Malaysia Moves to Contain Deadly MERS Virus

WSJ

Malaysian health officials inspecting villagers who had contact with a man who died from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) disease in Batu Pahat, Johor, on April 18.

 

European Pressphoto Agency

Authorities have tracked down nearly 200 people in Malaysia, including passengers of two Turkish AirlinesTHYAO.IS +0.88%flights, who came into contact with a man who recently died from a deadly viral disease from the Middle East.

The 54-year-old man who died on April 13 contracted Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, while on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. His death was the first MERS death recorded in Southeast Asia. As of Sunday, no new case of the virus had been detected in Malaysia, said health authorities.

‎All of the 197 people identified by authorities have been asked to monitor their health for two weeks for symptoms, such as fever, cough and breathing problems, said Noor Hisham Abdullah, director-general of Malaysia’s Health Ministry.

The deceased victim developed similar ailments before eventually succumbing to severe pneumonia.

Those who’ve been identified by authorities are not under formal quarantine and were told to seek help should they develop symptoms.

The ministry will “continue to monitor the situation,” Mr. Noor Hisham said, stressing that authorities have carried out prevention and control measures “at every level.”

Earlier, authorities put 64 people in the deceased man’s home village of Kampung Bintang Laut, in Malaysia’s southern state of Johor, under close surveillance. The authorities have not released the name of the victim.

None of those tested so far have been positive for the MERS infection, Mr. Noor Hisham added.

No new cases of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome

Malay Mail

KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 — No new cases of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome — Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) have been detected until today, said Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

In a statement today, he said no clusters of MERS-CoV infection were reported nationwide making the permanent cumulative total as one case of death.

“There was no positive infection of MERS-CoV from 79 samples taken from those who had close contact or no close contact with the victim,” he said.

Dr Hisham also said all 17 members of the group in the same umrah (visit to holy land) package as the victim were found to be healthy and did not show any symptoms and had been confirmed free of the virus.

Yesterday, it was reported that an examination of 15 umrah-goers who returned from the holy land with the man who was confirmed to have died of MERS-CoV, showed they were not infected.

On April 13, a 54-year-old man from Batu Pahat, Johor died at the Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital from acute pneumonia after being infected with MERS-CoV.

The victim returned to Malaysia on March 29 and complained of fever, cough and breathing difficulties after 10 days and was admitted on April 10.

Dr Noor Hisham urged the public visiting the Middle East to boost their level of cleanliness by washing their hands often with soap or hand sanitisers especially after coughing, sneezing and shaking hands.

He also suggested that the public put on mouth and nose masks and to stay away from the sick, eating raw food, unwashed fruits or drinking untreated water during such visits.

Tour agencies specifically those handling umrah and haj packages were also urged to boost awareness on the virus. 

More information on MERS-CoV developments can be obtained at the Health Ministry’s website. — Bernama  

Policyholders to pay more for coverage

The Star Online

PETALING JAYA: Faced with higher claims from rising medical costs, many insurance companies have increased their charges and premiums by up to 20%.

National Association of Malaysian Life Insurance Field Force and Advisers (Namlifa) deputy president Kho Chui Ing said most companies had adjusted their charges and premiums for medical, health and investment-linked policies over the last few months to cope with medical inflation.

“Some companies are offering policy upgrades and at the same time increasing premiums while others just raise the existing policy charges and premiums,” he said, adding that insurance companies only needed to issue a 30-day written notice to policyholders for the hike to take effect.

Policyholders must comply with the new rates or risk their policy lapsing.

Admitting that agents have a tough time explaining the increases, Kho said Namlifa had a duty to protect the welfare of its 12,000 members and policyholders.

“We are also policyholders and we too have to pay the same rates for the same benefits as our clients. Policyholders have to see what is causing the inflation and solve that rather than get angry with the insurance companies and agents.

“Even hawkers are raising their prices insisting it’s not by choice but a necessity as ingredients are expensive,” he said, adding that Namlifa would engage with Bank Negara to ensure a more sustainable growth for the industry.

Prudential Assurance Malaysia Berhad (PAMB) recently notified its policyholders that the PRUmajor med plans (PMM) premiums and charges would be increased effective from the individual’s policy anniversary date. PMM is a medical and hospitalisation rider that is attached to investment-linked insurance plans (known as PRUlink plans) offered by PAMB.

PAMB CEO Philip Seah said only those with a PMM plan attached to their investment-linked policies were included in the revision.

He said the percentage of increase varied from individual to individual, depending on the type of plan. Any revision was only made after taking into consideration the rising costs and frequency of people seeking treatment. This was to ensure that policyholders continued to enjoy medical coverage in the long run.

“We’ve increased the lifetime limit of all PMM plans to ensure that policyholders are able to cope with rising medical inflation,” he said, adding that medical inflation in Malaysia was currently about 10% yearly and projected to continue rising.

