can come to a proper diagnosis very rapidly," he said.
However, he added, this was seriously lacking in many new doctors because they have not been trained during their years in clinical exposure. Thus, during their housemanship training programme they needed to be retrained to do this properly.
"Because they have to be retrained, some of their postings are extended," he said.
Dr Jeyaindran has come up with a syllabus where a house officer must have core knowledge and experience before he leaves for his next posting.
"A houseman who comes in for training should be able to manage hypertension, asthma, diabetes and common medical emergencies appropriately based on current clinical practice guidelines, besides acquiring adequate generic skills," he added.
He said some were never taught this properly during their years in medical school and hence they were taught and assessed in a fair and objective manner during their training.
"We want doctors to examine patients properly and not take notes from the nurses' chart.
"We also do not want doctors to be over-dependent on investigative procedures which is time-consuming and expensive.
"One loses the ability to use clinical acumen to make judgment when he becomes too dependent on procedures for a result and diagnosis," said Dr Jeyaindran.
He also expressed great concern that some house officers were not able to perform even the most common procedures such as setting up an intravenous line, central line, and inserting a chest tube.
There have been complaints from patients that there were housemen who cannot even draw blood for a blood test and had to seek the help of nurses.
"Miscommunication with patients can also lead to a lot of problem and this we have encountered with housemen," he said.
"To be a good doctor it is not how much knowledge you have... it is clinical acumen and the skills developed in treating a patient.
"Medicine is not black and white but lots of grey in between and in order to identify the grey areas the only way is the more you see, the more you do, the more you understand," he added.
Dr Jeyaindran said housemen have become something like a production line.
"They come, they take some history of patients and go away.
"They never come back to check whether their diagnosis of the patient was correct or wrong," he added.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Carbon dioxide can control Aedes
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Fogging of mosquito breeding grounds can be a hit and miss affair because the mosquitoes may have already moved to another place.
Thus fogging must be done at the right place and time if Aedes, the primary vector for dengue and chikungunya, is to be eliminated, said University Malaya Medical Centre Vector Control Centre specialist Dr Wan Yusoff Wan Sulaiman.
"We assume where the Aedes breeding grounds are when we carry out fogging but the mosquitoes may have already moved to other places. The pesticide is only effective within a radius of 200 metres."
Dr Wan Yusoff said more effective measures, such as the systematic and continuous use of light traps, which release carbon dioxide, in Aedes breeding grounds should be employed to control the Aedes population.
"The impact of vector control on dengue fever in developed countries has been proven effective in controlling the transmission of the virus."
He said checks should be carried out at potential mosquito breeding grounds such as public toilets, construction sites, abandoned projects, parks and recreational areas, and clogged drains.
"Aedes eggs stick fast to the place where they are laid, such as pails and flower pots, and can withstand long dry spells. When their 'homes' become wet again, the eggs hatch. Thus we must scrub pails and flower pots throughly."
Their "stickiness" and ability to withstand long dry spells explained how Aedes aegypti eggs from Africa could survive a journey to Asia and Aedes albopictus eggs from Asia could make its way to the United States.
Thus fogging must be done at the right place and time if Aedes, the primary vector for dengue and chikungunya, is to be eliminated, said University Malaya Medical Centre Vector Control Centre specialist Dr Wan Yusoff Wan Sulaiman.
"We assume where the Aedes breeding grounds are when we carry out fogging but the mosquitoes may have already moved to other places. The pesticide is only effective within a radius of 200 metres."
Dr Wan Yusoff said more effective measures, such as the systematic and continuous use of light traps, which release carbon dioxide, in Aedes breeding grounds should be employed to control the Aedes population.
"The impact of vector control on dengue fever in developed countries has been proven effective in controlling the transmission of the virus."
He said checks should be carried out at potential mosquito breeding grounds such as public toilets, construction sites, abandoned projects, parks and recreational areas, and clogged drains.
"Aedes eggs stick fast to the place where they are laid, such as pails and flower pots, and can withstand long dry spells. When their 'homes' become wet again, the eggs hatch. Thus we must scrub pails and flower pots throughly."
Their "stickiness" and ability to withstand long dry spells explained how Aedes aegypti eggs from Africa could survive a journey to Asia and Aedes albopictus eggs from Asia could make its way to the United States.
