Blocking illegal medicine a headache for Malaysia's health ministry, Others news, Health News, AsiaOne YourHealth

AsiaOne YourHealth 

 KUALA LUMPUR - The booming online pharmaceutical industry, and the ease of having these items delivered to the buyer's doorstep, is posing a major challenge to the Health Ministry's efforts to block illegal medicine.
These online transactions were "almost invisible" and their origins difficult to trace, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.
He added that the Customs Depart­ment's policy of not screening packages valued below RM500 made it even easier for unregistered and illegal medication to enter the country through online purchases.

"The shipments brought in by companies in bulk are screened, but the problem is with individual purchases sent by post.
"If the value is less than RM500, the Customs Department's policy is not to screen the package as the volume of these packages is too high. But for us, this makes a big difference," he said yesterday.
Dr Subramaniam said the ministry raised this concern to the Customs Department over a year ago.
"People are also able to buy online the medication which they would otherwise need a prescription for.
"This not only puts patients at risk. It is also against the law.
"We have asked the Customs Department to screen all packages and they are trying to do it but I think it is quite expensive to put such a system in place.
"I hope they will be able to do it as soon as possible," he said after opening the training conference on access to safe medicines here.
Earlier in his speech, Dr Subra­maniam said the ministry had introduced various efforts to protect Malaysians from counterfeit and unregistered medicine, such as introducing the Meditag security hologram on registered medication and enforcement activities.
Last year, he said 33,704 unregis­tered products worth RM43.22mil were seized by the ministry.

Women's healthcare in Malaysia is the weaker rights

The Star Online

Women may be the fairer sex, but not the weaker one. Still, there are plenty of issues to address over women's healthcare in Malaysia.

A woman plays many roles in a family – daughter, sister, wife, mother – throughout her life. When she becomes a mother, she inevitably takes the reins as the guardian of health and carer to the family. But who is there to safeguard her interests?

Women are often depicted as the weaker sex. I beg to differ.

In terms of health, women have a lower mortality rate compared to men at any age group. It’s safe to say women are the stronger sex from womb to tomb. Women have conquered more than 60% of varsity places in Malaysian universities, and are a vital workforce for the nation. 

Because of their varied roles, women will prioritise others in a family before themselves. But women should also be provided with better access to health and care for themselves.

Let's start with contraception – not all women have access to it. A woman's right to contraception is determined by national policies on their age, marital status, and other factors that may not be relevant to the woman herself.

Women should be allowed to decide – if they want to – what form of contraception they want and when to use it after being counselled on the various options available. Healthcare professionals should not use their own values in deciding for women when they should start their family and how to space them. 

In this aspect, Malaysia is failing miserably as less than 50% of eligible women of childbearing age have access to contraceptives.

Women should also receive the necessary information for them to make their decisions. Health education, including sex education and inculcating awareness of their sexuality and the consequences of their actions, needs to be imparted early for women to make choices compatible with their own plans for their lives. 

Women should be educated about the necessary preparations for getting pregnant, pregnancy itself, and the care of their babies before they embarked on this journey. 

In addition, an underaged girl should not be forced into marriage and starting a family. Even though she is physically capable of performing the functions, she may not be mentally and physically ready for the responsibilities that come with this. There are many stresses and pressures that need to be balanced in life.

Female foreigners have the shorter end of the stick when it comes to healthcare in Malaysia. They are not provided for adequately, even with mandatory medical coverage (Skim Perlindungan Insurans Kesihatan Pekerja Asing), when they come into the country legally to work. It's even worse when they are illegal.

In addition, healthcare staff at clinics and hospitals are required to report such “illegals” when they seek care, when they are at their most vulnerable state. This has become an ethical issue for healthcare personnel.

We understand that the government cannot give free healthcare to non-Malaysians. This has been clearly demonstrated in the recent increase of medical fees for foreigners in the government sector. We also know that this will seriously impact the health of the foreigners, especially women who become pregnant.

We hope that healthcare is treated differently from other forms of assets and services. We need to ensure that the right to health is not denied to any group, including those that do not have their full rights. The government, as the ruling body of the country, has this responsibility and needs to address these issues seriously.

■ Dr H. Krishna Kumar is president of the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA). For further information, email starhealth@thestar.com.my. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the reader’s own medical care.

Health Ministry confirms nationwide spike in dengue cases

 Malay Mail Online

Ipoh city council workers carry out fogging in Taman Pakatan Bercham in light of the rising dengue cases. ― Malay Mail picBALIK PULAU, Jan 25 — Dengue cases are on the rise, with Selangor recording the highest number in one week, according to Health Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya.

He cited disorganised garbage collection as a factor for the spread of dengue in the state.

“In the course of one week, there were almost 3,000 cases nationwide, of which more than 1,000 were in Selangor,” he told reporters after the presentation of 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) in Balik Pulau here today.

