NST: While young people their age spend weekends at the movies or at nightclubs, a group of 20-somethings has a more important thing on their mind — sex. And for good reason.
They are joining Family Planning Associations (FPAs) to train and advise their peers about safe and responsible sex.
While some may argue that ignorance is bliss, when it comes to sex issues, these young people feel ignorance is damning.
Twenty-year-old Loh Yat Hong trains youths to be peer educators to provide advice and counselling to other young people on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues. He also gives talks in schools.
"I advise them to think carefully and on precautions to take, including contraceptives," said insurance agent Loh who joined the Perak FPA four years ago and became a youth leader a year later.
He joined the FPA when he saw the mindset of his friends regarding these issues and because sex had always been regarded as a taboo subject.
In a month, he speaks to some five to 10 people, mostly young people.
James Seow Kim Ong, 22, a store owner in Malacca, joined the state FPA in 1999.
"I sympathise with many adolescents who have the wrong concept of sex. Parents don’t talk to you, and when you ask your teachers, they say ‘I don’t know’. We always get it wrong, and it turns into something else," he said.
His parents were pretty sporting about his involvement in the association, he said, saying that as long as he was doing volunteer work, they were happy as it would make him a better person.
In January, Loh and youths like him formed the Movement of Adolescents in Sex and Reproductive Health, or Movah, under the Japanese Organisation for International Co-operation in Family Planning and the United Nations Population Fund.
The eight members from Malaysia, the Philippines, Cambodia and Bangladesh, between the ages of 19 and 24, advocate SRH issues and network with other similar bodies.
Loh and Seow are part of a new generation of youth leaders health professionals wish were a bigger number.
Prof Sarinah Low Wah Yun, head of the Health Research Development Unit at the University Malaya Medical Centre, explained the need to have youth-friendly clinics that would allow young people access to information on sexual health.
Federation of Family Planning Associations head of programme services, Piaro Kaur, said clinics were making an effort to be more youth-friendly.
Malaysian Medical News: keeping you up to date with news sourced from various online sites, put in one place for your convenience, with a searchable archive
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Sosco docs under fire
NST: Thousands of workers are losing out on Socso benefits due to under-diagnosis of occupational diseases by panel doctors.
Some of the 4,690 doctors have taken it upon themselves to limit investigations leading to a negligible number of workers being identified with such diseases.
Workers have lost out in medical treatment, compensation and possibly, disability benefits.
Most of the cases referred to Socso involved noise pollution with occupational diseases that went undiagnosed, including skin and lung-related diseases and muscular skeletal disorder.
Using the United Kingdom standard of one worker with an occupational disease to every industrial accident, Malaysia should have registered 69,132 workers with occupational diseases.
But only 183 cases of workers with occupational diseases were recorded last year.
Socso recorded 1,247 cases of occupational disease in 1995; 1,089 in 1996; 832 in 1997; 178 in 1998;192 in 1999; 278 in 2000; 204 in 2001; 216 in 2002 and 189 in 2003.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn, disappointed with the poor performance of Sosco doctors, wants them to give workers their rightful benefits.
"Occupational diseases are grossly under-reported for the Malaysian worker population and something has to be done about this," he told the New Straits Times.
An occupational disease is defined as any abnormal condition or disorder with the exception of occupational injuries, caused by exposure to factors associated with employment.
Fong felt that some Socso doctors failed to adequately investigate cases.
"They should check if diseases suffered by workers were related to their nature of work, the machines they worked with, chemicals they handled and if their places of work had noise or dust pollution."
He said medical statistics showed that three out of 10 asthma cases could be work-related.
"There could be more workers suffering from musculo-skeletal disorders and skin diseases linked to occupational hazards."
Fong said workers, especially those in small and medium industries, should be made aware of occupational diseases and their prevention.
It is in this regard that the doctors have been required, since January this year, to attend occupational disease training courses, something which only 680 or 14.49 per cent did.
"I had given them a year to do so but few have complied. I am giving them another six months, failing which they may be struck off the panel."
The doctors have until Dec 31 to attend the courses.
They can do so at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia or in a six-month diploma level twinning programme for Occupational Medicine with the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.
The doctors also have the option of doing so at other local universities offering courses in occupational medicine.
On occupational diseases like contact dermatitis, asthma, pneumoconioses (caused by asbestosis), hypersensitivity pneumonitis, inhalation fever and heavy metal poisoning, he said they were preventable.
Diseases that affected the blood, liver and nervous system were usually the result of industrial spills or confined-space accidents.
There are 48 occupational diseases on the Socso list.
Some of the 4,690 doctors have taken it upon themselves to limit investigations leading to a negligible number of workers being identified with such diseases.
Workers have lost out in medical treatment, compensation and possibly, disability benefits.
Most of the cases referred to Socso involved noise pollution with occupational diseases that went undiagnosed, including skin and lung-related diseases and muscular skeletal disorder.
Using the United Kingdom standard of one worker with an occupational disease to every industrial accident, Malaysia should have registered 69,132 workers with occupational diseases.
But only 183 cases of workers with occupational diseases were recorded last year.
Socso recorded 1,247 cases of occupational disease in 1995; 1,089 in 1996; 832 in 1997; 178 in 1998;192 in 1999; 278 in 2000; 204 in 2001; 216 in 2002 and 189 in 2003.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn, disappointed with the poor performance of Sosco doctors, wants them to give workers their rightful benefits.
"Occupational diseases are grossly under-reported for the Malaysian worker population and something has to be done about this," he told the New Straits Times.
An occupational disease is defined as any abnormal condition or disorder with the exception of occupational injuries, caused by exposure to factors associated with employment.
Fong felt that some Socso doctors failed to adequately investigate cases.
"They should check if diseases suffered by workers were related to their nature of work, the machines they worked with, chemicals they handled and if their places of work had noise or dust pollution."
He said medical statistics showed that three out of 10 asthma cases could be work-related.
"There could be more workers suffering from musculo-skeletal disorders and skin diseases linked to occupational hazards."
Fong said workers, especially those in small and medium industries, should be made aware of occupational diseases and their prevention.
It is in this regard that the doctors have been required, since January this year, to attend occupational disease training courses, something which only 680 or 14.49 per cent did.
"I had given them a year to do so but few have complied. I am giving them another six months, failing which they may be struck off the panel."
The doctors have until Dec 31 to attend the courses.
They can do so at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia or in a six-month diploma level twinning programme for Occupational Medicine with the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.
The doctors also have the option of doing so at other local universities offering courses in occupational medicine.
On occupational diseases like contact dermatitis, asthma, pneumoconioses (caused by asbestosis), hypersensitivity pneumonitis, inhalation fever and heavy metal poisoning, he said they were preventable.
Diseases that affected the blood, liver and nervous system were usually the result of industrial spills or confined-space accidents.
There are 48 occupational diseases on the Socso list.
Health Ministry Still Awaiting Confirmation On HSI's Reopening
BATU PAHAT, Nov 18 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry is still awaiting confirmation from the Works Ministry whether the Sultan Ismail Hospital (HSI) in Johor Baharu, which had been closed since Sept 29, last year due to fungus problems, is now safe to be reopened.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said his ministry was prepared to reopen the more than RM500 million hospital if the Public Works Department (PWD) decided it would be safe to accommodate patients.