Combat dengue on more fronts
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Mobile fever clinics should be set up in dengue outbreak areas to arrest the spread of the disease, said the head of medical microbiology at University Ma-laya Medical Centre Prof Dr Sazaly Abu Bakar.
He said infected humans were the main carriers and multipliers of the virus which caused dengue fever.
"The virus circulates in the blood of infected humans for two to seven days, about the same time that they have a fever, and female Aedes mosquitoes may acquire the virus when they feed on an individual during this period. and transmit it to the next human they feed on."
Some studies have shown that monkeys in some parts of the world play a similar role in transmission.
"Early detection and temporary quarantine of the infected person will help reduce transmission of the disease to immediate family members and neighbours, besides fogging," he told the New Straits Times when commenting on the call by Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai to form additional special task force teams at the district level nationwide to intensify the war against dengue.
The task force teams were to embark on a mosquito breeding spot search-and-destroy mission.
The number of dengue cases spiralled to 4,221 with 12 deaths in the first 23 days of this month compared with 2,103 cases, including five deaths, during the corresponding period last year.
Selangor had the highest number with 1,727 cases, followed by Kuala Lumpur (307 cases) and Penang (227).
The incidence of dengue has grown dramatically around the world in recent decades.
Some 2.5 billion people, two fifths of the world's population, are now at risk from dengue. The World Health Organisation estimates 50 million dengue infections worldwide every year.
Dr Sazaly said while the Health Ministry embarked on methods to destroy Aedes mosquitoes, it should also work aggressively on the early detection of people with dengue fever.
It should use techniques that could identify dengue antigens within a day -- Dengue NS1 and PCR molecular detection -- which were available at Institute for Medical Research, Sungai Buloh Hospital, Kuala Lumpur Hospital, UMMC, Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor, Penang general hospital and major private hospitals.
"Malaysia is at the peak of the dengue outbreak. The number of cases should go down by March but will rise if Malaysians do not take any initiative to help the government fight dengue."
He called on those returning from the Chinese New Year holidays to ensure that they cleaned out all containers containing water, such as earthenware jars, metal drums and concrete cisterns used for domestic water storage.
He said infected humans were the main carriers and multipliers of the virus which caused dengue fever.
"The virus circulates in the blood of infected humans for two to seven days, about the same time that they have a fever, and female Aedes mosquitoes may acquire the virus when they feed on an individual during this period. and transmit it to the next human they feed on."
Some studies have shown that monkeys in some parts of the world play a similar role in transmission.
"Early detection and temporary quarantine of the infected person will help reduce transmission of the disease to immediate family members and neighbours, besides fogging," he told the New Straits Times when commenting on the call by Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai to form additional special task force teams at the district level nationwide to intensify the war against dengue.
The task force teams were to embark on a mosquito breeding spot search-and-destroy mission.
The number of dengue cases spiralled to 4,221 with 12 deaths in the first 23 days of this month compared with 2,103 cases, including five deaths, during the corresponding period last year.
Selangor had the highest number with 1,727 cases, followed by Kuala Lumpur (307 cases) and Penang (227).
The incidence of dengue has grown dramatically around the world in recent decades.
Some 2.5 billion people, two fifths of the world's population, are now at risk from dengue. The World Health Organisation estimates 50 million dengue infections worldwide every year.
Dr Sazaly said while the Health Ministry embarked on methods to destroy Aedes mosquitoes, it should also work aggressively on the early detection of people with dengue fever.
It should use techniques that could identify dengue antigens within a day -- Dengue NS1 and PCR molecular detection -- which were available at Institute for Medical Research, Sungai Buloh Hospital, Kuala Lumpur Hospital, UMMC, Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor, Penang general hospital and major private hospitals.
"Malaysia is at the peak of the dengue outbreak. The number of cases should go down by March but will rise if Malaysians do not take any initiative to help the government fight dengue."
He called on those returning from the Chinese New Year holidays to ensure that they cleaned out all containers containing water, such as earthenware jars, metal drums and concrete cisterns used for domestic water storage.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
‘Full assault’ on dengue next week
Star: KUALA LUMPUR: The Government, which has declared war against dengue, will be launching an all-out campaign against the pesky Aedes mosquito early next week in an effort to bring down the number of cases.
