Malaysia's Talentcorp foray in Melbourne a huge success

theSundaily

MELBOURNE (Oct 7, 2012): Malaysia's Talent Corporation (TalentCorp) has completed its two-day outreach programme here with outstanding success with hundreds of Malaysians mulling the benefits of returning to seize employment and well-being opportunities available in Malaysia's fast-developing economy.

A good indication was the good turnout of more than 60 Malaysian doctors and pharmacists working here, to listen to Health deputy director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah's explaining Malaysia's 1Care concept which involved the integration of private and public health to achieve better and universal medical outcomes.

He assured young doctors and specialists of a good income and that they would be working in international standard hospitals. This prompted Pantai Group of Hospitals chief executive Tan Suet Guan to say: "This is true. I sign the pay cheques every month."

Dr Hisham said it was an exciting time to work in Malaysia when research and working conditions in the health sector were developing at a rapid pace with overseas institutions offering help and calling for exchange of doctors and ideas in healthcare.

Universiti Malaya's (UM) Medicine Faculty deputy dean Professor Dr Johari Surin said UM was striving to be in the top 50 universities in the world and urged Malaysians abroad to contribute to the university's progress. He outlined UM's plans for the future and suggested how the attendees could fit in.

Representatives from Sunway, Pantai and Mahkota medical centres also spoke of their expansion plans to boost their healthcare services.

Discussions centred on, among others, the process to return to Malaysia, such as registration, medical qualifications, schooling for children and income tax incentives.

TalentCorp general manager Sherene Azura Azil gave an entertaining account of her travels to many countries, promoting TalentCorp to Malaysian professionals, in about 13 sectors of the economy.

Also doing his bit was TalentCorp chief executive Johan Mahmood Merican who engaged with about 150 Malaysian accounting students and professionals, hosted by Australian accounting bodies.

It was chock-a-block at the annual career fair for Malaysian students from Melbourne universities, with more than 1,000 turning up to be briefed on career opportunities in Malaysia.

A total of 25 companies from Malaysia took part this year, including CIMB, Exxon Mobil, Media Prima, Sunway and Taylors Education. Students had the opportunity to engage with industry leaders such as Abdul Rauf Rashid (managing partner Ernst & Young Malaysia), Tan Theng Hooi (managing partner Deloitte Malaysia), Nora Manaf (human resource director of Maybank) and Lai Tak Ming (human resource director with Gamuda).

Companies provided awareness of opportunities in Malaysia, conducted interviews and actively made job offers.

"We're very encouraged by the strong participation of Malaysia's leading employers this year and the interest shown by Malaysian students to return and work in Malaysia," Johan said.

TalentCorp also hosted a professional networking dinner attended by more than 100 Malaysian professionals from various sectors such as finance, engineering, education, consulting as well as information and communication technology.

"The Malaysian professionals we met are keen to remain connected with Malaysia and to be kept abreast of career opportunities back home," Johan said. TalentCorp will also visit Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Auckland and Wellington. – Bernama

1,681 nurses from private colleges to serve in government hospitals

MI

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — A total 1,681 nurses from private nursing colleges will be recruited at the end of the year to serve in government hospitals, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

He said prior to this the government only hired one per cent of nurses from private colleges for each 3,000 intake. 

Liow (picture) said the recruitment this time went up to meet the lack of nurses at government hospitals and high applications from private colleges.

He said according to the records of the Human Resources Ministry, the number of applications went up to 5,000 recently from 2,500 last year.

“Each year we will recruit this number until 2015 when we will have 6,726 nurses from private colleges,” he told reporters after opening an international conference on Disaster Nursing in conjunction with the 17th Malaysia-Singapore Nursing Conference here today.

He said to ensure the standard of the nurses from private colleges met requirements, they had to sit for and pass the Malaysian Nurses Board examination.

He also said there were 66,000 nurses working in government hospitals nationwide. 

In his speech, Liow said 473 nurses had been trained in disaster nursing preparedness while a further 438 nurses were trained in emergency and trauma nursing programmes last year.

He said these training programmes had also been extended to private institutions.

“Emergency physicians in the main hospitals throughout Malaysia have started to develop nurse training programmes in the area of disaster preparedness, formulation of disaster plans for hospitals and organising disaster drills to ensure proper patient care and management in disaster settings,” he said.

Liow said nurses must be prepared to deal with all hazards as they played a major role in responding to such events to ensure the best possible outcomes. — Bernama

Assisted reproduction law facing hurdles, says D-G - Nation

The Star Online

PETALING JAYA: Ethical and religious concerns are hampering laws to regulate assisted reproduction.

“We need to reach a consensus on the proposed law on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART),” said Health director-general Datuk Seri Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman.

The Health Ministry had wanted the law since 2009.