"We are still waiting (for PWD's confirmation). As soon as PWD hands it over to us, we will accept if the ministry is satisfied with the condition. However, up till now, there are no reports from PWD," he told reporters after visiting Tongkang Pecah Health Clinic here Friday.
The hospital in Pandan, Johor Baharu, was closed immediately after two months of operation following a fungus infestation which affected hospital equipment and walls, endangering the safety of its patients and staff.
The problem prompted the Works Ministry to order the contractor who built the hospital to carry out repair works before it was returned to the Health Ministry.
Prior to that, the construction of the 704-bed hospital, which acted as a referral centre for cancer patients in Southern Peninsular Malaysia, had been delayed several times since its construction began in 1999.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said his ministry was prepared to reopen the more than RM500 million hospital if the Public Works Department (PWD) decided it would be safe to accommodate patients.
"We are still waiting (for PWD's confirmation). As soon as PWD hands it over to us, we will accept if the ministry is satisfied with the condition. However, up till now, there are no reports from PWD," he told reporters after visiting Tongkang Pecah Health Clinic here Friday.
The hospital in Pandan, Johor Baharu, was closed immediately after two months of operation following a fungus infestation which affected hospital equipment and walls, endangering the safety of its patients and staff.
The problem prompted the Works Ministry to order the contractor who built the hospital to carry out repair works before it was returned to the Health Ministry.
Prior to that, the construction of the 704-bed hospital, which acted as a referral centre for cancer patients in Southern Peninsular Malaysia, had been delayed several times since its construction began in 1999.
Friday, November 18, 2005
Condom now a necessary protection
Star: PETALING JAYA: When her son left for his studies overseas at the age of 19, she told him to use condoms.
Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen said she only wanted her son to be safe.
“I told him that I was not condoning him having premarital sex but just think of it as protection. I said as a mother, I would cry if you get AIDS,” she said.
Dr Ng said that parents should tell their children about safe sex.
“Teach your children how to use a condom,” she told a press conference at the Third Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health yesterday.
According to Dr Ng, many youths did not realise that pregnancy and infection would occur with just a single intercourse.
Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen said she only wanted her son to be safe.
“I told him that I was not condoning him having premarital sex but just think of it as protection. I said as a mother, I would cry if you get AIDS,” she said.
Dr Ng said that parents should tell their children about safe sex.
“Teach your children how to use a condom,” she told a press conference at the Third Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health yesterday.
According to Dr Ng, many youths did not realise that pregnancy and infection would occur with just a single intercourse.
Chua: Fake Tamiflu could be in the market
Star: JOHOR BARU: There is no stock of the anti-viral drug Tamiflu left in the country and those in the market could be fakes, said Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek.
He advised people not to panic and purchase the drug.
“Because of rumours and media reports, the people are anxious and worry about the avian flu and want to stock up on Tamiflu.
“I am afraid this demand may lead to the production of fake medicine.
“I want to state again, so far there are no avian flu cases in Malaysia and the ministry will be very transparent in the event that there is one,” said Dr Chua after the ground-breaking ceremony for a new building at SJK(C) Woon Hwa here yesterday.
He said the ministry would hand out pamphlets next month to educate the public on how the flu spreads, preventive measures to take, and what should be done if there was a suspected case.
“Many people are confused, as this is a new disease and a lot of people are concerned about it.
“This pamphlet is to educate the public on the different aspects of the disease, including ways of transmission and how to avoid being infected,” he said.
He advised people not to panic and purchase the drug.
“Because of rumours and media reports, the people are anxious and worry about the avian flu and want to stock up on Tamiflu.
“I am afraid this demand may lead to the production of fake medicine.
“I want to state again, so far there are no avian flu cases in Malaysia and the ministry will be very transparent in the event that there is one,” said Dr Chua after the ground-breaking ceremony for a new building at SJK(C) Woon Hwa here yesterday.
He said the ministry would hand out pamphlets next month to educate the public on how the flu spreads, preventive measures to take, and what should be done if there was a suspected case.
“Many people are confused, as this is a new disease and a lot of people are concerned about it.
“This pamphlet is to educate the public on the different aspects of the disease, including ways of transmission and how to avoid being infected,” he said.
60 undergo endoscopic procedures at workshop
Star: KUALA LUMPUR: Patients with abdominal problems were flown or brought here by ambulance from as far away as Alor Star and Kota Kinabalu to undergo endoscopic procedures in front of 320 people.
The procedures involving 60 patients suffering from stomach, colon and bladder ailments were performed before participants of the Fifth International Advanced Endoscopy Workshop yesterday.
Among the techniques highlighted at the two-day workshop in Selayang Hospital were electronic radial echoendoscopy, novel therapies and double balloon enteroscopy as well as new devices in colonoscopy.
Selayang Hospital Endoscopy Unit director Dr Ryan Ponnudurai said the theme for the event, The Thinking Endoscopist, stressed the importance of thought processes behind performing the technically challenging procedures.
The hospital, he said, was in the forefront of performing endoscopic ultrasound in Malaysia.
The service is also available at the Alor Star General Hospital, Kota Kinabalu Hospital and Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
The procedures involving 60 patients suffering from stomach, colon and bladder ailments were performed before participants of the Fifth International Advanced Endoscopy Workshop yesterday.
Among the techniques highlighted at the two-day workshop in Selayang Hospital were electronic radial echoendoscopy, novel therapies and double balloon enteroscopy as well as new devices in colonoscopy.
Selayang Hospital Endoscopy Unit director Dr Ryan Ponnudurai said the theme for the event, The Thinking Endoscopist, stressed the importance of thought processes behind performing the technically challenging procedures.
The hospital, he said, was in the forefront of performing endoscopic ultrasound in Malaysia.
The service is also available at the Alor Star General Hospital, Kota Kinabalu Hospital and Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
Rankings issue arose from error
Star: PETALING JAYA: The good news is that two Malaysian universities did not really drop significantly in the world university rankings.
But the bad news is that Universiti Malaya (UM) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) should never have been ranked so high to start with.
Their misleading positions last year in the World University Rankings were due to a case of “mistaken identity”.
Chinese and Indians at the public universities were wrongly categorised as foreign students, which resulted in UM and USM doing well in this ranking criterion.
The mistake in their international enrolment was, however, rectified this year, resulting in a drastic drop in the latest rankings.
UM and USM made it to 89th and 111th spot, respectively, last year but fell sharply this year, raising concerns of a drop in standards at the universities.
UM plunged to 169th position while USM dropped out of the top 200 universities.
Nunzio Quacquarelli, managing director of QS Quacquarelli Symonds which compiled the rankings, clarified that the mistake occurred because they were not aware of Malaysia’s racial composition.
“Last year, the Chinese and Indian students were classified as foreign nationals; this resulted in Malaysia getting very high marks under the international students category.
“However, once the marks were adjusted this year, there was a big change of position for both universities,” he said here yesterday.
Quacquarelli said that despite the sharp fall in its overall position, UM had improved tremendously.