So far, 12 people have died and the number of cases from Jan 1 to Jan 23 this year had nearly doubled to 4,221 compared with 2,153 for the same period last year.
“We have to take drastic action and we will be doing this campaign on a big scale,” Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said.
“The people’s involvement in this campaign is important to ensure dengue can be eradicated quickly.
“It is very dangerous and should not be taken lightly as it can be fatal,” he said when met at the MCA Chinese New Year open house celebrations at Wisma MCA here Monday.
Liow urged the public to take extra precautions. “Although we are in the festive season, we still need to be alert as the dengue problem is widespread.
“If you think you have dengue but you are not sure, just go and see the doctor immediately,” he said.
Liow said he had instructed district health departments to set up special taskforces and intensify their fogging activities in all areas.
He said Malaysians should do their part by making sure their homes were mosquito-free, checking for water stagnation and cleaning up regularly.
So far, 12 people have died and the number of cases from Jan 1 to Jan 23 this year had nearly doubled to 4,221 compared with 2,153 for the same period last year.
“We have to take drastic action and we will be doing this campaign on a big scale,” Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said.
“The people’s involvement in this campaign is important to ensure dengue can be eradicated quickly.
“It is very dangerous and should not be taken lightly as it can be fatal,” he said when met at the MCA Chinese New Year open house celebrations at Wisma MCA here Monday.
Liow urged the public to take extra precautions. “Although we are in the festive season, we still need to be alert as the dengue problem is widespread.
“If you think you have dengue but you are not sure, just go and see the doctor immediately,” he said.
Liow said he had instructed district health departments to set up special taskforces and intensify their fogging activities in all areas.
He said Malaysians should do their part by making sure their homes were mosquito-free, checking for water stagnation and cleaning up regularly.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Weekly news conference on dengue
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry will hold weekly press conferences on the "alarming" dengue situation to impress the urgency of the situation on the public.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican will release the latest figures on the number of victims besides informing people about measures taken to fight dengue.
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said 4,221 cases and 12 deaths had been recorded between Jan 1 and Jan 23, which was double that for the same period last year.
"The situation is the worst in Selangor, with 2,223 cases and five deaths, and Federal Territory (409 cases and two deaths)."
He said besides the weather, the lack of hygiene and proper upkeep of home surroundings was to blame for the jump in dengue cases.
He said cases of chikungunya, another Aedes-borne ailment, was also on the rise with 458 cases reported until Jan 23.
Liow, who spoke after giving ang pow to 268 Valley of Hope residents at the national Leprosy Control Centre here yesterday, said food containing peanut butter imported from United States would be screened for salmonella contamination at all ports of entry following reports of contamination in the US.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican will release the latest figures on the number of victims besides informing people about measures taken to fight dengue.
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said 4,221 cases and 12 deaths had been recorded between Jan 1 and Jan 23, which was double that for the same period last year.
"The situation is the worst in Selangor, with 2,223 cases and five deaths, and Federal Territory (409 cases and two deaths)."
He said besides the weather, the lack of hygiene and proper upkeep of home surroundings was to blame for the jump in dengue cases.
He said cases of chikungunya, another Aedes-borne ailment, was also on the rise with 458 cases reported until Jan 23.
Liow, who spoke after giving ang pow to 268 Valley of Hope residents at the national Leprosy Control Centre here yesterday, said food containing peanut butter imported from United States would be screened for salmonella contamination at all ports of entry following reports of contamination in the US.
Selangor tops list as dengue cases continue to rise
Star: KUALA LUMPUR: The number of dengue cases in the country has continued to climb with 12 deaths from the 4,221 cases recorded since Jan 1.
“I hope everyone will cooperate with us to get the situation under control,” Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai told reporters after handing out ang pow to more than 100 Valley of Hope residents here yesterday.
Selangor remains the state with the highest number of cases at 2,223 with five deaths, compared to 751 cases and one death in the same period last year.
There were 409 cases with two deaths in Kuala Lumpur compared to 270 cases and no casualties in the same period last year.
There were 245 cases reported in Penang and 128 cases in Kedah, compared to 100 and 65 cases in the respective states during the same period last year.
Liow said chikungunya cases had also spiked, totalling 458 as of Friday with Selangor topping the list with 109 cases.