At the moment, the ART sector is only governed by non-enforceable guidelines by the Malaysian Medical Association.

These were drawn up in 1999, and later in 2009 by the Malaysian Medical Council.

The Health Ministry held an online public engagement session on its website from Aug 29 to Sept 12, seeking views on the issue via a questionnaire. Dr Hasan said that 307 people responded.

“Some of the issues brought up were the fate of unused' embryos following ART procedures, genetic selection, gamete/embryo storage and gamete donation,” he said in an e-mail.

While public views were being considered, the ministry had also been engaging religious bodies such as the Department of Islamic Development and the National Fatwa Council.

“The Bill is currently being drafted. Once the draft Bill has been completed, it will undergo a second phase of online engagement,” said Dr Hasan, adding that it would be posted on the ministry's website.

“Many ethical, religious and moral aspects have yet to be finalised,” he said, adding that public acceptance has to be sought before the Bill could be tabled in Parliament.

With or without a law, ART's popularity has soared with close to 10 private health institutions offering the procedure on top of those available in public hospitals.

The Star previously highlighted issues involving sperm banks and ART procedures which were on the rise due to the increasing rate of infertility.

Sperm and ovum donors have also made a business out of donating their genetic material to couples trying to conceive.

Penang tops list for medical tourism

The Star Online

GEORGE TOWN: Penang accounted for 60% of 555,000 foreign medical tourists to Malaysia last year for healthcare services.

Northern Corridor Implementation Autho-rity (NCIA) chief executive officer Datuk Redza Rafiq Abdul Razak said seven private hospitals from the Penang Health Association (PHA) recorded a revenue of RM280bil in the past year.

“A total of 333,000 people sought medical treatment from hospitals such as Pantai Mutiara Hospital, Lam Wah Ee Hospital, Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital, Loh Guan Lye Spe-cialist Hospital, Gleneagles Hospital, Penang Adventist Hospital and Island Hospital.

“Among those who came to Penang for medical tourism were from southern Thailand and Australia,” he told a press conference in conjunction with the International Conference for Cancer Caregivers yesterday.

He added that NCIA was collaborating with the association to penetrate into other countries such as Cambodia, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

“We are stepping up efforts to promote medical tourism among foreign tourists through several measures including flight incentives which would be announced later,” he said.

Penang Adventist Hospital marketing and business developmentmanager Ng Gim Bee said the state expected an annual growth of 15% on foreign medical tourists to Penang.

“Foreigners come to Penang mostly for open heart surgeries and procedures, and dental care,” she said.

Incidence Rate Of Malaria In Malaysia Reduced To 18.6 Per 100,000 Last Year

Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 (Bernama) -- The incidence rate of malaria in Malaysia was down to 18.6 per 100,000 population last year from 318.6 per 100,000 in 1980, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said on Wednesday.

He said under the country's National Strategic Plan for the Elimination of Malaria (NSPEM) (2011-2020), Malaysia targeted to eliminate locally-acquired malaria by 2020.

"Our elimination target is set at a reduction of 20 per cent locally-acquired malaria yearly," he said in his keynote address at the launching of the Drugs for Neglected Disease Intiative (DNDi) jubilee celebrations, here.

Liow also launched DNDi's most recent initiative, the new fixed-dose combination treatment of Artesunate-Mefloquine or better known as AS-MQ FDC, developed using a unique partnership model with researchers from Brazil, France, United Kingdom, Thailand and Malaysia, through Universiti Sains Malaysia and the Institute for Medical Research.

He said the Health Ministry was aware of the potential threats and challenges to the elimination, and these included the importation of cases from malaria-endemic neighbouring countries, particularly the multi-drug resistant strains from Myanmar and Thailand.

Last year, 21.9 per cent of malaria cases in Malaysia were imported.

Alarming rise in commuting accidents in Malaysia

BorneoPost Online

KUALA LUMPUR: Two out of three work-related deaths that occur daily in Malaysia are due to road accidents while commuting to or from work and this has become a major occupational safety and health concern, says the chairman of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

While industrial accidents had been on the decline in Malaysia, the number of commuting accidents increased by almost 40 per cent over the past six years to 24,809 accidents last year from 17,704 accidents in 2006, he told Bernama yesterday.

According to statistics from the Social Security Organisation (Socso), the overall accident rate at the work place has been significantly reduced by 37 per cent from 95,006 accidents in the year 2000 to 59,897 accidents in 2011 due to enhancement of occupational safety and health awareness and enforcement of laws and regulations over the past 10 years.

But Lee said he was alarmed by the high number of road fatalities in Malaysia involving workers commuting to and from work as the working world has changed dramatically as a result of globalisation, demographic changes, migration and evolving family structures.

“There are more than 6,000 fatalities every year for the last few years and that translates into 18 to 20 people killed every day. Motorcyclists and pillion riders make up about 60 per cent of the fatalities and most of them are young and in the prime of their lives,” he stressed.