“If you look at peer review, which accounts for 40% of the marks, UM rose 41 places to 80.”
UM was placed among the top 100 universities in three out of five categories – Arts and Humanities (45th place), Biomedicine (82nd) and Social Science (83rd). The other two categories are Science and Technology.
He said QS came up with the rankings, which are published in The Times Higher Education Supplement (THES), to provide information to prospective students so that they would be able to make more informed decisions.
But the bad news is that Universiti Malaya (UM) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) should never have been ranked so high to start with.
Their misleading positions last year in the World University Rankings were due to a case of “mistaken identity”.
Chinese and Indians at the public universities were wrongly categorised as foreign students, which resulted in UM and USM doing well in this ranking criterion.
The mistake in their international enrolment was, however, rectified this year, resulting in a drastic drop in the latest rankings.
UM and USM made it to 89th and 111th spot, respectively, last year but fell sharply this year, raising concerns of a drop in standards at the universities.
UM plunged to 169th position while USM dropped out of the top 200 universities.
Nunzio Quacquarelli, managing director of QS Quacquarelli Symonds which compiled the rankings, clarified that the mistake occurred because they were not aware of Malaysia’s racial composition.
“Last year, the Chinese and Indian students were classified as foreign nationals; this resulted in Malaysia getting very high marks under the international students category.
“However, once the marks were adjusted this year, there was a big change of position for both universities,” he said here yesterday.
Quacquarelli said that despite the sharp fall in its overall position, UM had improved tremendously.
“If you look at peer review, which accounts for 40% of the marks, UM rose 41 places to 80.”
UM was placed among the top 100 universities in three out of five categories – Arts and Humanities (45th place), Biomedicine (82nd) and Social Science (83rd). The other two categories are Science and Technology.
He said QS came up with the rankings, which are published in The Times Higher Education Supplement (THES), to provide information to prospective students so that they would be able to make more informed decisions.
Right to describe own gender
Star: KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian authorities should seriously consider whether people have the right to describe their own gender so that no individual is denied his or her human or civil rights, said a panel comprising a doctor, a judge and an activist.
They said this after discussing the legal and psychological hurdles a transsexual faces, at the session on Gender Issues – Gender Reassignment on the second day of the 13th Malaysian Law Conference yesterday.
Malaysian Medical Association Ethics Committee chairman Dr Ravindran Jegasothy, High Court Justice Datuk V. Thiripurasingam and Honey Tan of the Women’s Centre for Change spoke on this.
Dr Ravindran, in pointing out a medico-legal anomaly, said: “Although sex change operations and therapy for transsexuals are legal in Malaysia, there is no law that allows the sex on the identification documents of the individuals to be changed.
“Appropriate changes in the Registration of Births and Deaths Act 1957 can be made after an evaluation and certification by an identified team of multidisciplinary medical practitioners to prevent abuse.”
He said the medical community would also support a review of the Minor Offences Act 1955 that interpreted cross-dressing as indecent behaviour.
“Transsexuals dress according to their gender identity for a medical reason and not for crossing swords with society.”
Justice Thiripurasingam called on legal institutions to see if the law should continue to rely on traditional sex criteria to define one’s legal sex or if these factors should be subordinated to self-identified sex.
Justice Thiripurasingam said: “No principle of justice will be undermined if the courts adopt a more flexible approach that includes 'intersexuality' as a sex classification and allows transgenders to self-identify their sex, provided there is a legislation to regularise this category of people.”
Tan said the experiences of transsexuals with the law had mostly been in the negative.
Citing a 2001 study on male transsexuals in Malaysia, she said the reasons for the arrests were cross-dressing (33%), indecent dressing (18%), prostitution (16%), failing drug tests (13%), picked up in police raids (10%) and loitering (6%).
They said this after discussing the legal and psychological hurdles a transsexual faces, at the session on Gender Issues – Gender Reassignment on the second day of the 13th Malaysian Law Conference yesterday.
Malaysian Medical Association Ethics Committee chairman Dr Ravindran Jegasothy, High Court Justice Datuk V. Thiripurasingam and Honey Tan of the Women’s Centre for Change spoke on this.
Dr Ravindran, in pointing out a medico-legal anomaly, said: “Although sex change operations and therapy for transsexuals are legal in Malaysia, there is no law that allows the sex on the identification documents of the individuals to be changed.
“Appropriate changes in the Registration of Births and Deaths Act 1957 can be made after an evaluation and certification by an identified team of multidisciplinary medical practitioners to prevent abuse.”
He said the medical community would also support a review of the Minor Offences Act 1955 that interpreted cross-dressing as indecent behaviour.
“Transsexuals dress according to their gender identity for a medical reason and not for crossing swords with society.”
Justice Thiripurasingam called on legal institutions to see if the law should continue to rely on traditional sex criteria to define one’s legal sex or if these factors should be subordinated to self-identified sex.
Justice Thiripurasingam said: “No principle of justice will be undermined if the courts adopt a more flexible approach that includes 'intersexuality' as a sex classification and allows transgenders to self-identify their sex, provided there is a legislation to regularise this category of people.”
Tan said the experiences of transsexuals with the law had mostly been in the negative.
Citing a 2001 study on male transsexuals in Malaysia, she said the reasons for the arrests were cross-dressing (33%), indecent dressing (18%), prostitution (16%), failing drug tests (13%), picked up in police raids (10%) and loitering (6%).
Schools to have sex education
NST: Sex education may be introduced in schools as early as next year.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil will meet Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to push for the subject to be included in the syllabus.
"It is up to the Education Ministry when it will be introduced, but we hope it will be next year," she said.
Speaking to the Press after opening the third Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health at the Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre today, she said the proposed syllabus was being finalised.
Conference patron Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Ali, in her keynote address, also spoke on the issue of whether sex education should be taught in schools.
"We adults fear that when children are provided with information and knowledge on sex education, they will engage in sexual practices.
"But we also forget the positive effects that children will be more responsible and careful when given the timely information and guidance," she said.
She stressed that there was scientific evidence to prove the argument and there was a need for a collective voice to advocate good sex education and counselling.
Dr Siti Hasmah also touched at length on the abortion debate, which she said could not be ignored any longer.
She said the debate had raised diverse political and religious views which caused a divide among and within families and countries.
"The fact that we need to provide options and best choices for women is often not available to those in need," she said.
Many countries have legislation that outlaw abortions, she said.
Dr Siti Hasmah drew attention to unsafe abortions, saying that 40 per cent of abortions were unsafe while half of all abortions in the world occurred in Asia.
"Surely it makes sense to put appropriate legislation and policies in place and to provide for services and appropriate technology so that lives of these unfortunate women and girls can be saved," she said.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil will meet Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to push for the subject to be included in the syllabus.
"It is up to the Education Ministry when it will be introduced, but we hope it will be next year," she said.
Speaking to the Press after opening the third Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health at the Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre today, she said the proposed syllabus was being finalised.
Conference patron Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Ali, in her keynote address, also spoke on the issue of whether sex education should be taught in schools.
"We adults fear that when children are provided with information and knowledge on sex education, they will engage in sexual practices.