Perak had 96 cases and Kelantan 85.
On Monday, Liow declared war on dengue and called on everyone, including local councils and the public, to work together.
When asked what he thought was the cause for the sudden spike in the number of cases, he replied: “It could partly be due to the weather, but it’s also due to the lack of hygiene and sanitary measures.”
“I hope everyone will cooperate with us to get the situation under control,” Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai told reporters after handing out ang pow to more than 100 Valley of Hope residents here yesterday.
Selangor remains the state with the highest number of cases at 2,223 with five deaths, compared to 751 cases and one death in the same period last year.
There were 409 cases with two deaths in Kuala Lumpur compared to 270 cases and no casualties in the same period last year.
There were 245 cases reported in Penang and 128 cases in Kedah, compared to 100 and 65 cases in the respective states during the same period last year.
Liow said chikungunya cases had also spiked, totalling 458 as of Friday with Selangor topping the list with 109 cases.
Perak had 96 cases and Kelantan 85.
On Monday, Liow declared war on dengue and called on everyone, including local councils and the public, to work together.
When asked what he thought was the cause for the sudden spike in the number of cases, he replied: “It could partly be due to the weather, but it’s also due to the lack of hygiene and sanitary measures.”
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Peanut butter put on health alert
Star: KUALA LUMPUR: The Government has placed all peanut butter from the United States on Level 5 alert following several salmonella-linked deaths there, said Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai.
Under Level 5, stringent tests would be carried out first to determine if the product are safe for consumption.
US authorities on Friday said seven people had died from a nationwide outbreak of salmonella associated with tainted peanut butter and paste sourced to the Peanut Corporation of America’s (PCA) plant in Blakely, Georgia.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified the bacterial strain as Salmonella Typhimurium.
The CDC said there had been 492 cases in 43 states and one Canadian province of people sickened with the strain as of Thursday, US media reports.
Patients ranged in age from one to 98 and 22% of people afflicted with the bacteria have been hospitalised.
Another 10 US firms Friday recalled products which use PCA peanut butter or paste -- bringing to roughly 360 the number of products affected -- as it emerged that the plant at the centre of the probe laid off most of its roughly 50 workers, US papers said.
The recalled products range from snack bars to crackers and pre-packaged meals and even pet food. But products containing peanuts not sourced from the PCA plant are deemed safe.
The Food and Drug Administration, which is investigating, has said it has no evidence to suggest the contamination originated with any other major manufacturing facility other than the PCA plant.
Under Level 5, stringent tests would be carried out first to determine if the product are safe for consumption.
US authorities on Friday said seven people had died from a nationwide outbreak of salmonella associated with tainted peanut butter and paste sourced to the Peanut Corporation of America’s (PCA) plant in Blakely, Georgia.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified the bacterial strain as Salmonella Typhimurium.
The CDC said there had been 492 cases in 43 states and one Canadian province of people sickened with the strain as of Thursday, US media reports.
Patients ranged in age from one to 98 and 22% of people afflicted with the bacteria have been hospitalised.
Another 10 US firms Friday recalled products which use PCA peanut butter or paste -- bringing to roughly 360 the number of products affected -- as it emerged that the plant at the centre of the probe laid off most of its roughly 50 workers, US papers said.
The recalled products range from snack bars to crackers and pre-packaged meals and even pet food. But products containing peanuts not sourced from the PCA plant are deemed safe.
The Food and Drug Administration, which is investigating, has said it has no evidence to suggest the contamination originated with any other major manufacturing facility other than the PCA plant.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Ministry wants fight against dengue fever short and simple
Star: PETALING JAYA: Getting the people involved. This will be the thrust of a series of nationwide campaigns the Health Ministry will launch next month in the fight against dengue fever.
Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said: “This is a drastic action on the ground to curb the spread of dengue. It will be done from state to state. It is about getting the people involved.”
He said final adjustments were being done but the emphasis was on “keeping it short and simple” in managing the disease.
The ministry declared war against dengue and chikungunya on Monday following an unusual jump in cases.
“The numbers are alarming and we are serious about our war against dengue,” said Liow, who is part of an MCA delegation, led by president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, in Beijing.