Lee said the impact of commuting accidents was far greater than the industrial accidents as commuting accidents usually involved multiple injuries which were far more worse and traumatising when compared to workplace accidents.

The problems related to the rising number of commuting accidents were usually the lack of awareness among workers for safe riding and driving while commuting to work, lack of training programme targeted at preventing commuting accidents and lack of road safety elements similar to occupational safety and health management at workplaces.

Lee said that although many government departments and agencies were involved in road accident prevention programmes, there was no single authority to enforce the commuting accident prevention programmes and the government needed to look at this matter seriously.

He felt that serious action must be taken to develop programmes that encouraged a major attitudinal change towards safe driving among Malaysian motorists as a counterweight to reckless driving and lack of driving etiquette.

In this regard, he said driving schools should incorporate such attitudinal change into their syllabus while employers also have a moral obligation to adopt a proactive approach to managing road risks, which had a direct impact on their costs in terms of staff downtime, higher insurance premiums and poor public image.

Lee said NIOSH was also working on improving the training module for future safe motorcycle riding and defensive driving courses. — Bernama

RM1.1 billion for upgrading health facilities in Sarawak

BorneoPost Online

KUCHING: The federal government has approved more than RM1.1 billion for upgrading health facilities in Sarawak including building three hospitals and eight clinics.

The three hospitals take up the bulk of the allocation, given under the second rolling plan of the current Tenth Malaysian Plan, with Petrajaya Hospital costing RM500 million; Sri Aman Hospital (RM200 million) and Lawas Hospital (RM80 million).

The remaining allocation is used for the construction of eight clinics in Petrajaya, Bario, Ng Dada, Beladin, Teng Bekap, Munggu Lelang, Bintulu and Mid Layar Spak area.

“These clinics are in different stages of completion with a few having been completed. Petrajaya and Sri Aman hospitals will be completed in 2016 and Lawas Hospital is still in the ‘decanting’ stage.

“In term of allocation, we took up a large chunk of the development fund this year. We cannot say the federal government is not taking care of Sarawakians,” said state health director Datu Zulkifli Jantan yesterday.

He said this in response to the opposition’s claim the government failed to provide funds for the building of the much needed multi-storey car park of Sarawak General Hospital.

The multi-storey car park, he explained, had been approved under Public Private Partnership (PPP) as the federal government had deemed it a project of utmost urgency.

“That is why it is a PPP project as this year’s budget has already been allocated and there is no more allocation to be given for the building of the car park. However, as it is of utmost urgency, it has to come under PPP where a private company will be contracted to build it,” said Dr Zulkifli.

He said the car park, to commence construction next year, would be completed in three years’ time after which the users would be charged a minimal fee for parking their vehicles there.

“The private company that is contracted to build the facility will be collecting proceeds from the parking fees for a few years before it (facility) is handed over toSGH. At the moment, we are not sure of the rate of the parking fees or the mode of collection,” he said.

He added that at the moment the state Health Department was not able to know who the contractor but the PPP unit in the Prime Minister’s Department would soon make known its decision.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) national vice-women chief, Voon Shiak Ni, has through a press statement on Sept 29, questioned the government for the lack of funding for building the much awaited car park.

“For transparency of the information to the public, we call for disclosure of the details of the contract between SGH and the private company,” Voon has said.

She also demanded the disclosure of details on the number of years the private company would manage the car park, the rate of parking fees and mode of collection, among others.

Malaysia bans two traditional medicinal products

AsiaOne

PETALING JAYA - The public is advised to stop buying and using traditional product MYMEN PLUS Capsule 400mg after it was found to contain a scheduled poison.

Health director-general Datuk Seri Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman said the product was found to contain tadalafil, which is used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence and can only be supplied by doctors or available at pharmacies by prescription.

"Usage of tadalafil without proper diagnosis and monitoring by the doctor can have serious effects such as decreased or loss of vision and hearing, may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels and cardiovascular conditions like stroke and myocardial infarction," he said in a statement.

He said the product label advice were for traditional use to promote blood circulation, reduce fatigue and tiredness, relief muscle and joints pain, relieve backache, and improve digestion and wind.

The Health Ministry also advised people to stop purchasing and using traditional product Jin Fei Cao San Extract Powder "Sheng Chang", which was registered to relieve the common cold, cough, phlegm and headache.

Dr Hasan said the powder contained scheduled poisons, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which are controlled medicines often found as decongestants in cold medicines.

"Their usage at therapeutic doses prescribed by healthcare professionals provide benefit to patients, but if used indiscriminately without proper diagnosis and supervision, can cause serious adverse effects such as hypertension, psychiatric-related symptoms such as hallucination, schizophrenia, delusion and even the risk of getting a stroke," he said.