"But we also forget the positive effects that children will be more responsible and careful when given the timely information and guidance," she said.
She stressed that there was scientific evidence to prove the argument and there was a need for a collective voice to advocate good sex education and counselling.
Dr Siti Hasmah also touched at length on the abortion debate, which she said could not be ignored any longer.
She said the debate had raised diverse political and religious views which caused a divide among and within families and countries.
"The fact that we need to provide options and best choices for women is often not available to those in need," she said.
Many countries have legislation that outlaw abortions, she said.
Dr Siti Hasmah drew attention to unsafe abortions, saying that 40 per cent of abortions were unsafe while half of all abortions in the world occurred in Asia.
"Surely it makes sense to put appropriate legislation and policies in place and to provide for services and appropriate technology so that lives of these unfortunate women and girls can be saved," she said.
Halfway houses for mental patients
NST: Halfway houses for mental patients to interact with family members and others would be established to ascertain the patients' true condition before they are released to society.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said two more mental hospitals would be built to cater for the increasing number of people suffering from mental problems.
The two hospitals, which would incorporate the halfway houses, would be located in Tampoi, Johor, and Alor Star, Kedah, and would be built at the cost of RM700 million each. They are expected to be completed in 2009.
The proposed hospital in Tampoi would have 1,100 beds, of which 800 are for in-patient treatment, and 300 beds for the halfway house. They would be ready in 2010.
With the two hospitals, the number of psychiatric institutions in the country will be increased to six.
The current ones are Hospital Permai in Johor, Hospital Bahagia in Perak, Hospital Sentosa in Sarawak and Hospital Bukit Padang in Sabah.
Dr Chua said the halfway houses were to reduce society's negative perception of mental illness as currently, patients discharged from psychiatric institutions faced numerous problems.
"A recovering patient who is on the verge of being released will be housed there. Rehabilitation programmes will be conducted for patients to relearn social skills and adjust to the outside world.
"Their families will also be able to stay with them to give moral support," he said after launching the Psychology Notebook by consultant clinical psychologist Leong Huey Mei.
Malaysia has 165 psychiatrists and 33 clinical psychiatrists but to effectively serve the people, the nation needs 884 psychiatrists and 364 clinical psychiatrists.
Dr Chua attributed the low number of psychiatrists in the country to lack of interest in this field.
He also said it was estimated that 2.6 million Malaysians aged five and above suffered some form of psychological problem.
However, the number of people who seek treatment is believed to be less than 20 per cent, as they do not want society to label them as a "mental patient".
"Their reluctance is also due to lack of understanding that mental problems could be solved through counselling and treatment."
Dr Chua said society's perception that all mental patients were "crazy" and "aggressive" was incorrect.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said two more mental hospitals would be built to cater for the increasing number of people suffering from mental problems.
The two hospitals, which would incorporate the halfway houses, would be located in Tampoi, Johor, and Alor Star, Kedah, and would be built at the cost of RM700 million each. They are expected to be completed in 2009.
The proposed hospital in Tampoi would have 1,100 beds, of which 800 are for in-patient treatment, and 300 beds for the halfway house. They would be ready in 2010.
With the two hospitals, the number of psychiatric institutions in the country will be increased to six.
The current ones are Hospital Permai in Johor, Hospital Bahagia in Perak, Hospital Sentosa in Sarawak and Hospital Bukit Padang in Sabah.
Dr Chua said the halfway houses were to reduce society's negative perception of mental illness as currently, patients discharged from psychiatric institutions faced numerous problems.
"A recovering patient who is on the verge of being released will be housed there. Rehabilitation programmes will be conducted for patients to relearn social skills and adjust to the outside world.
"Their families will also be able to stay with them to give moral support," he said after launching the Psychology Notebook by consultant clinical psychologist Leong Huey Mei.
Malaysia has 165 psychiatrists and 33 clinical psychiatrists but to effectively serve the people, the nation needs 884 psychiatrists and 364 clinical psychiatrists.
Dr Chua attributed the low number of psychiatrists in the country to lack of interest in this field.
He also said it was estimated that 2.6 million Malaysians aged five and above suffered some form of psychological problem.
However, the number of people who seek treatment is believed to be less than 20 per cent, as they do not want society to label them as a "mental patient".
"Their reluctance is also due to lack of understanding that mental problems could be solved through counselling and treatment."
Dr Chua said society's perception that all mental patients were "crazy" and "aggressive" was incorrect.
New approach may give hope to cancer patients
NST: A novel approach to cancer treatment will be undertaken for the first time in Malaysia.
Cancer vaccines which mobilise the immune system to target malignant cancer cells have been developed by the Centre of Molecular Immunology (CIM) in Cuba.
This new approach, as opposed to traditional treatments which target the cancerous cells themselves, has been carried out on lung cancer patients with great success by CIM which has been developing the vaccines for the last 10 years.
Head of CIM, cancer vaccine specialist Dr Gisela Gonzalez, who is in Malaysia to design the protocol for the second phase of the clinical trial with a group of local oncologists and clinical researchers, said that clinical trials carried out in two phases in Cuba, Canada and the United Kingdom have resulted in double life expectancy for patients who responded to the vaccine.
"The clinical trials carried out have demonstrated that 70 per cent of patients vaccinated develop specific antibodies that target known cancer cell proliferation agents," she said.
Cell proliferation agents - the EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor), TGF (Transdermal Growth Factor) and Her-1 (Herceptin) - normally bind themselves to direct cells to multiply. However, in cancer cells, this process becomes unregulated, resulting in uncontrolled cell multiplication or proliferation.
Dr Gonzalez said that some patients who responded to the vaccine have lived for up to three to four years as opposed to the five to seven months diagnosed before taking the vaccine.
"This is significant because most lung cancer patients at such stages are terminal cases who do not usually live beyond a few months."
She said that unlike chemotherapy, the vaccinations do not affect the patients' immune system, therefore patients experience a better quality of life in their final years.
In some cases, the size of cancerous tumours have also been reduced. In one patient, the tumour completely disappeared.
Cancer vaccines which mobilise the immune system to target malignant cancer cells have been developed by the Centre of Molecular Immunology (CIM) in Cuba.
This new approach, as opposed to traditional treatments which target the cancerous cells themselves, has been carried out on lung cancer patients with great success by CIM which has been developing the vaccines for the last 10 years.
Head of CIM, cancer vaccine specialist Dr Gisela Gonzalez, who is in Malaysia to design the protocol for the second phase of the clinical trial with a group of local oncologists and clinical researchers, said that clinical trials carried out in two phases in Cuba, Canada and the United Kingdom have resulted in double life expectancy for patients who responded to the vaccine.
"The clinical trials carried out have demonstrated that 70 per cent of patients vaccinated develop specific antibodies that target known cancer cell proliferation agents," she said.
Cell proliferation agents - the EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor), TGF (Transdermal Growth Factor) and Her-1 (Herceptin) - normally bind themselves to direct cells to multiply. However, in cancer cells, this process becomes unregulated, resulting in uncontrolled cell multiplication or proliferation.
Dr Gonzalez said that some patients who responded to the vaccine have lived for up to three to four years as opposed to the five to seven months diagnosed before taking the vaccine.