In December, the Government allowed a maximum 14.4% rise in private medical fees – almost half of the 30% requested by the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA).

General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM) chairman Chua Seck Guan said medical and health insurance, which accounted for RM920mil of the sector’s total market share last year, was projected to grow as demand in the healthcare sector increased in line with the country’s development as a medical hub.

MMA president Datuk Dr N.K.S. Tharmaseelan said insurance companies should control wasteful expenditure by hospitals instead of increasing premiums. They should also be “eagle-eyed” when presented with hospital bills and speak up when they are overcharged.

“(Instead) they take the easy way out by arm-twisting doctors to lower their fees,” he said.

Fomca secretary-general Datuk Paul Selvaraj said insurance companies should not hold consumers to ransom because health insurance was a necessity.

“Any increase should only be on new or upgraded policies and policyholders must be given an option whether or not they want the extra benefits. If they are happy with the present coverage, insurance companies should not force them to pay more,” he said

Public Urged To Take Precautions Against MERS

BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 (Bernama) -- The public has been urged to take precautionary measures to prevent respiratory illness following the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak.

Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) President Datuk Dr N.K.S Tharmaseelan said there was no need for anyone to change their travel plans because of MERS.

However, he said travelers to countries in or near the Middle East should follow standard precautions.

"People should wash their hands more frequently and avoiding people who are ill and cover their noses and mouths when they cough or sneeze.

"If they develop a fever and symptoms of lower respiratory illness, such as cough or shortness of breath, within 14 days after travelling from countries in the Middle East or neighboring countries, they should see healthcare provider and mention their recent trips," he said in a statement, in Kuala Lumpur, Friday.

On Wednesday, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam confirmed the death of a man on April 13 from MERS-CoV, the first such case reported in Asia.

The man had just returned from performing the 'umrah' (minor Haj).

MERS belongs to a family of viruses known as coronaviruses that include both the common cold and SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, which killed some 800 people in a global outbreak in 2003.

MERS can cause symptoms such as fever, breathing problems, pneumonia and kidney failure.

--BERNAMA

First-ever MERS case detected in Johor

The Star Online

PUTRAJAYA: The first case of death caused by the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Asia has killed a Malaysian man who developed respiratory complications after returning from Mecca.

The 54-year-old man, from Batu Pahat, Johor, had arrived in Malaysia on March 29 after performing the umrah.

He died on Apr 13 after being admitted to the Hospital Sultanah Nora Ismail for three days, following complaints of fever, cough and breathing difficulties.

Passengers onboard the Turkish Airlines flights TK93 and TK60 on the Jeddah-Istanbul-Kuala Lumpur route on March 29 are urged to contact the Health Ministry for a health screening, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.

The MERS-CoV was first detected in the Middle East in 2012, but researchers have yet to determine its cause.

The World Health Organization has recorded 238 cases of the disease and 92 deaths related to the MERS-CoV globally to date.

NST

LONG-TERM CARE: Health Ministry wants families to choose their own doctors

KUALA LUMPUR: THE government is promoting the assignment of doctors to patients as a long-term measure to better manage a person's healthcare throughout his or her lifetime.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the plan would require patients to be registered to a doctor of their choice, either in a public or private sector facility, to prevent the occurrence of doctor-hopping and patients seeking suspected quick cures.

He said the move would enable healthcare providers to have their patients' complete medical records from "womb to tomb".

"A long-term relationship between doctors and patients is imperative to manage health issues better. This would help in building trust and foster mutual partnerships in maintaining health," he said in his address at the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute's Healthcare Forum here yesterday.

Subramaniam said the plan would require families to register themselves with a primary healthcare provider of their choice, as this would enable the doctor to know their entire health history.

In this regard, he said, many people no longer value the concept of "family doctors" to manage their health needs over a lifetime.

"People are more likely to go doctor-hopping in search of quick cures and seek specialist services even before their problem is assessed holistically. There is an over-focus on curative care."

Subramaniam said the trend is far less effective in tackling long-term chronic illnesses, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma or lifestyle problems.

On a related matter, he said the ministry has stepped up efforts to empower communities to take more responsibility for their health.

"The current and next Malaysia Plan will continue to focus on prevention and promotion of healthcare. Individual and community empowerment will also be emphasised to reduce exposure to non-communicable disease risk factors."

On the issue of overcrowding at government health facilities, Subramaniam said: "The ministry is preparing a Healthcare Facility Master Plan to overcome hospital congestion and to better locate new hospitals in the areas where they are most needed."

Cheaper nuclear medical technology when centre completed says Nuclear Agency DG

The Star Online

KOTA BARU: Malaysians will have access to cheaper nuclear medical technology when the high-capacity cyclotron centre in Bangi, Selangor is completed in three years time.