He said both poisons can be harmful to consumers who are at high-risk of getting these adverse effects as well as patients with underlying heart disease, hypertension and hyperthyroidism.

Dr Hasan added that if anyone experienced any unpleasant effects or adverse events, they could seek further advice from healthcare professionals.

Both products' registration has been cancelled by the Drug Control Authority.

"Sellers are reminded that possession for sale of these products is an offence under the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984," he said.

For further information, contact the National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau at 03-7883 5546/5539 or e-mail bpfk@bpfk.gov.my.

The National Science Centre glows pink for a good cause

The Star Online

KUALA LUMPUR: The National Science Centre lit up the night sky in a vivid shade of pink as thousands of people came together to create breast cancer awareness among Malaysians.

The building, along with others chosen around the world, will be “washed” in pink for the whole of October.

Organised by Estee Lauder Companies Malaysia, its annual Breast Cancer Awareness campaign aims to educate Malaysian women about the importance of early detection and treatment since 1996.

Its managing director Paul Slavin said that the campaign was a global initiative involving over 40 countries.

Pretty in pink: The National Science Centre in Kuala Lumpur aglow in pink and will remain so in that colour until the end of October.

“Every October, you will see Estee Lauder out in full force across Malaysia to spread awareness,” he said, adding that it had raised around RM611mil towards global breast cancer research under founder Evelyn H. Lauder's Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Participant and breast cancer survivor Amnah Salleh, 44, recalled feeling as though “I am going to die” when she was diagnosed in December 2005.

The mother of four endured six months of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy before embarking on five years of hormone therapy. “Now, seven years later, I feel that yes, breast cancer is a scary thing but women can beat it,“ she said.

Amnah said she felt like she had been given a second chance and that her disease gave her the opportunity to do volunteer work as a Pink Unity cancer survivor volunteer under the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM).

Participants of the Pink Ribbon Charity Walk showing their ‘true colours’ when creating awareness about cancer.

Another participant Naddia Azizis, 33, said the event was crucial in enhancing breast cancer awareness among women.

“We sometimes take things for granted. This is like a wake-up call for many of us. Women have great willpower and we can conquer this,” she said.

The participants who crowded the National Science Centre in a sea of pink also embarked on a 3.5km Pink Ribbon Charity Walk before the Landmark Illumination took place at around 7.45pm.

They also browsed at the booths set up by Estee Lauder, NCSM, Breast Cancer Welfare Association, Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation and Jazzercise.

Boost for healthcare and well-being - Budget 2013

The Star Online

THE Government has allocated RM19.3bil for healthcare management and development services next year. This is a 15% increase compared with last year.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the 1Malaysia Clinics would begin to offer cholesterol and glucose testing services as well as urine tests for those who needed them.

As for the reduced sugar subsidy, he said this was done as 2.6 million Malaysians were diabetic.

“The Government urges retailers not to burden fellow Malaysians by increasing prices. Instead, reduce the content of sugar,” he said.

Najib added that the subsidy reduction was supported by consumers groups and health practitioners.

The Prime Minister said that the Government would still be subsidising sugar at 34 sen per kilo, totalling RM278mil.

Interests groups welcomed the reduction of sugar subsidy but some of them were not happy that the 1Malaysia Clinics are affecting private practice.

For instance, Malaysian Medical Association president Dr S.R. Manalan said they were disappointed that the Government did not include the request of private doctors to incorporate their services in the 1Malaysia Clinic scheme.

“We have mentioned to the Government that the programme had affected the livelihood of many private doctors.

“The Government said the doctors could sign up for slots in general hospitals but these slots were always full, filled up by their own doctors,” he said.

Dr Manalan also said that breast cancer had become more common among those aged 40 and below, thus allocations should be made for them for other forms of screening such as ultrasound.

On the RM200mil allocation for Socso to enable 1.4 million workers to go for free check-ups, he said it was a good effort but there must be follow-up efforts to their cases.

Fomca deputy president Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah said the Government should engage private practitioners for 1Malaysia Clinics instead of creating more clinics by renting new premises and employing additional medical assistants and staff.

He noted that there was no mention of the healthcare financing scheme, which was needed in view of Malaysia becoming an ageing population.

“This must come as soon as possible because healthcare cost has escalated and affecting consumers,” he said.

Colorectal cancer on the rise

New Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR: COLORECTAL cancer has overtaken lung cancer as the second most common  cancer among Malaysians, raising serious concerns about our poor dietary habits, especially the consumption of foods high in saturated fats.

According to the World Health Organisation's Globocan 2008 report, one in 33 Malaysians are at risk of developing colorectal cancer.

The most frequent cancers among Malaysians are breast, colorectal and lung cancer, with one in 19 Malaysians developing breast cancer, one in 33 developing colorectal cancer and one in 40 developing lung cancer.