"This is significant because most lung cancer patients at such stages are terminal cases who do not usually live beyond a few months."
She said that unlike chemotherapy, the vaccinations do not affect the patients' immune system, therefore patients experience a better quality of life in their final years.
In some cases, the size of cancerous tumours have also been reduced. In one patient, the tumour completely disappeared.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Sex education in schools soon
NST: Sex education may be introduced in schools as early as next year.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil will hold a meeting with Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to push for the subject to be included in the syllabus soon.
"It is up to the Education Ministry when it will be introduced, but we hope it will be next year," she said.
Speaking at a Press conference after opening the third Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health at the Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre today the proposed syllabus was being finalised.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil will hold a meeting with Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to push for the subject to be included in the syllabus soon.
"It is up to the Education Ministry when it will be introduced, but we hope it will be next year," she said.
Speaking at a Press conference after opening the third Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health at the Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre today the proposed syllabus was being finalised.
CCTVs for nurses hostels after rape case
Sun2Surf: KUALA LUMPUR: More closed circuit televisions (CCTVs) will be installed in Kuala Lumpur Hospital (KLH) to beef up security following the rape of a nurse in her dormitory on Tuesday.
"Presently, 90% of the CCTVs have been installed in the hospital's main building. The rest will be up in the few days.
"Security surveillance will also be stepped up," said Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon in Parliament lobby.
He said the rape is regrettable, and for it to happen to a health staff, but "maintaining security at the hospital is not easy".
"We have a 7,000 health workforce on duty at the hospital for 24 hours and some 10,000 vistors and patients daily.
"The hospital comprises many building blocks with many access roads. To enforce strict visitation restriction will mean the public will not have easy access ... there must be a balance," he added.
Lee said the ministry would extend assistance to the rape victim and co-operate with the police.
"With her testimony, we hope the culprit will be caught soon," he said, adding that new hospitals were already equipped with CCTVs whereas old establishments have yet to be upgraded.
"We are identifying areas that urgently require security installations," he said.
Lee said as part of efforts to improve security at health facilities nationwide, a comprehensive security system is currently being implemented and piloted at KLH.
"Apart from installing more CCTVs, surveillance will be further tightened in addition to the installation of security-coded door," said Lee, adding that the budget would be worked out soonest.
"We have to look at hospitals nationwide. We must do it one by one," he added.
Lee said security plans would cover not only hospital buildings but also nusring colleges, hostels, car parks and others on hospital grounds.
"Having CCTVs is just one aspect. We need more people for monitoring and more guards to check those walking in and out of hospitals," he said.
"Presently, 90% of the CCTVs have been installed in the hospital's main building. The rest will be up in the few days.
"Security surveillance will also be stepped up," said Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon in Parliament lobby.
He said the rape is regrettable, and for it to happen to a health staff, but "maintaining security at the hospital is not easy".
"We have a 7,000 health workforce on duty at the hospital for 24 hours and some 10,000 vistors and patients daily.
"The hospital comprises many building blocks with many access roads. To enforce strict visitation restriction will mean the public will not have easy access ... there must be a balance," he added.
Lee said the ministry would extend assistance to the rape victim and co-operate with the police.
"With her testimony, we hope the culprit will be caught soon," he said, adding that new hospitals were already equipped with CCTVs whereas old establishments have yet to be upgraded.
"We are identifying areas that urgently require security installations," he said.
Lee said as part of efforts to improve security at health facilities nationwide, a comprehensive security system is currently being implemented and piloted at KLH.
"Apart from installing more CCTVs, surveillance will be further tightened in addition to the installation of security-coded door," said Lee, adding that the budget would be worked out soonest.
"We have to look at hospitals nationwide. We must do it one by one," he added.
Lee said security plans would cover not only hospital buildings but also nusring colleges, hostels, car parks and others on hospital grounds.
"Having CCTVs is just one aspect. We need more people for monitoring and more guards to check those walking in and out of hospitals," he said.
Star anise not linked to Tamiflu deaths: Scientist
Sun2Surf: PETALING JAYA: The reported abnormal behaviour and subsequent deaths of two Japanese students medicated with the Tamiflu anti-viral drug is not likely due to shikimic acid derived from a common household spice.
Tamiflu is formulated from Chinese star anise (Illicium verum), or commonly known as bunga lawang, and is used as flavouring in meat dishes.
Assoc Prof Dr Mustaffa Ali Mohd of Universiti Malaya's Faculty of Medicine (Department of Pharmacology) told theSun yesterday that shikimic acid is not known to have any side-effect nor medicinal value.
He said even when it is used in Tamiflu, shikimic acid is no longer "shikimic acid" but a totally new compound.
Mustaffa, who also heads the Shimadzu-UMMC Centre for Xenobiotic studies, explained that shikimic acid has no known medicinal value nor curative properties.
"It is not used in Tamiflu as a therapeutic agent but only provides a molecular structure for the formulation of the drug," he said.
Mustaffa said this when he was shown an advisory issued by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 2003 advising the public not to consume teas brewed from star anise.
The FDA advisory cautioned that teas brewed out of star anise have been associated with illnesses affecting about 40 individuals including 15 infants.
The illnesses which occurred over the last two years prior to 2003 ranged from serious neurological effects such as seizure, vomiting, jitteriness and rapid eye movement.
The agency said: "Although labelling of teas containing star anise does not make claims for the product, FDA understands that these products are popularly believed to help against colic in infants.
However, the FDA said it is unaware of scientific evidence to support benefits from teas brewed from star anise and given that fact, consumers should not use them or give them to infants and children.
It also said it has not identified the specific type of star anise associated with the illnesses.
"For this reason, the agency is issuing this advisory as an interim measure while it continues to gather additional information, including that from certain European countries that have reported similar outbreaks of seizures and jitteriness in individuals who have consumed tea brewed from star anise."
FDA also expressed concern that commonly available Chinese star anise, a product it considers as Generally Recognised As Safe (GRAS) may contain Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum), which has long been recognised as toxic in many countries and which is used for decorative purposes only.
Mustaffa said there could be other "elements" in star anise which may have brought on such adverse conditions in the US experience but shikimic acid is itself not known to be toxic.
He also reiterated that people should not stock up star anise with the intention to consume it in the event of a major avian flu outbreak.
"It does not work that way, but only in the way it is formulated in Tamiflu," said Mustaffa.
Tamiflu is formulated from Chinese star anise (Illicium verum), or commonly known as bunga lawang, and is used as flavouring in meat dishes.
Assoc Prof Dr Mustaffa Ali Mohd of Universiti Malaya's Faculty of Medicine (Department of Pharmacology) told theSun yesterday that shikimic acid is not known to have any side-effect nor medicinal value.
He said even when it is used in Tamiflu, shikimic acid is no longer "shikimic acid" but a totally new compound.
Mustaffa, who also heads the Shimadzu-UMMC Centre for Xenobiotic studies, explained that shikimic acid has no known medicinal value nor curative properties.
"It is not used in Tamiflu as a therapeutic agent but only provides a molecular structure for the formulation of the drug," he said.