Nuclear Agency director-general Datuk Dr Muhamad Lebai Juri said the RM240 million 30 MeV (Mega electron Volt) facility would be able to produce more radioisotopes to treat chronic illnesses such as brain and bone cancer.

"The cyclotron is used for medical imaging, radio diagnostic and radiotherapy as well as the production of radioisotopes for diagnosis and treatment.

"The radioisotopes we produce now is limited to detecting and treating only a few cancers such as breast and liver cancers," he said after opening the 36th Medical Imaging Seminar here Sunday.

He said so far in Asia only Japan and South Korea had the latest technology and Malaysia had only four low-capacity cyclotrons at 18 MeV with one of them a government facility and the rest in private hospitals.

"The rich may afford more choices in treatment abroad. A single dose could cost as much as RM7,000 not including other treatments.

"We hope to provide people with more comprehensive and cheaper medical facilities with this new centre," he said. -Bernama

Health Ministry to correct shortcomings highlighted in A-G’s report

Malay Mail 

 PETALING JAYA, April 9 — In a swift response to weaknesses listed out in the 2013 Auditor-General’s Report, the Health Ministry has vowed to take appropriate action to serve the people better. “The ministry takes seriously officers who make incorrect decisions. They will be investigated,” said secretary-general Datuk Farida Mohd Ali in a press statement. “Efforts will be made to ensure better decisions are made in the future.” With regards to the biomedical engineering maintenance services (BEMS), she said while limited allocation made it difficult for the ministry to replace equipment that was beyond their age, the ministry always had comprehensive plans for replacement by stages. “Medical equipment that exceeded their time period and 7not safe for use will be destroyed,” she said. It had been reported some equipment exceeded their “prescribed economic age” by between one and 23 years. On additional agreements signed late by between 123 and 2,286 days, she said it was because the asset registration process was finalised after the ministry obtained documentation for fees to be paid. She said as to better this, the project implementer was required to submit a list of assets and systems and detailed costing to hasten the process. “Besides this, registration of new assets will be done three months before the project handover date and it is included in the contract,” she said. On the overpayment and underpayment of fees, it has been agreed that streamlining of payment for additional or lessening of assets is done every January and July as it was found to be more profitable for government and practical as it involved more hospitals and assets. 

Regarding the loss of 482 assets at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah and Hospital Tuanku Fauziah, police reports have been made for 218 assets, 37 were recovered, 218 destroyed, three moved to clinics and six were in the process of being destroyed. Among matters mentioned in a press statement, the ministry said it would investigate the Hospital Sultan Abdul Halim officer who received a shipment of raw chicken, delivered at 31 degrees Celcius and the supplier. The ministry, it said, had ensured steps like the delay of thawing at the supplier’s end, vehicles were equipped with refrigeration by suppliers and specific delivery times for unloading to ensure the meat was at the specified temperature of not more than five degree Celcius. On the issue of the supply contracts for wet food, done via open tender, it said it would evaluate and only choose suitable candidates who had documentation and followed value for money and economy of scale principles. With regards to the Klinik 1Malaysia understaffing which led to a payout of RM1.39 million for overtime in four states for three years, it said there were 158 vacancies filled by existing staff from nearby clinics and was found to have saved the ministry payment by 60 per cent compared to paying for emolument of permanent staff. This practice, it said, would continue until the vacancies were filled but would not be for the long-term as it could affect staff performance. On the allocation of food baskets meant for undernourished children, it said it would strengthen its monitoring processes and an internal investigation was being carried out.

Health Ministry halts construction works amid spike in dengue cases

 Malay Mail

PETALING JAYA, April 10 — Construction work in 14 sites in the Petaling district has been put on hold by the Health Ministry after they were found to have 165 mosquito breeding spots. This follows the revelation that almost all dengue cases reported in Selangor were from the Petaling district alone. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said there were 14,905 dengue cases in Selangor, with 6,083 or 42 per cent of them in Petaling, as of Monday. There have been 26,658 cases nationwide this year. He told a press conference yesterday the 14 construction sites were inspected by Selangor health officers under Operasi Gempur Tapak Bina Khas on Tuesday. “All works at the sites have been suspended for five days and notices were given to developers and construction companies,” he said. Besides the construction sites, the Health Ministry had also determined the population density in the district was one of the reasons for the high number of dengue cases. “The district is big and has a population of over two million people,” Dr Subramaniam said. Another reason highlighted was the multi-storey buildings in the area, specifically low-cost flats such as Mentari Court. “Some of the buildings have uneven floors, especially in parking areas, and are perfect breeding grounds for mosquitos,” he said. Dr Subramaniam said the residents were not cooperative with the ministry’s efforts to tackle this issue and that some breeding grounds were within the houses themselves. “If the residents don’t let us into their homes to conduct checks, we are not able to take the necessary actions,” he said. Dr Subramaniam also said there were a few issues to be brought to the Federal Cabinet’s attention. “The maintenance of low-cost flats and managing of construction sites need additional attention,” he said. Guidelines would be provided after discussions with responsible parties to ensure cleanliness and the prevention of mosquito breeding grounds. 