The campaign is designed to get the involvement of all parties involved including doctors, the public, public health officers and local councils.
“It will complement our current strategies,” Liow said.
He reiterated that the ministry was concerned about the spike in dengue cases and deaths in the first two weeks of the year.
From Jan 4 to Saturday, there were 3,211 cases with eight deaths compared with 1,514 cases and four deaths in the same period last year.
Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said: “This is a drastic action on the ground to curb the spread of dengue. It will be done from state to state. It is about getting the people involved.”
He said final adjustments were being done but the emphasis was on “keeping it short and simple” in managing the disease.
The ministry declared war against dengue and chikungunya on Monday following an unusual jump in cases.
“The numbers are alarming and we are serious about our war against dengue,” said Liow, who is part of an MCA delegation, led by president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, in Beijing.
The campaign is designed to get the involvement of all parties involved including doctors, the public, public health officers and local councils.
“It will complement our current strategies,” Liow said.
He reiterated that the ministry was concerned about the spike in dengue cases and deaths in the first two weeks of the year.
From Jan 4 to Saturday, there were 3,211 cases with eight deaths compared with 1,514 cases and four deaths in the same period last year.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Homes, shophouses breeding grounds for Aedes
Star: PETALING JAYA: Houses and shophouses registered the highest percentage among premises found to be active breeding grounds for the Aedes mosquito.
Deputy director of disease control (vector) Datuk Dr Azmi Hashim said of the premises that checked positive for Aedes breeding, 75% to 80% were houses and shophouses.
“This is a high number and means that many dengue patients were infected in their own homes,” he said in an interview here yesterday.
Dr Azmi was commenting on reports that the Health Ministry had declared war on dengue following an alarming rise in cases and related deaths in the first two weeks of the year.
There have been 3,211 cases with eight deaths, compared to 1,514 cases and four deaths during the same period last year.
Dr Azmi said although state health department officers periodically carried out fogging at neighbourhoods known to be hot-spots for dengue infection, this acted only as a temporary measure.
“Fogging only kills adult mosquitoes. It is more effective for home-owners to destroy all breeding sites around their houses.
“Home owners should clean up their compounds and add larvicide to any water container or pot,” he said, adding that the Health Ministry had published pamphlets advising the public to spend 10 minutes each week checking their homes for Aedes breeding sites.
To report cases of dengue, the public can approach the nearest district health office or call the dengue operations room hotline at 03-8881-0600 or 03-8881-0700.
Meanwhile, Deputy Health Minis-ter Datuk Dr Abd Latiff Ahmad said the lack of co-operation from the public was the main reason for the increase in dengue cases.
“If people are not concerned, what else can the Government do?” he said during the launch of the second phase of “I Care Vision 20/20” at the Tun Hussein Onn Hospital yesterday.
Dr Latiff said the Government was giving away the Abate larvicide for people to use on mosquito breeding areas and that volunteer groups had been set up through the Combi (Communication for Behavioural Impact) concept to create awareness on dengue.
Deputy director of disease control (vector) Datuk Dr Azmi Hashim said of the premises that checked positive for Aedes breeding, 75% to 80% were houses and shophouses.
“This is a high number and means that many dengue patients were infected in their own homes,” he said in an interview here yesterday.
Dr Azmi was commenting on reports that the Health Ministry had declared war on dengue following an alarming rise in cases and related deaths in the first two weeks of the year.
There have been 3,211 cases with eight deaths, compared to 1,514 cases and four deaths during the same period last year.
Dr Azmi said although state health department officers periodically carried out fogging at neighbourhoods known to be hot-spots for dengue infection, this acted only as a temporary measure.
“Fogging only kills adult mosquitoes. It is more effective for home-owners to destroy all breeding sites around their houses.
“Home owners should clean up their compounds and add larvicide to any water container or pot,” he said, adding that the Health Ministry had published pamphlets advising the public to spend 10 minutes each week checking their homes for Aedes breeding sites.
To report cases of dengue, the public can approach the nearest district health office or call the dengue operations room hotline at 03-8881-0600 or 03-8881-0700.
Meanwhile, Deputy Health Minis-ter Datuk Dr Abd Latiff Ahmad said the lack of co-operation from the public was the main reason for the increase in dengue cases.