Mustaffa said this when he was shown an advisory issued by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 2003 advising the public not to consume teas brewed from star anise.
The FDA advisory cautioned that teas brewed out of star anise have been associated with illnesses affecting about 40 individuals including 15 infants.
The illnesses which occurred over the last two years prior to 2003 ranged from serious neurological effects such as seizure, vomiting, jitteriness and rapid eye movement.
The agency said: "Although labelling of teas containing star anise does not make claims for the product, FDA understands that these products are popularly believed to help against colic in infants.
However, the FDA said it is unaware of scientific evidence to support benefits from teas brewed from star anise and given that fact, consumers should not use them or give them to infants and children.
It also said it has not identified the specific type of star anise associated with the illnesses.
"For this reason, the agency is issuing this advisory as an interim measure while it continues to gather additional information, including that from certain European countries that have reported similar outbreaks of seizures and jitteriness in individuals who have consumed tea brewed from star anise."
FDA also expressed concern that commonly available Chinese star anise, a product it considers as Generally Recognised As Safe (GRAS) may contain Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum), which has long been recognised as toxic in many countries and which is used for decorative purposes only.
Mustaffa said there could be other "elements" in star anise which may have brought on such adverse conditions in the US experience but shikimic acid is itself not known to be toxic.
He also reiterated that people should not stock up star anise with the intention to consume it in the event of a major avian flu outbreak.
"It does not work that way, but only in the way it is formulated in Tamiflu," said Mustaffa.
Pay rural docs extra, urges MMA Sabah
Daily Express: Kota Kinabalu: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) Sabah branch Tuesday urged the Health Ministry to seriously look into improving the welfare of doctors serving in rural areas such as by increasing their critical allowance.
Its Chairman, Dr J S Sidhu, said while requiring new doctors recruited by the Government to work in the rural areas for at least one year was a good idea, "...the Government should also give them a little bit more attention".
"The Government ought to consider paying extra to doctors serving in the rural areas for the hardship that they have to go through," he said, when commenting on a statement by Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek on Monday.
Earlier, on Nov 12, during the Sabah MMA annual-cum-installation dinner, Dr Sidhu had proposed that doctors serving in Sabah have their critical allowance increased to 50 per cent of their base salary or a minimum of RM1,000 from the 10 per cent of their base salary or the minimum of RM500 that they receive now.
He said this would be justified in the face of their hardship and higher cost of living.
"Most of the doctors have a heavier workload and face higher costs of returning home. Currently, doctors get only one return air-ticket every two years," he said, adding the authorities have not done enough to attract doctors to come and serve in Sabah.
He said there appears to be a perception among government doctors that as long as they stay in Sabah or accept transfer to Sabah, the chance of securing a place for post-graduate training or of securing a promotion is poor.
Dr Sidhu also said the Government needed to address the issue fast by providing incentives to doctors serving in the rural areas such as offering them more places for post-graduate studies.
"In fact, their one-year stint in the rural area should also count towards their service for consideration for promotion or further studies.
"We don't want to see the situation where doctors are sent to the rural areas and be completely forgotten," he said.
Consumers Association of Sabah (Cash) President, Datuk Patrick Sindu, had also concurred with Sidhu's comment, saying the Government ought to seriously consider increasing doctors' salaries and allowances considering many of them are "overworked". He said if the situation was not improved, the trend of doctors leaving for private practice would continue.
On Dr Chua's statement, Dr Sidhu said it is relevant in order for doctors to learn how to serve the community better through a one-year stint in rural areas.
"Personally, I agree with the idea since the rural population are also citizens of the country and entitled to similar health service and benefits just like the others," he said.
Dr Chua had said he wants all states to ensure that new doctors recruited by the Government must work in rural areas for at least one year.
He said the move would help reduce the shortage of doctors in rural areas and could also expose the new doctors to conditions away from the cities. Currently, only Perak had imposed this condition.
According to Dr Chua, currently only 60 per cent of medical officers' posts at 860 health clinics and 1,900 rural clinics throughout the country had been filled.
He also said the Ministry had applied for a RM1 billion allocation under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) to upgrade and acquire more equipment for all government clinics in the rural areas.
Its Chairman, Dr J S Sidhu, said while requiring new doctors recruited by the Government to work in the rural areas for at least one year was a good idea, "...the Government should also give them a little bit more attention".
"The Government ought to consider paying extra to doctors serving in the rural areas for the hardship that they have to go through," he said, when commenting on a statement by Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek on Monday.
Earlier, on Nov 12, during the Sabah MMA annual-cum-installation dinner, Dr Sidhu had proposed that doctors serving in Sabah have their critical allowance increased to 50 per cent of their base salary or a minimum of RM1,000 from the 10 per cent of their base salary or the minimum of RM500 that they receive now.
He said this would be justified in the face of their hardship and higher cost of living.
"Most of the doctors have a heavier workload and face higher costs of returning home. Currently, doctors get only one return air-ticket every two years," he said, adding the authorities have not done enough to attract doctors to come and serve in Sabah.
He said there appears to be a perception among government doctors that as long as they stay in Sabah or accept transfer to Sabah, the chance of securing a place for post-graduate training or of securing a promotion is poor.
Dr Sidhu also said the Government needed to address the issue fast by providing incentives to doctors serving in the rural areas such as offering them more places for post-graduate studies.
"In fact, their one-year stint in the rural area should also count towards their service for consideration for promotion or further studies.
"We don't want to see the situation where doctors are sent to the rural areas and be completely forgotten," he said.
Consumers Association of Sabah (Cash) President, Datuk Patrick Sindu, had also concurred with Sidhu's comment, saying the Government ought to seriously consider increasing doctors' salaries and allowances considering many of them are "overworked". He said if the situation was not improved, the trend of doctors leaving for private practice would continue.
On Dr Chua's statement, Dr Sidhu said it is relevant in order for doctors to learn how to serve the community better through a one-year stint in rural areas.
"Personally, I agree with the idea since the rural population are also citizens of the country and entitled to similar health service and benefits just like the others," he said.
Dr Chua had said he wants all states to ensure that new doctors recruited by the Government must work in rural areas for at least one year.
He said the move would help reduce the shortage of doctors in rural areas and could also expose the new doctors to conditions away from the cities. Currently, only Perak had imposed this condition.
According to Dr Chua, currently only 60 per cent of medical officers' posts at 860 health clinics and 1,900 rural clinics throughout the country had been filled.
He also said the Ministry had applied for a RM1 billion allocation under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) to upgrade and acquire more equipment for all government clinics in the rural areas.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Tamiflu fears
Sun2surf: KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will go ahead with the purchase of RM4 million worth of the anti-flu drug Tamiflu despite safety fears expressed by European medicines regulators.
The Europeans have ordered a safety check on Tamiflu following reports that two teenage boys died in Japan in apparent suicides after taking the drug.
Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Ismail Merican told theSun yesterday the government will buy the drug despite the safety concerns.
"The deaths could be isolated cases," he said. "Proper findings have to be documented on the cause of the boys' deaths before a conclusion could be made on Tamiflu."
Ismail said Malaysia will go ahead with its plan to acquire the first batch of Tamiflu, enough to treat some 60,000 patients, in case of an outbreak of the deadly H5N1 bird flu.