"With an estimated annual incidence of 30,000 cancer deaths in the country, one in four Malaysians are expected to get cancer in their lifetime," said Dr Gogilawani Muagan, education development manager of the National Cancer Society Malaysia.

She said the two major contributing factors that increase the risk of cancer were tobacco and smoking, and diet and obesity, each contributing to 31 per cent of all types of cancer.

Ratna Devi Nadarajan, chief executive officer of the Malaysian Association of Standards Users, said although there were many possible reasons for colon cancer, medical experts had identified various risk factors, which were related to food and diet.

This included a diet low in fibre and high in red and processed meats, alcohol, fried foods, cooking meats or any other food at very high heat, or cooking with saturated fats like lard and tallow.

She said there were many ways pollutants and carcinogens like pesticide residue could find their way into the fruits and vegetables we eat, but encouraging good agriculture practices and organic farming could minimise this risk.

Another worrying trend, she observed, was the underestimated consumption of deteriorated cooking oil, or food cooked by it, as it contained polar compounds.

These compounds were a by-product of cooking oil exposed to very high temperatures or resulting from prolonged exposure to high temperatures. This often happened when oil is used for frying. Total polar compounds, or TPCs, are suspected carcinogens and increase risk of heart-related diseases.

"Last year, we tested cooking oil packed in 1kg pouches and found high levels of polar compounds. If new cooking oil bought from retailers contain high levels of TPCs, there is valid reason to suspect that the cooking oil is either recycled cooking oil or has been mixed with recycled cooking oil. Some of the restaurants we visited in SS3, Kelana Jaya and the pasar malam there used the 1kg pouch, or the same ones, but in bulk packing."

The Globocan report provides contemporary estimates of the incidence of, mortality and prevalence of major types of cancers, in 184 countries.

Earlier, in June, worldwide media reported that by 2030, cancer cases were expected to increase globally by 75 per cent, based on findings by international cancer experts published in the journal Lancet Oncology, with more developing countries adopting Western lifestyles linked to cancer.

Cancers of the lung, colon and breast, linked to bad diet and exercise, smoking and drinking, will account for at least one-fifth of new cancer cases. Dr Gogilawani said a majority of the patients were diagnosed at the later stages of the disease, due to lack of awareness and not going for cancer screenings.

So, is Malaysia experiencing a spike in cancer cases?

With the lack of up-to-date data, it is a difficult question to answer conclusively, said experts.

"We need an accurate and long- term cancer registry data," said Malaysian Oncological Society president Dr Ahmad Kamal Mohamed.

"The first report of the National Cancer Registry Malaysia noted 26,089 new cancer cases in 2002, 21,464 new cancer cases in 2003 and 67,792 cases collectively for the years 2003 to 2005. There have been no Malaysian cancer registry figures after that."

While not many studies have been done to see the connection between food and cancer, Dr Ahmad said it was believed that a healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables, with less fat and red meat, was better at reducing risks.

Relay for Life 2012 on Oct 13

JOIN  the National Cancer Society Malaysia, cancer survivors and friends at Stadium UKM Bangi from 6pm on Oct 13 to 10am Oct 14 for this year's Relay for Life.

In addition to the overnight relay, games, performances and fundraising events will be held to raise funds in support of cancer awareness. For more information log on to www.rflmalaysia.com.

Global watch on SARS-like mystery illness in Middle East

theSundaily

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 26, 2012): The Health Ministry is closely monitoring the situation on a reportedly new SARS-like repiratory virus detected in the Middle East.

Health Ministry Director-General Datuk Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman said the ministry is liaising with the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the matter.

This follows a global alert issued on Monday by WHO about the virus which left a man from Qatar critically ill in a London hospital and killed at least one more in Saudi Arabia.

"The Health Ministry is working with WHO and its collaborating labs to get more information about this virus, its capability to cause transmission and also the cause of outbreak," Hasan told theSunwhen met at Parliament yesterday.

WHO has however classified the two cases in the Middle East as "isolated cases", he said.

"We are in contact with WHO which is looking to identify the capability of the virus to develop into an epidemic," he said.

"The moment the virus is detected, the immediate mode of transmission needs to be identified to enable the ministry to have strategic measures put in place."
Hassan said there was no need for Malaysians who are on their Haj pilgrimage to worry.

He said the Saudi Arabian government has identified the risks for pilgrims which require mandatory vaccinations.

"At the top of the list is the risk of getting meningococcal meningitis, which is why they must be protected and vaccinated against this infection caused by bacteria.

"The other is neumococo vaccine for the lungs, which is optional," he added.

Meanwhile, the director of the Health Ministry's Disease Control Division, Dr Chong Chee Keong, said the division is finalising a surveillance format for the Malaysian medical team in Mecca.