“If people are not concerned, what else can the Government do?” he said during the launch of the second phase of “I Care Vision 20/20” at the Tun Hussein Onn Hospital yesterday.
Dr Latiff said the Government was giving away the Abate larvicide for people to use on mosquito breeding areas and that volunteer groups had been set up through the Combi (Communication for Behavioural Impact) concept to create awareness on dengue.
Ministry's losing war on dengue
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry yesterday took Klang Valley residents to task for a disappointing response to the "war" against dengue.
Its Deputy Minister, Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad, said the lack of public cooperation had contributed to the increase in dengue and chikungunya cases.
"The issue here is that city dwellers refuse to get involved in gotong-royong. They think only residents' associations or city councils are responsible for maintaining cleanliness and checking on Aedes breeding sites in their areas."
He said urban residents had a lackadaisical attitude to the problem, thinking that they would not get bitten by the Aedes mosquito.
"They think that others will get the virus but they won't.'
On Monday, the ministry revealed that Kuala Lumpur and Selangor had the highest number of dengue cases over the first 17 days of the year.
Selangor recorded 1,727 cases with four deaths while Kuala Lumpur had 307 cases with one death.
The numbers were far higher compared to the same period last year.
Dr Abdul Latiff said although the awareness campaign on dengue and chikungunya seemed to succeed in other states, the response in the Klang Valley proved otherwise.
"We are going all out to fight the viruses but if the people are not worried about their health, then we don't know what else to do."
Dr Abdul Latiff said the ministry would fine occupants with Aedes breeding grounds.
"We are not planning to increase the fine but we need to emphasise the Communication for Behavioural Impact (Combi) programme to obtain public cooperation," he said, adding that there were 11,892 Combi volunteers nationwide.
A total of RM3.4 million in fines was collected last year from those found to have Aedes breeding grounds in their homes.
Dr Abdul Latiff was speaking to reporters after launching the "I Care Vision 20/20" project at the Tun Hussein Onn National Eye Hospital.
The project, in its second phase, aims to train kindergarten teachers to identify eye problems among children aged between 2 and 6.
Its Deputy Minister, Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad, said the lack of public cooperation had contributed to the increase in dengue and chikungunya cases.
"The issue here is that city dwellers refuse to get involved in gotong-royong. They think only residents' associations or city councils are responsible for maintaining cleanliness and checking on Aedes breeding sites in their areas."
He said urban residents had a lackadaisical attitude to the problem, thinking that they would not get bitten by the Aedes mosquito.
"They think that others will get the virus but they won't.'
On Monday, the ministry revealed that Kuala Lumpur and Selangor had the highest number of dengue cases over the first 17 days of the year.
Selangor recorded 1,727 cases with four deaths while Kuala Lumpur had 307 cases with one death.
The numbers were far higher compared to the same period last year.
Dr Abdul Latiff said although the awareness campaign on dengue and chikungunya seemed to succeed in other states, the response in the Klang Valley proved otherwise.
"We are going all out to fight the viruses but if the people are not worried about their health, then we don't know what else to do."
Dr Abdul Latiff said the ministry would fine occupants with Aedes breeding grounds.
"We are not planning to increase the fine but we need to emphasise the Communication for Behavioural Impact (Combi) programme to obtain public cooperation," he said, adding that there were 11,892 Combi volunteers nationwide.
A total of RM3.4 million in fines was collected last year from those found to have Aedes breeding grounds in their homes.
Dr Abdul Latiff was speaking to reporters after launching the "I Care Vision 20/20" project at the Tun Hussein Onn National Eye Hospital.
The project, in its second phase, aims to train kindergarten teachers to identify eye problems among children aged between 2 and 6.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Pharmacists ready to take over dispensing of medicine
NST: SUBANG JAYA: The Malay-sian Pharmaceutical Society has proposed a "zoning" system to enable pharmacists to take over the dispensing of medicine from doctors.
MPS president Datuk Nancy Ho said the age-old argument of insufficient number of pharmacies in Malaysia was no longer true.
The society conducted a "geo-mapping" study to identify the locations of pharmacies in relation to clinics and found that in major areas like Klang Valley, Penang, Johor Baru, Kota Kinabalu, Kota Baru and Kuching, the ratio was enough to serve doctors.