"We will monitor and study any further reports. If need be, we will review the decision," he said.
The government has decided to stockpile enough of the drug to treat at least 10% of the population in the event of a bird flu epidemic.
According to a report by The Independent of London on Monday, the deaths of the two Japanese boys have raised safety fears about the only weapon the world possesses to counter a threatened pandemic of avian flu.
The deaths are not linked and occurred a year apart.
The report said the Japanese health ministry issued a warning in June 2004 about psychological and neurological disorders linked with Tamiflu, with an instruction that doctors should be alerted.
Tamiflu is made by Roche, the Swiss-based phar maceutical company.
The report quoted a spokeswoman for Roche as saying: "We shared the information (about the Japanese deaths) with drug regulatory authorities around the world and they did not think it warranted any change in the product information."
In a statement, the company said it continued to monitor the safety of the drug and reported any adverse events to regulatory authorities.
"Tamiflu has been shown in clinical studies and in routine clinical use to have a good safety profile. It has been used by over 30 million people worldwide," the statement added.
According to The Independent, a spokesman for the European Medicines Evaluation Agency, which licenses drugs in the European Union, including the UK, said the agency had been aware of the first death but not the second.
"The company (Roche) has been asked to closely follow reports of psychological disorders, delusional states and abnormal behaviour linked with the drug," the spokesman said.
"At the moment, there is no warning (about this) in Europe and we need to establish if there is any link."
The spokesman said the effects of the drug had to be distinguished from the effects of the flu.
"Influenza can itself cause confusion and it can be difficult to tell whether (the mental state) is the effect of the Tamiflu or of the illness."
The Phar maceuticals and Medical Devices Agency in Japan has received reports of 64 cases of psychological disorders linked to the drug between 2000 and 2004, according to the Tokyo news agency Kyodo.
The two Japanese boys who died in separate accidents were reported to have exhibited abnormal behaviour after taking the drug, ending in their deaths.
In the first case, a 17-year-old student, who was at home alone, ran out of the house and jumped over a railing into the path of a truck in February 2004 shortly after taking the medicine.
In the second case, a junior high school student fell from the ninth floor of his apartment building in February 2005.
Chugai Pharmaceuticals Ltd, the Japanese operating company for Roche, said: "We reported these cases to the health ministry as a link between the deaths and the drug could not be ruled out."
The Independent said that in the UK, Tamiflu has been little used since its launch in 2003 and there have been only 41 "yellow card" reports of adverse reactions involving 161 separate sideeffects linked with it.
One case was of agitation and two were of "confusional state".
Under the yellow card system, doctors record any symptoms that could be linked with a drug.
The reports are intended to provide early warning of possible problems with a drug and do not show a causal link.
The Europeans have ordered a safety check on Tamiflu following reports that two teenage boys died in Japan in apparent suicides after taking the drug.
Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Ismail Merican told theSun yesterday the government will buy the drug despite the safety concerns.
"The deaths could be isolated cases," he said. "Proper findings have to be documented on the cause of the boys' deaths before a conclusion could be made on Tamiflu."
Ismail said Malaysia will go ahead with its plan to acquire the first batch of Tamiflu, enough to treat some 60,000 patients, in case of an outbreak of the deadly H5N1 bird flu.
"We will monitor and study any further reports. If need be, we will review the decision," he said.
The government has decided to stockpile enough of the drug to treat at least 10% of the population in the event of a bird flu epidemic.
According to a report by The Independent of London on Monday, the deaths of the two Japanese boys have raised safety fears about the only weapon the world possesses to counter a threatened pandemic of avian flu.
The deaths are not linked and occurred a year apart.
The report said the Japanese health ministry issued a warning in June 2004 about psychological and neurological disorders linked with Tamiflu, with an instruction that doctors should be alerted.
Tamiflu is made by Roche, the Swiss-based phar maceutical company.
The report quoted a spokeswoman for Roche as saying: "We shared the information (about the Japanese deaths) with drug regulatory authorities around the world and they did not think it warranted any change in the product information."
In a statement, the company said it continued to monitor the safety of the drug and reported any adverse events to regulatory authorities.
"Tamiflu has been shown in clinical studies and in routine clinical use to have a good safety profile. It has been used by over 30 million people worldwide," the statement added.
According to The Independent, a spokesman for the European Medicines Evaluation Agency, which licenses drugs in the European Union, including the UK, said the agency had been aware of the first death but not the second.
"The company (Roche) has been asked to closely follow reports of psychological disorders, delusional states and abnormal behaviour linked with the drug," the spokesman said.
"At the moment, there is no warning (about this) in Europe and we need to establish if there is any link."
The spokesman said the effects of the drug had to be distinguished from the effects of the flu.
"Influenza can itself cause confusion and it can be difficult to tell whether (the mental state) is the effect of the Tamiflu or of the illness."
The Phar maceuticals and Medical Devices Agency in Japan has received reports of 64 cases of psychological disorders linked to the drug between 2000 and 2004, according to the Tokyo news agency Kyodo.
The two Japanese boys who died in separate accidents were reported to have exhibited abnormal behaviour after taking the drug, ending in their deaths.
In the first case, a 17-year-old student, who was at home alone, ran out of the house and jumped over a railing into the path of a truck in February 2004 shortly after taking the medicine.
In the second case, a junior high school student fell from the ninth floor of his apartment building in February 2005.
Chugai Pharmaceuticals Ltd, the Japanese operating company for Roche, said: "We reported these cases to the health ministry as a link between the deaths and the drug could not be ruled out."
The Independent said that in the UK, Tamiflu has been little used since its launch in 2003 and there have been only 41 "yellow card" reports of adverse reactions involving 161 separate sideeffects linked with it.
One case was of agitation and two were of "confusional state".
Under the yellow card system, doctors record any symptoms that could be linked with a drug.
The reports are intended to provide early warning of possible problems with a drug and do not show a causal link.
Anti-dengue efforts pay off as number of cases drops
Star: PUTRAJAYA: Concerted efforts by health authorities and the public to fight the dengue menace have paid off. The number of cases is on the decline less than two months after an alert on the disease was raised.
Health Ministry disease control division director Dr Ramlee Rahmat said that if the trend continued he expected the number of suspected cases weekly to dip to about 300 “possibly by the end of the year.”
“We managed to bring down the number of cases in five weeks. This is certainly a success but we will not rest on our laurels,” he told a press conference yesterday.
“Monitoring, surveillance, enforcement and preventive action, including gotong-royong, will continue.”
Dr Ramlee said these measures were important because Aedes breeding grounds had to be eradicated and adult mosquitoes killed to eliminate the dengue cycle.
He said that between Nov 6 and 12, there were 751 suspected cases reported nationwide.
It had been reported that there were more than 1,100 suspected dengue cases nationwide last month.
Health Ministry disease control division director Dr Ramlee Rahmat said that if the trend continued he expected the number of suspected cases weekly to dip to about 300 “possibly by the end of the year.”
“We managed to bring down the number of cases in five weeks. This is certainly a success but we will not rest on our laurels,” he told a press conference yesterday.