"We are also preparing health education material for those who are performing their haj," he toldtheSun.

A Malaysian Pilgrims Fund Board (Tabung Haji) spokesman said it would act upon any directive received from both the health and foreign ministries. He said of the 28,400 Malaysian pilgrims performing their Haj in Mecca, the first batch is scheduled to return on Nov 1, while the last flight is due to reach KL International Airport on Nov 29.

WHO confirmed the new repiratory virus was in the coronavirus family but was not SARS, which swept out of China in 2003, killing more than 800 people worldwide.

"This is a new virus," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl told AFP.

"We haven't heard of any more new cases. We don't have an appreciation of how widespread the virus is," Hartl said.

"This is one reason why we're trying to get more information. We don't know how it's transmitted."

According to WHO, the 49-year-old Qatari was admitted to an intensive care unit in Doha on Sept 7, suffering from acute respiratory infection and kidney failure before being transferred to Britain by air ambulance on Sept 11,

A Saudi Arabian national died earlier this year from a virtually identical virus, WHO said, while Saudi medical authorities said they were investigating other possible cases of the disease.

The Qatari first fell ill on Sept 3 after visiting Saudi Arabia.

Britain's Health Protection Agency which confirmed the presence of the new coronavirus and then found that it was a 99.5% match with a virus obtained from the lung tissue of a 60-year-old Saudi man who died earlier this year.

Coronaviruses are causes of the common cold but can also include more severe illnesses including SARS.

In Riyadh, the health ministry revealed that a total of three people, including the Qatari man, had been diagnosed with the virus after spending time in Saudi Arabia. The other two later died. – AFP

Health Ministry Campaign To Streamline Use Of Antibiotics

BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- Datuk Dr Christopher Lee, Ministry of Health's Department of Medicine, National Head and Consultant for infectious disease, today urged for the use of antibiotics to be streamlined due to the alarming rise in antibiotic resistant bacteria.

He said the increase of bacteria such as Carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae and Multi Resistant Acinetobacter or, "Superbug" posed a significant threat to human health globally and has led to the emergence of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

Therefore, the Ministry of Health, Malaysian Medical Association and Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society will be jointly hosting a one-month AMR campaign starting Oct 16 in efforts to streamline the use of antibiotics in order to control the situation.

Dr Lee said the first phase of the campaign involved talks in government hospitals to educate medical practitioners on the importance of prescribing antibiotics sparingly.

"The second phase is to educate the public and create awareness on AMR. We will put up posters, banners and give out flyers to the public," he said.

Dr Lee noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has highlighted antibiotic resistance as a major threat to public health in the 21st century.

Meanwhile, the Ministry's Medical Development Division, senior principal assistant director Dr Suraya Amir Husin said the public played an important role in helping to control AMR.

"It is imperative that the public is aware of the importance of controlling the use of antibiotics. Thus I hope people will pay special attention to the matter and help share the information with others," she said.

More information on AMR is available at http://www.infosihat.gov.my or 1-800-88-6722.

83 Malaysian students ill after drinking free milk

Asiaone

MUAR, Malaysia - Eighty-three pupils of a Malaysian school in Muar suffered food poisoning after drinking milk supplied under the free milk scheme.

The pupils started vomiting and purging 30 minutes after drinking the milk during recess on Thursday.

School authorities, which stopped the media from entering the compound, alerted the Health Department, which rushed teams to the school.

One of the pupils said he had to run to the toilet after drinking the milk - "I vomited three times when I was in the toilet and purged twice. After I returned to my class, several friends also suffered similar pains. My teacher quickly took us to another room."

State Women, Family, Health and Community Development Committee chairman Dr Robia Kosai said cases of food poisoning in schools should be resolved fast.

"We want the Health Department and those related with food supplied at all schools to ensure all food is fresh and clean," she added.

M'sian AIDS Council needs foreign funding

theSundaily

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 26, 2012): The Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) requires the support of international agencies to complement the HIV/AIDS prevention programmes carried out by the Health Ministry.

In a statement today, MAC said although the Malaysian government had all this while largely bore the council's financial burden for its HIV prevention activities, additional financial support was required from international agencies to expand the council's area of coverage.

It said among the international agencies were the Open Society Foundation, International HIV/AIDS Alliance and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

MAC said since the past several years, it had received grants totalling RM450,000 to support HIV prevention activities among the high-risk groups, especially in reducing infections among intravenous drug users and promoting Methadone Replacement Therapy, which had been proven to be effective globally.

The statement comes in light of recent controversy regarding the channelling of funds by foreign agencies to certain local organisations known to be pro-opposition and involved in anti-government activities including street demonstrations.