Under the Destruction of Disease-Bearing Insects Act 1975 (Section 25), building owners can be fined RM500 if the Aedes mosquito larvae is found on their premises. Under Section 23 of the same Act, a person may be fined RM10,000 or sentenced to two years’ jail for the first offence and repeat offenders will be fined RM50,000 or jailed for five years. - See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/construction-works-halted-amid-spike-in-dengue-cases-says-health-minister#sthash.zXnMvTkh.dpuf

Health Ministry bans two slimming products

The Star Online

KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry has advised consumers not to buy and use two unregistered slimming products found to contain the scheduled poison sibutramine.

The two slimming products are Collagen Slim and Beautiful Slim Body, used for beauty and slimming, sold widely via the internet.

MOH senior director of Pharmaceutical Services, Datuk Eisah Abdul Rahman said tests conducted by the National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau (NPCB ) found that Collagen Slim contains excessive dose of sibutramine.

"Sibutramine is a controlled drug used for the treatment of obesity. All medicine containing sibutramine has been withdrawn registration on Dec 23, 2012 for increased risk of cardiovascular disease," she said in a statement.

Among other side effects include increased heart rate, blood pressure, dry mouth and throat, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache and sleeping difficulty. - Bernama

63 deaths from dengue from January to April 4 this year

The Malaysian Insider

Sixty-three deaths from dengue fever were recorded nationwide for the period January 1 to April 4 this year, says Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam (pic).

He said 26,107 cases of dengue fever were reported nationwide during the period, and if no preventive measures were taken, it could be a major threat to the community and nation.

"In this regard, in conjunction with World Health Day this year, I hope that Malaysians will be more awarene of the threat of dengue, especially the Aedes mosquito, the bearer of a dangerous disease which can kill," he said in a statement in Putrajaya, today.

World Health Day is celebrated with the theme "Small Bite, Big Threat" in reference to the Aedes mosquito.

The World Health Organisation has estimated that more than 2.5 billion or 40% of the world's population are at risk of being infected with dengue and 50 million to 100 million dengue infections are expected each year.

"This clearly shows that dengue fever has become a major burden to the world and showing a very prolific rate of increase," it said. – Bernama, April 7, 2014.

Authorities perplexed by spike in TB cases among the young

BorneoPost Online

KUCHING: The number of young people suffering from tuberculosis (TB) in the state of late is said to be on the rise, which is puzzling the authorities. Assistant Minister of Public Health Datuk Dr Jerip Susil said this is a cause of concern because people in the younger age group are believed to have stronger immune system. “What is more alarming now is not the increase in the number of cases reported but what worries us is why there has been more and more young TB patients nowadays when in the old days the disease was common only among the older people,” he said. Without giving any figure, Dr Jerip said this new trend was a cause of worry because apparently the vaccination programme for children was not ineffective in protecting them against the contagious disease. “The vaccination programme is to make our immune system and antibodies stronger. That is why young people usually have greater resistance to sicknesses but now that the number of TB cases is more alarming among young patients we really don’t know what is wrong with our vaccination programme,” he said.

He told The Borneo Post this when asked to comment on the statement by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam in Kuala Lumpur on Monday that TB was the main cause of death under the contagious disease category last year, with a 13 per cent increase in the number of cases. He said 1,597 cases of TB-related deaths were reported nationwide last year – an increase of 183 cases compared to 1,414 deaths reported in 2012. Nevertheless, it was not revealed how many of the deaths were reported in the state, but Dr Jerip, who is Bengoh assemblyman, said overall the disease in the state was still under control although there was an increase in the number of cases reported last year as compared to the previous year.

According to him, there were 2,430 cases in 2012 while last year it was 2,673, an increase of nine per cent. He explained that the increase could be due to two factors. “The first one is there could have been some actual increase while the other factor could be due to the greater efforts made to control and prevent the spread of TB among the people,” he said.

Do more or fat chance Malaysia will reduce obesity, govt told

The Star Online

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government needs to be more serious in battling obesity, the Malaysian Association for the Study of Obesity says.

Its president Prof Dr Mohd Ismail Noor said that creating awareness and public education were not enough.

“At some point, the government has to be more serious about controlling the environment that encourages obesity.”

He said this yesterday after the official launch and opening of Nutrition Month Malaysia 2014 by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.

Dr Mohd Ismail urged the local authorities to shut down all food outlets by midnight instead of allowing them to run 24 hours.

He said the argument that these outlets were kept open for night shift workers did not hold water because many youngsters were frequenting the outlets.