“Monitoring, surveillance, enforcement and preventive action, including gotong-royong, will continue.”
Dr Ramlee said these measures were important because Aedes breeding grounds had to be eradicated and adult mosquitoes killed to eliminate the dengue cycle.
He said that between Nov 6 and 12, there were 751 suspected cases reported nationwide.
It had been reported that there were more than 1,100 suspected dengue cases nationwide last month.
Over 60 new drug addicts detected daily
Star: PENANG: An average of 60 new drug addicts are detected nationwide daily and something must be done to reduce the number, said National Anti-Drug Agency (NDA) director-general Datuk Hamzah Abdullah.
“Up till September this year, there were already more than 20,000 addicts on record. We expect the number this year to remain in the vicinity of 22,000 like last year.
“What’s also worrying is the increase in amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) addicts. Last year, they only accounted for 4% of the addicts but, to date, the percentage has increased five-fold to about 20%,” he said.
ATS, such as ecstasy and syabu (methamphetamine crystals), which is also known as ice, are popular among the youths and these synthetic drugs are usually taken in dance clubs,” he said.
Hamzah was speaking to reporters after opening the State NDA’s new office at the Bangunan Persekutuan in Anson Road here yesterday. Also present was state director Akmar Omar.
He said ATS was mainly made in China and smuggled into Malaysia via Thailand before being distributed to other countries, like Australia.
“Our checks revealed that ATS packages are sent here using courier companies. We randomly scanned packages arriving at the KL International Airport."
Hamzah said he just returned from a drug conference in Hanoi last week where it was agreed that all countries work closely to fight the scourge.
“Up till September this year, there were already more than 20,000 addicts on record. We expect the number this year to remain in the vicinity of 22,000 like last year.
“What’s also worrying is the increase in amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) addicts. Last year, they only accounted for 4% of the addicts but, to date, the percentage has increased five-fold to about 20%,” he said.
ATS, such as ecstasy and syabu (methamphetamine crystals), which is also known as ice, are popular among the youths and these synthetic drugs are usually taken in dance clubs,” he said.
Hamzah was speaking to reporters after opening the State NDA’s new office at the Bangunan Persekutuan in Anson Road here yesterday. Also present was state director Akmar Omar.
He said ATS was mainly made in China and smuggled into Malaysia via Thailand before being distributed to other countries, like Australia.
“Our checks revealed that ATS packages are sent here using courier companies. We randomly scanned packages arriving at the KL International Airport."
Hamzah said he just returned from a drug conference in Hanoi last week where it was agreed that all countries work closely to fight the scourge.
Endoscopic workshop for doctors
Star: KUALA LUMPUR: The Fifth International Advanced Endoscopic workshop will be held for two days in Selayang Hospital beginning tomorrow.
Doctors from the United States, Italy, Canada and the Asian region will be here for the workshop which would highlight electronic radial echoendoscopy, novel therapies, GERD therapy, double balloon enteroscopy and new devices in colonoscopy, among others.
Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Ismail Merican will open the workshop at 8.30am today.
Registration fees for Malaysian doctors are RM300 and nurses RM150. Those interested can call the secretariat at 03-5638 8814 or e-mail chandrak@streamyx.com
Doctors from the United States, Italy, Canada and the Asian region will be here for the workshop which would highlight electronic radial echoendoscopy, novel therapies, GERD therapy, double balloon enteroscopy and new devices in colonoscopy, among others.
Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Ismail Merican will open the workshop at 8.30am today.
Registration fees for Malaysian doctors are RM300 and nurses RM150. Those interested can call the secretariat at 03-5638 8814 or e-mail chandrak@streamyx.com
Experts to study transgender issue
Star: KUALA LUMPUR: The help of local universities and experts will be sought to conduct research on transgender issues to enable the Government to deal with issues affecting this group of people.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the time was right to make a thorough study of the problems and issues affecting the transgender group, such as homosexuality, bisexuality and same-sex marriage.
She said it was important to first understand why people resorted to sex change or were attracted to the same sex.
Research papers on transgender issues done overseas would be studied, she added.
“There must be a reason why such things happen. Currently, we do not have studies on this. We need the facts and figures. We must first understand how they turned out the way they are,” she said after opening the third Asean senior officials meeting at Istana Hotel yesterday.
Shahrizat said such matters could not be swept under the carpet and while the ministry was prepared to assist any marginalised group, the issue at hand was delicate and sensitive as there was a religious perspective to it.
“It also has great social impact and, personally, I believe we should not punish or discriminate against anybody,” she said.
“The ministry is not here to pass judgments on people in this group. We have to look at the problems they face. I think they need support and help.”
She was asked to comment on the decision by the Home Ministry and the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship not to recognise the marriage between Joshua Beh and Jessie Chung, a male who had a sex change operation three years ago.
The wedding reception in Kuching last Saturday was presided over by three Christian pastors from Bountiful Harvest, Shepherds Centre and Assembly of Love.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid had said Malaysian laws did not allow its citizens to change their gender in their identity cards even though they had undergone a sex operation.
Meanwhile, Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) secretary-general Dr Herman Sastri clarified that CCM did not encourage the practice of sex change and same-sex marriages.
“If a person comes to the church claiming that he or she has had a sex change, we do not discriminate against the person or cast the person out.
“We help the person by understanding his predicament through counselling, seeking the views of the parents and doctors on why the sex change was carried out,” he said in a statement.
He said the CCM would help the person find happiness through faith in God and acceptance in the Church.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the time was right to make a thorough study of the problems and issues affecting the transgender group, such as homosexuality, bisexuality and same-sex marriage.
She said it was important to first understand why people resorted to sex change or were attracted to the same sex.
Research papers on transgender issues done overseas would be studied, she added.
“There must be a reason why such things happen. Currently, we do not have studies on this. We need the facts and figures. We must first understand how they turned out the way they are,” she said after opening the third Asean senior officials meeting at Istana Hotel yesterday.
Shahrizat said such matters could not be swept under the carpet and while the ministry was prepared to assist any marginalised group, the issue at hand was delicate and sensitive as there was a religious perspective to it.
“It also has great social impact and, personally, I believe we should not punish or discriminate against anybody,” she said.
“The ministry is not here to pass judgments on people in this group. We have to look at the problems they face. I think they need support and help.”
She was asked to comment on the decision by the Home Ministry and the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship not to recognise the marriage between Joshua Beh and Jessie Chung, a male who had a sex change operation three years ago.
The wedding reception in Kuching last Saturday was presided over by three Christian pastors from Bountiful Harvest, Shepherds Centre and Assembly of Love.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid had said Malaysian laws did not allow its citizens to change their gender in their identity cards even though they had undergone a sex operation.
Meanwhile, Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) secretary-general Dr Herman Sastri clarified that CCM did not encourage the practice of sex change and same-sex marriages.
“If a person comes to the church claiming that he or she has had a sex change, we do not discriminate against the person or cast the person out.
“We help the person by understanding his predicament through counselling, seeking the views of the parents and doctors on why the sex change was carried out,” he said in a statement.
He said the CCM would help the person find happiness through faith in God and acceptance in the Church.
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