The media recently reported that the Open Society Foundation chaired by currency speculator George Soros has been channelling funds to Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) and Mkini Dot Com Sdn Bhd, which operates the Malaysiakini.com news portal. – Bernama

First mobile breast screening unit gets rolling

 The Star Online

KUALA LUMPUR: The country's first mobile breast screening unit which provides free mammogram and clinical breast examination (CBE) has been launched.

The 12m trailer, equipped with state-of-the-art digital mammography facility as well as a self-examination room, will travel throughout the peninsula to provide screening services.

National Cancer Council (Makna) president Datuk Mohd Farid Ariffin said the services would be provided for those living in rural areas and with a monthly income of less than RM3,000.

“Those who can afford it will be charged RM150 for a mammogram screening and CBE,” he said.

An initiative by Makna under its five-year mobile screening programme, the unit is staffed with an all-female team of trained nurses and licensed radiographers.

Hearty effort: Makna staff members posing in front of the mobile breast screening unit during the launch at Sri Cempaka School in Damansara, Kuala Lumpur.

It can accommodate up to 50 mammograms screenings and 150 CBEs a day.

Mohd Farid said the programme was to make early cancer detection convenient and accessible to all, especially those in rural areas.

The programme is budgeted at RM6.6mil, and is funded via donations from individuals and corporations such as MNRB Holdings Berhad andTenaga Nasional.

Mohd Farid said Makna planned to launch mobile screening units in Sabah and Sarawak next year.

Islamic medicine included in Traditional and Complementary Medicine Bill 2012

The Star Online

KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry has agreed to include Islamic medicine practices in the Traditional and Complementary Medicine (TCM) Bill 2012 after this was agreed upon by the Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and all the states' Islamic religious departments.

Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the amendment notice to include Islamic medicine in the Bill would be issued during the debate session in the Dewan Rakyat.

"Prior to this, we did not include Islamic medicine in the Bill as we did not have Jakim's approval, but now Jakim and all the states' religious departments have agreed.

"After this, Islamic medicine practitioners and bomohs will have to be registered through a council to be established," he told Bernama at at the Parliament lobby.

Earlier, Liow had tabled the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Bill for the second reading in the Dewan Rakyat.

Barisan Nasional and opposition lawmakers have asked the ministry to consider including Islamic medicine in the Bill as modern medicine and Islamic medicine were equally important, besides the increasing popularity of Islamic or traditional medicine among patients.

Federation of Islamic Medicine Practitioners' Associations (GAPPIMA)chairman Mohd Fauzi Mustaffa had also expressed concern over the future of Islamic medicine and increasing cases of using black magic (by bomohs) to treat patients.

Under the TCM Bill, Liow said his ministry, with the cooperation of Jakim, would be monitoring the registration process for Islamic and Malay, Chinese and Indian TCM practitioners through a council that would be set up.

He said such practitioners who failed to register themselves could face a jail term of up to two years and a fine of RM30,000 to RM50,000.

When tabling the Bill, the Health Minister said nearly 15,000 TCM practitioners would not escape stern action if found to have cheated patients or have contravened the law.

He said with the rapid growth of TCM in Malaysia and internationally, the World Health Organisation had drawn up strategies that could be used in developing this sector in their respective countries.

The Health Ministry, he added, had also launched a national policy on TCM, which stated that TCM would be practised together with modern medicine and to be integrated in the national healthcare system to improve the health and well-being of the people.

Liow also said that so far, 10 government hospitals in the country were offering TCM alongside modern medicine.

They are Kepala Batas Hospital (Penang), Sultan Ismail Hospital (Johor Baharu), Putrajaya Hospital, Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (Kuala Terengganu), Duchess of Kent Hospital (Sandakan, Sabah), Sarawak General Hospital (Kuching), Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital (Alor Setar), Port Dickson Hospital, Sultanah Hajah Kalsom Hospital (Cameron Highlands) and Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital (Kota Baharu). - Bernama

7,000 show support in fight against cancer

The Star Online

PUTRAJAYA: This Federal Administration centre became a sea of pink yesterday when 7,230 people flooded Precinct 2 and 3 in creative pink T-shirts and costumes in support of the fight against cancer campaign.

The “Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer” charity walk saw participants of all ages stroll and jog a distance of five kilometres.

Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Heng Seai Kie and Putrajaya Corporation president Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat also joined them.

Local celebrities, including Avon ambassador actress Neelofa, actor Que Haidar and wife Linda Jasmine, as well as Harimau Malaya striker Safee Sali, also took part.

The event was held in conjunction with the global celebration of Avon's 20th Breast Cancer Crusade anniversary.

Heng said while there was a marked increase in the level of awareness on breast cancer among Malaysian women, more support from the men would be welcomed.

“Husbands could play their role by encouraging their wives to undergo mammogram tests.