He noted that some countries had imposed a tax on sweet soda drinks.

While the Government needed to be more committed in battling obesity, he added it was also everyone’s responsibility and required a multi-pronged approach.

Asked whether the Health Minist­ry would limit the number of 24-hour food outlets, Dr Subramniam said the emphasis was still on educating people about good eating habits.

“You ban them or you educate people not to use them.

“Life’s temptations will always exist but you need to educate them,” he said.

As to why the Government had yet to create the healthy environment for people to walk or expend their energy (safe walk and bicycle paths along roadways) that was planned many years ago, Dr Subramaniam said the problem was in the implementation.

“There must be greater emphasis on adhering to government policy and guidelines by local authorities,” he said.

The National Health and Morbidity Survey revealed that the rate of obesity in Malaysia had increased by almost three and a half times, from 4.4% in 1996 to 15.1% in 2011.

This puts the number of obese Malaysians at around 2.5 million.

The Nutri-Fun Land Family Carnival is held at Mid Valley Exhibition Hall 1 in conjunction with the Nutrition Month. It ends today.

Confusion over exact percentage of medical fee rise

The Star Online

PUTRAJAYA: Private medical fees are up, but there is confusion over the exact percentage of the rise.

While the Health Minister said the increase has been capped at 14.4% – less than half the amount the Malaysian Medical Association had requested – the medical schedule showed hikes of a few hundred per cent on certain fee ceilings.

Consultation fees, for instance, increased from a range of RM10-RM35 to a new range of RM30-RM125.

While the Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said that the fees were the maximum amount that doctors were allowed to charge and they were free to charge less.

“Those (in the fee schedule) are the maximum rates. We are protecting the people from being charged exorbitantly by the private sector,” he told a press conference here on Wednesday.

On Monday, it was highlighted that the amendment to the 13th Schedule of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 was implemented without sufficient publicity and awareness of the issue.

The Private Hospitals and Other Private Healthcare Facilities Regulations 2006 of the Act, which was published in the federal gazette on Dec 16 last year, provides for the maximum chargeable fees for registered medical and dental practitioners practising in private hospitals in terms of their professional fees such as consultation and performance of procedures.

These fees were based on Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) Schedule of Fees 4th Edition 2002.

Dr Subramaniam said the ministry had rejected the Malaysian Medical Association’s request for a 30% increase.

He added that the 14.4% increase was reasonable given that the inflation rate was around 23%.

He also said that the previous minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai did keep the public informed of the increase in July 2012 and the fee schedule was brought to the Cabinet and approved on October 12 the same year after consulting various stakeholders.

The Ministry directed to review the fee schedule in Sept 2010.

However, Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said that the 14.4% increase was the average fees for surgical and dental procedures.

He said that the doctors’ consultation charges that was increased from a range of RM10-RM35 to a new range of RM30-RM125 took into account of the rental cost in different locations.

Dr Subramaniam said that the market forces were expected to determine the fees that facilities would impose within the ambit.

“Prudent and discerning public are encouraged to seek treatment at private facilities charging reasonable rates,” he said.

The other components of the hospital charges such as fees for accommodation, laboratory investigations, nursing care, use of equipment, operation room, drugs used were not regulated due to the varying costs in operating and maintaining a private hospital at different areas, he said.

The new medical fees schedule was the first revision since it was regulated in 2006. The fees were recommended by the MMA since 2002, he said

Health ministry continues to monitor haze situation, says minister

MSN Malaysia News

The Health Ministry, through the respective State Health Departments, continues to monitor ailments linked to the haze, namely, upper respiratory tract infections, asthma and eye diseases.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam (pic) said in a statement today, that the monitoring was conducted by selected sentinel clinics in states afflicted by the haze.

He said those experiencing ailment such as cough, flu, asthma, eye problems and chronic lung infection should go to the clinic quickly if their situation worsened.

"The ministry wishes to advise the public to take preventive measures to reduce the effect of the haze including reducing physical activities outside the house, always seek to be in a building and, if forced to go out, to wear suitable nose and mouth masks.

"Furthermore, ensure air in the house/building is clean by reducing internal sources of pollution such as cigarette smoke. When driving and using air-conditioning, switch to internal air circulation operation mode," he said.

He also encouraged the public to drink plenty of water, at least eight glasses a day, and to wash hands and face with clean water after any activities.

Subramaniam said the ministry had monitored the haze in the country from 52 Department of Environment (DOE) air quality monitoring stations, since 7am on February 26.

"Based on our monitoring, several states on the West coast of the peninsula were found to be experiencing haze with unhealthy Air Pollution Index (API) readings (exceeding 100)," he said.

The areas are Nilai, Banting, Petaling Jaya and Batu Muda (Kuala Lumpur) as of 5pm today.

According to the DOE website, as of 5pm today, 19 areas recorded good API levels and 27 areas recorded moderate API readings.