Ho said pharmacists could set up 24-hour outlets to cater to the needs of clinics.
MPS wanted the zoning proposal to be implemented in selected towns and to let consumers decide where they wanted to get their prescribed medications.
Some 100 doctors and pharmacists will gather at a symposium, "Future Challenges for Healthcare in Malaysia" here tomorrow and one of the issues to be raised is separation of the role of doctors and pharmacists in providing healthcare.
"It is crucial that consumers are educated on the proper use of medicines."
MPS president Datuk Nancy Ho said the age-old argument of insufficient number of pharmacies in Malaysia was no longer true.
The society conducted a "geo-mapping" study to identify the locations of pharmacies in relation to clinics and found that in major areas like Klang Valley, Penang, Johor Baru, Kota Kinabalu, Kota Baru and Kuching, the ratio was enough to serve doctors.
Ho said pharmacists could set up 24-hour outlets to cater to the needs of clinics.
MPS wanted the zoning proposal to be implemented in selected towns and to let consumers decide where they wanted to get their prescribed medications.
Some 100 doctors and pharmacists will gather at a symposium, "Future Challenges for Healthcare in Malaysia" here tomorrow and one of the issues to be raised is separation of the role of doctors and pharmacists in providing healthcare.
"It is crucial that consumers are educated on the proper use of medicines."
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Dengue cases going unreported
NST: PUTRAJAYA: Doctors in clinics are reluctant to notify the government of dengue cases, judging from the fact that only two per cent of reports of cases come from private clinics.
Health Department director-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said such an attitude could lead to patients dying because doctors at clinics did not want to take responsibility but passed the buck to hospitals.
"This reflects the reluctance to take charge, and passing the responsibility to hospitals is probably to get them to provide the serological confirmation."
The phenomenon baffles Dr Ismail when the number of cases was increasing every year, with 112 deaths reported last year.
The national dengue mortality review revealed that 47.4 per cent of the patients who died were sent to hospitals at a very late stage of their illness, while a quarter of dengue deaths occurred within 24 hours of hospitalisation.
"There are no repercussions for the doctors if they notify the cases. I just don't know why they don't do it.
"In fact, there is only a positive effect. The ministry will immediately carry out fogging exercise in the victim's area," Dr Ismail said after launching the second revision of the Clinical Practice Guidelines of the Management of Dengue Infection in Adults, here, yesterday.
The guidelines focus on management of the dengue infection from the early stages to intensive care.
The guidelines, which will be distributed to health practitioners dealing with dengue, outlines basic symptoms of the infection without having to rely solely on platelet counts.
Dr Ismail urged the public not to leave the prevention and control measures to the government since 80 per cent of dengue cases occurred at homes.
"It only takes 10 minutes a week to ensure that there is no stagnant water and to overturn containers which may be potential Aedes breeding ground.
"The public cannot depend on the local councils to fog their areas. They must do their part."
Health Department director-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said such an attitude could lead to patients dying because doctors at clinics did not want to take responsibility but passed the buck to hospitals.
"This reflects the reluctance to take charge, and passing the responsibility to hospitals is probably to get them to provide the serological confirmation."
The phenomenon baffles Dr Ismail when the number of cases was increasing every year, with 112 deaths reported last year.
The national dengue mortality review revealed that 47.4 per cent of the patients who died were sent to hospitals at a very late stage of their illness, while a quarter of dengue deaths occurred within 24 hours of hospitalisation.
"There are no repercussions for the doctors if they notify the cases. I just don't know why they don't do it.
"In fact, there is only a positive effect. The ministry will immediately carry out fogging exercise in the victim's area," Dr Ismail said after launching the second revision of the Clinical Practice Guidelines of the Management of Dengue Infection in Adults, here, yesterday.
The guidelines focus on management of the dengue infection from the early stages to intensive care.
The guidelines, which will be distributed to health practitioners dealing with dengue, outlines basic symptoms of the infection without having to rely solely on platelet counts.
Dr Ismail urged the public not to leave the prevention and control measures to the government since 80 per cent of dengue cases occurred at homes.
"It only takes 10 minutes a week to ensure that there is no stagnant water and to overturn containers which may be potential Aedes breeding ground.
"The public cannot depend on the local councils to fog their areas. They must do their part."
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