“There are 58 Nur Sejahtera clinics throughout the country where they can go for the test which is free of charge under the ministry's subsidised mammogram programme for those with a household income of below RM5,000 a month,” she said.

Heng added that since the programme was introduced in May 2007, a total of 100,357 women had undergone the test and 125 had been detected positive and given further treatment.

'Proposed Traditional Medicine Act will drive some practitioners out of business'

The Star Online

PETALING JAYA: Traditional medicine practitioners without paper qualification will be put out of business once the proposed Traditional and Complementary Medicine (TCM) Act is passed and enforced.

To safeguard the livelihood of these practitioners, the Malaysian Society for Complementary Medicine (MSCM) wants a clause that allows existing practioners without paper qualification to continue practising and the requirement for paper qualification be applied to newcomers.

MSCM president Dr Lee Chee Pheng said Monday there was no 'grandfather clause' in the bill allowing TCM practitioners without certificates to continue with their practice.

A grandfather clause allows an old rule to continue to apply in certain existing situations while the new rule is set apply in all future situations.

"The Health Ministry should not ignore this group of people who have learned the traditional method of treatment from their forefathers. However, they do not carry any paper qualifications.

"There are many practitioners in the traditional massage industry who are blind and are over 60. How can they possibly undergo formal anatomy and physiology classes in order to get certified?" he asked in an exclusive interview with Bernama.

Lee said that if the government felt that it was ready to enforce the law, then the act should be implemented gradually over time so as to ensure that the transition of the 'qualified' and 'non-qualified' practitioners was balanced out.

Otherwise, it would impose a problem for the practitioners who are skilled but have no paper qualification, he said.

The TCM Bill 2012, which was tabled for first reading in the Dewan Rakyat on June 27, among others, requires all practitioners to be registered with the proposed TCM council.

Under the act, TCM practitioners must be provisionally registered and must undergo a residency of not less than one year with any hospital or institution identified by the council.

A council member of MSCM, Dr Lai Yoon Kgen, said he was unhappy with the requirement of the proposed act for TCM practitioners to undergo residency of not less than one year, and added that it would interrupt their daily routine as they have be attached to hospitals to acquire their practising licence.

"We hope the TCM Division of the Health Ministry will reconsider this point as many practitioners are not in favour of it," he said, adding that there were about 15,000 practitioners in the country.

Meanwhile, MSCM secretary Lee Yoke Kwan said it was difficult to prove that TCM was evidence-based as there was no proper assistance from the Health ministry with regard to documentation.

"Malay traditional medicine, for instance, is still at a preliminary level. How much evidence does it have?" she asked.

Lee urged Health Ministry officials to invite again all the relevant stakeholders to discuss the TCM Act so that it truly benefited the practitioners in the country.

"The Health Ministry should look at the TCM industry in totality by taking into account matters such as eco-health and eco-tourism and not confine (matters) to hospitals alone," she said. - Bernama

Heart disease is number one killer among women

The Star Online

KUALA LUMPUR: Heart disease is the number one killer among Malaysian women and is two and a half times as common than dying from all cancers combined, warned the National Heart Association of Malaysia.

Its president Datuk Dr Azhari Rosman dispelled the common perception that only older men were prone to heart diseases and strokes.

“Women must maintain a high index of suspicion,” he said here yesterday.

“Cancer does not take as many lives as cardiovascular diseases. Women also tend to dismiss pain more easily than men and generally have a higher pain threshold.”

Dr Azhari said the latest 2011 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS IV) had revealed some alarming statistics, including the fact that Malaysian women had the highest body mass index (BMI) in the South-East Asian region.

“Obesity is the harbinger of many conditions,” he said. “The NHMS IV study reports that out of 17,000 women surveyed, 29.4% were overweight while 15% were obese.”

Dr Azhari, a consultant cardiologist at the National Heart Institute, said that Malaysian women also had one of the highest prevalence of hypertension in South-East Asia, even more than men.

He said women also formed a 60% majority of Malaysians who had elevated total cholesterol levels, another factor that contributed to heart disease.

Dr Azhari said that data also showed that most Malaysians were admitted to the hospital for Acute Coronary Syndrome around the age of 59 years.

“This is seven years below the average in other countries which is around 66 years.

“We have also treated a 19-year-old for heart disease and done a heart bypass on a 21-year-old,” he revealed.

Dr Azhari stressed that creating awareness among the public was critical as heart disease was “completely preventable” if detected early.

To this end, he said the Women's Heart Health Organisation (WH2O) was created to educate the public and healthcare providers that women were susceptible to heart diseases and strokes too.

In line with National Heart Day on Sept 29, NHAM, in collaboration with the Malaysian Heart Foundation, has organised a “Walk A Mile” activity at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa on Sept 30.

They will also have other physical activities and health screenings.

For details on other activities planned in the next few weeks, visitwww.malaysianheart.org.