The public can seek information on preventive measures through the health ministry's website at InfoSihat andMOH. – Bernama, March 4, 2014.

Subra: Medical fee cap to protect public

Free Malaysia Today

PUTRAJAYA: The fee hike for private healthcare costs is done in order to protect public interest, Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam said today.

He said the fee amendments under the 13th Schedule of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services (Privates Hospitals and Other Private Health Facilities) Regulations 2006 would make private healthcare providers compete among themselves to provide better services.

“Under the revised fee, action can be taken against doctors who charge more than what is proposed in the schedule,” he said, adding the ministry was instructed to review the prices in 2010.

Subramaniam added that the 14% rate hike for private medical and dental practitioners was done after studying the consumer price index (CPI) for healthcare between 2002 and 2010.

“In my experience, the public will avoid any clinics which charge high fees. Thus, I believe the private hospital would not impose the maximum charges,” he said.

The revision included a spike in consultation charges from between RM10 and RM35 to RM30 and RM125 for general practitioners, and from between RM30 and RM125 to RM80 and RM235 for specialist doctors.

Fees for medical procedures have soared between 14% and 18%.

Dr Subramaniam said the Health Ministry reviewed the 13th schedule on Sept 22, 2010.

Fees for consultation and medical procedures have not been revised since 2002 and is considered low compared to other nations.

“Consultations and meetings were held. We established two committees and a working group. We then forwarded the proposal to the cabinet which approved the amendment to the 13th schedule on Oct 12, 2012,” he added.

The amended schedule fee structure, was presented to the Attorney-General’s chambers on April 29, 2013 and gazetted on Dec 16 after the cabinet’s approval.

The minister also assured Malaysians that the fee structure would not be amended again, at least for another three to four years.

“It was just gazetted last year. The people need not to worry about the increase of the fees after this,” he added.

Increase in current medical fees acceptable, says MMA

The Star Online

PETALING JAYA: The new increased medical fees following the amendment to the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 are considered acceptable by the Malaysian Medical Association.

Its president Datuk Dr NKS Tharmaseelan said that MMA had been waiting for the increase for 12 years as the prices of drugs, laboratory fees and petrol had increased.

"There is a misconception that GPs are raking in lots of profits when they were actually scraping the bottom of the barrel these days," he said in an e-mail reply.

More than 500 stand-alone general practitioner clinics had closed down or had been bought over by large chain-clinics or business corporations in the last few years, he said.

On Monday, an online news portal highlighted that amendment to the 13th Schedule of the Act was published in the Federal Gazette on Dec 16 last year and implemented in a hush-hush manner.

It reported that the new consultation fees for a general practitioner had increased to between RM30 and RM125, as opposed to RM10-RM35 previously, while a visit to a specialist now costs up to RM235 for consultation alone, nearly double the previous cap of RM125.

Fees for medical procedures, however, increased between 14-18%.

Dr Tharmaseelan also said that while the increase did not reflect inflation rates since 2002, fees on newer procedures were not included in the revised schedule as proposed by MMA and would be left unregulated.

MMA president Datuk Dr NKS Tharmaseelan.

He also said that doctors do not get all the fees charged for services - for short surgical procedures, the ratio might be 40:60 of the total bill for specialist and hospital respectively while for more complex procedures and long staying patients, it might be as low 20-25% for specialist, while the rest were hospital charges.

Moreover, third-party administrators such as managed care organisations (MCOs) often negotiate a discount of 10% to 15% on doctors' fees for hospitals without the consent of the doctors.

"There should be more transparency about the charges," he said.

Medical Practitioners Coalition Association of Malaysia president Dr Jim Loi said that in the past, a general practitioner in a standalone clinic was able to earn a monthly net income of RM40,000 in the Klang Valley, but it had since dropped to RM15,000.

He added it posed a challenge to them as they too had to pay mortgages and send their children to colleges.

He said the more worrying trend was the increase in drug prices - including generic drugs - every few months and doctors had been absorbing the cost.

Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association deputy president Muhammad Sha'ani Abdullah said that the Government must justify the high fee increase.

He said that currently, there were doctors who still charge RM15 for consultation and if that was the case, that should be made the fee for the lower ceiling.

"Why must the lower ceiling increase from RM10 to RM30? That is a 300% increase," he said adding that it was considered price-fixing when the price is set higher than the market floor price.

He also said that drug supply should be made open tender and not monopolised by Pharmaniaga Bhd.

D-Day on doc’s fees

theSundaily

KUALA LUMPUR: Private hospitals and clinics will know tomorrow whether they can increase, with immediate effect, their fees for medical consultation and procedures.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam will make the announcement after the ministry's post-cabinet meeting.

This was the response of Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah when asked to comment on a local news portal's report today on the possibility of a fee hike following the amended 13th Schedule of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 which was gazetted on Dec 16 last year.

"The minister will inform the media tomorrow on the ministry's stand on the issue," he said.

Doctors in the private sector have not had an increase in their fees for the past 15 years and neither has the ministry drawn up any new schedule of fees for them.

The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) had last year asked for a 30% increase in consultation and procedural charges, but had to put it on hold following a public outcry.

MMA president Datuk Dr N.K.S. Tharmaseelan said today that doctors needed an increase in view of the rise in living and operating costs.

"It's been a long time since the last increase," he added.

General practitioners get between RM30 and RM50 per consultation while specialists charge between RM50 and RM80.

Tharmaseelan had earlier been quoted as saying that it was a misconception that doctors were rich and greedy.

"Many doctors are scraping the barrel with the rising utility bills, rentals and salaries (for staff). Quite a few have even quit practice as it's too expensive to maintain a clinic," he said.

On average, the operating cost for a general practitioner to run a clinic in Kuala Lumpur is about RM20,000 per month.

Tharmaseelan said a general practitioner, for instance, charges between RM45 and RM50, including medication, for a patient having cough and cold.

He said a fee increase is necessary for doctors to cover their "basic costs" in view of mandatory rulings like paying minimum wage.

Now, doctors are also required to have medical indemnity insurance, hire radiographers and engage waste disposal contractors for their clinics, he added.

Private clinics, hospitals to charge more after minister gazettes new fee structure, says report

The Malaysian Insider

An amendment to the 13th Schedule of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 is set to push medical fees in private clinics and hospitals by several fold, said a report.

News portal Malaysiakini said the amendment was gazetted on December 16 last year without much fanfare, as even members of parliament were not informed.

But the report said the health minister is legally not required to consult MPs, as spelt out by Section 106(2) of the same act, giving the minister powers to amend prices in the schedule after consulting the health director-general.


The increase in medical costs involved fees charged by doctors, from general practitioners to specialists and surgeons.

The new charge for a clinic consultation is now between RM30 and RM125, as opposed to RM10-RM35 previously.

A visit to a specialist may now cost up to RM235 for consultation alone, double the previous cap of RM125, while fees for medical procedures will be increased between 14–18%.

Several MPs with medical backgrounds have spoken out against the increase and the manner in which it was rushed through.

"As a former medical practitioner, I feel this drastic price increase is not warranted... the rakyat are already suffering from all kinds of price hikes," PKR's Wangsa Maju MP, Dr Tan Kee Kwong told Malaysiakini.

Sungai Siput MP Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj, however, said that while stiff competition among general practitioners would mean the fee hike would not be followed, the same would not be the case with medical procedures.

Dr Jeyakumar also criticised the government's investment in private healthcare, saying it was a serious conflict of interest as the government should be focusing on improving public hospitals. – March 4, 2014.

Malaysia aims to break into medical tourism market in big way

New Straits Times

NEW YORK: Since the general character of the tourism industry is gradually compartmentalising itself into highly specialised money-spinning segments, tourism experts are busy devising strategies that would open up these individual segments for them.
Malaysia, for example, is eyeing the medical tourism sector which is inherent with considerable revenue-generating potential as patients in developed western countries, particularly in the United States (US), are looking for good quality but low-cost sites which offer not only medical services but also have attractive tourism attributes.

"As a corporatised agency funded by the Malaysian Government, we are promoting healthcare travel and are positioning Malaysia as a preferred healthcare destination,” explained Kuala Lumpur-based Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) chief executive Dr Mary Wong, in an interview with Bernama at the ongoing three-day New York Times Travel Show (NYTTS).

At the NYTTS, she also presented at a seminar, a book titled 'Patients Beyond Borders' by Josef Woodmann, considered a valuable source of information about facilities along with important contacts for tests/treatment, etc., available in Malaysia.

Wong, whose organisation has participated in a number of international travel and tourism shows worldwide, in conjunction with Tourism Malaysia, believes the medical travel industry is “bound to grow tremendously” because of rising healthcare costs, heightened health awareness and better information available in developed countries about treatment options.

“Many patients in western countries have to wait before they are even examined by the medical care facilities. As you can imagine, this can be fatal if there is any terminal illness involved.

We can provide good, almost immediate care. We have drastically cut down waiting time for patients,” she said.

Although Malaysia has a well-developed healthcare infrastructure, supported by state-of-the-art equipment, many experts in the US often question the availability of sufficient number of medical doctors and other experts. “We have adequate number of doctors to support our healthcare system. Indeed, we have 5,000 new well-trained medical graduates each year.

Besides, our medical force gets an additional 1,000 specialised medical experts each year. Indeed, we are trying to target one doctor for a population of 400 people,” she maintained.

Wong said healthcare tourism would generate “substantial contribution” for Malaysia’s economy, accounting for some RM594 million, in terms of revenue in 2012.

“In 2013, the revenue is estimated to reach RM688 million, according to tentative estimates,” she added.

For the health-conscious traveller, Malaysia offers a unique combination of good quality, low-cost healthcare and an attractive tourist destination, Wong observed. While visiting Malaysia, the traveller can also undergo medical check and use facilities involving preventive wellness, spas, cosmetic and dental surgery, etc.

While Singapore may have built a reputation for itself as a medical tourist destination, it is rapidly losing this advantage because of rising costs and faces fierce competition from other countries, including Malaysia, thanks to their much-lower medical and hospitalisation costs.

Five-star hotels in Malaysia are also much cheaper.

Wong said that as an English-speaking country, Malaysia also offered the ease of direct communication between patients and attending doctors and medical staff at hospitals.

“The traveller should have no problem sharing his or her concerns with doctors and healthcare staff. Malaysian hospitals also offer a combination of Eastern and Western medicine,” she noted.

Asked why Malaysia was 'Johnny-come-lately' in the medical tourism sector, she said her organisation, which was formed only a few years ago, had aggressively pushed for medical tourism in 2011.

“But because of our unique advantages, both governments and patients in developed countries will, invariably, appreciate our cost and other advantages,” she added.

The top 10 foreign nationalities which visited Malaysia in 2012 for medical treatment were Indonesia (375,499), India (22,350), Japan (17,775), China (15,407), United Kingdom (13,366), US (12,158), Libya (11,872), Bangladesh (11,594), Australia (10,369) and Nepal (10,031).

The popular treatments sought in Malaysia are cardiology, oncology, orthopaedic, obstetrics and gynaecology, urology, otolaryngology, gastroenterology, reconstructive surgery, health screening and second opinion.

Tourism Malaysia’s New York office, led by its vice-president, Ahmad Johanif Mohd Ali, had a busy Saturday at the NYTTS as hordes of American visitors descended on the show venue to witness the various cultural and culinary presentations made by the entire world vying to get a slice of the American tourism market.

He told Bernama there was “great interest” amongst American tourists for Malaysia, based on the large turnout of inquisitive visitors who not only came to witness the colourful Malaysian cultural dances at the stage but also sought information, brochures and other materials at the Malaysia stand. -- BERNAMA

Lee calls for early introduction of mental healthcare policy in workplaces

The Malay Mail Online

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 ― Mental Health Promotion Advisory Council member Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye has called for an early introduction of guidelines for promoting mental healthcare in workplace

He said the guidelines were aimed at reducing the increasing number of employees who were likely to suffer anxiety, depression and mental stress due to job pressure.

He said the guidelines would ensure the happiness and well-being of workers and their families through initiatives to promote good mental health in workplaces.

He noted there was an increasing number of executives and workers who were likely to suffer from anxiety, depression and mental stress, in relation to their jobs and working lives.

“In line with this, it might be timely for the government to expedite the introduction of guidelines for mental healthcare promotion, to enable implementation of basic measures for adoption and implementation by employers in workplaces,” he said in a statement here today.

Elaborating, Lee said employers should utilise the safety and health committees at workplaces to examine and identify the current mental health of employees and promote mental healthcare measures.

He said employers should consider the specific nature of mental health problems, the consideration of individual worker privacy and formulate a fundamental programme on mental wellbeing for employees.

He also called on the government to provide more benefits such as insurance coverage for the mentally-ill, and income tax relief for parents or relatives who had to take care of the mentally-ill. ― Bernama

Health Ministry: Be wary of heat stroke

Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry has called on Malaysians to be alert towards early signs of heat stroke in the wake of the current hot and dry weather.

Its director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah told Bernama heat stroke happens when the body temperature exceeds 40.5 degree Celcius.

A normal human being’s temperature is at 37.0 degree Celcius.

“Among the early symptoms of a heat stroke are a throbbing headache, nausea, lack of perspiration despite the hot weather and a fast pulse.

“Other signs are weak muscles, spasms, vomiting, dry and reddish skin and seizures and blackouts,” he said.

Noor Hisham said the high temperature invited complications to the nervous system of the brain, which could result in coma and could cause death.

The Meteorological Department, prior to this, had said the hot and dry weather in the country currently was worse than last year and was expected to continue until mid-May.

Noor Hisham said prolonged exposure to the hot weather, not drinking enough water and dehydration were among the causes of heat stroke.

As such, he suggested placing anyone suffering from a heat stroke in a shaded and cool area.

“The high temperature can be reduced by placing the victim under a fan and wiping his body with a wet towel.

“The patient can also be placed in a pool of water to reduce his temperature and cool him down,” he said.

Noor Hisham also urged the public to avoid leisure activities under the sun and to drink a large quantity of water, at least 2.5 litres a day.

-Bernama