He named Petaling as the area in Selangor with the highest number of dengue cases.

“Selangor is an urban area; the local government must ensure that its enforcement covers all the areas including squatter colonies,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Hilmi described the local council election proposal by the DAP government in Penang as a waste of time.

“Don’t spend too much time politicking. We have an election every five years, suffice that after the election, we concentrate on developing the state and doing what is best for the people,” he said.

In another development, the Balik Pulau member of parliament said 16 clinics comprising four in Terengganu, 11 in Kelantan and one in Beufort, Sabah, which had been destroyed by floods would be rebuilt. — Bernama

Health ministry to open 22 tent clinics to replace flood-damaged clinics in Kelantan

Malay Mail Online

The health ministry said 23 health teams from Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Perlis, Melaka, Kedah and Selangor would be sent to Kelantan to prevent disease outbreaks, especially ‘Acute Gastroenteritis’ (AGE). — Picture courtesy of Health Ministry's Facebook page.KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 10 — Twenty-two tent clinics will be up and running soon to replace health clinics that suffered severe damage due to the floods in Gua Musang, Kuala Krai and Tanah Merah in Kelantan, the Health Ministry said in a statement here yesterday.

It said to prevent disease outbreaks, especially ‘Acute Gastroenteritis’ (AGE), 23 health teams from Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Perlis, Melaka, Kedah and Selangor would be sent to Kelantan for the purpose.

Apart from this, it said 229 volunteers from Institusi Latihan KKM were also helping to clean up health facilities in six districts while specialists were also providing counselling to folks tramautised by the devastating floods.

Meanwhile, Acer Sales and Services Sdn Bhd managing director Ricky Tan in a statement said Acer Malaysia is lending a hand to those affected by the recent floods especially in the East Coast by providing free inspection and 50 per cent discount on parts needed for repair of affected Acer devices.

George Kent (Malaysia) Berhad in a statement said they have pitched in to help flood victims in Kuala Lipis and its surrounding areas by donating foodstuff and essential items which were handed over by the company’s representative.

The company has also volunteered to ferry government engineers assigned to conduct inspection of damage caused by the floods to government clinics in Kelantan.

•  

Apart from this, CMC Engineering Sdn Bhd has launched a programme call ‘CMC Flood Aid Relief — Hand in Hand’ to support flood victims and their family members.

In a statement CMC Engineering Sdn Bhd said the aid in the form of basic school supplies and clothes and other donations would be handed over to Hilir Perak Flood Relief Centre in Sekolah Kebangsaan Selabak which is occupied by approximately 140 people.

Ayam Brand™ also said in a statement that it had contributed hundred of cartons of canned sardines and baked beans to the Malaysian Islamic Development Department in helping the relief effort.

Only 300 medicines will be GST zero-rated

theSundaily

PETALING JAYA: Only about 320 different medicines are GST zero-rated as the same medicine made by different manufacturers have been counted repeatedly.

This was disclosed jointly by the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society (MPS), Malaysian Community Pharmacy Guild (MCPG), Pharmaceutical Association of Malaysia (PhAMA), Malaysian Organisation of Pharmaceutical Industries (MOPI) and Malaysian Association of Pharmaceutical Suppliers (MAPS).

Citing an example, they said, Paracetamol is counted as 17 items instead of one medicine.

They said the National Essential Medicines List (NEML) 4th Edition represents only 13% of the total 43,000 registered medicines.

"The majority of these zero-rated medicines are only used in government hospitals. The many medicines outside the list are widely prescribed and used in the private sector, hospitals, clinics and pharmacies which are mainly paid out of pocket," said MPS president Datuk Nancy Ho.

She said if they are not zero-rated there will likely be an increase in the cost of medicines, making them unaffordable to many patients who are on long term medication.

"The MPS and other pharmacy stakeholders would like to see all Scheduled Medicine zero-rated before April 1," she said in a statement.

Ho said they have written to the prime minister appealing for all Scheduled Medicines to be zero-rated under GST so that the sick would not be taxed for their medication.

"The health minister himself has previously been quoted to say that there is a possibility of increase in medical care by 1% to 2% after the implementation of GST and the government is looking into ways to reduce this cost," she said, adding that the ministry had recognised that there are technical issues on health services being exempted from GST in that while services are GST-exempted, the products used in the services are not.

She said the minister was saying the ministry "would like for all medications to be zero-rated GST" and it is up to the Customs Department.

Ho said it is not easy to explain to ordinary people why the price of essential medicine has gone up when there are 900 other items (including lobster) which are GST-exempted as announced during the tabling of the Budget 2015.

"On the price hike, those who require long-term medication will be the hardest hit. It is of concern that with such price increases, the patient may be forced to stop taking their medicines," she added.

She said certain illnesses such as cancer, require a patient to fork out tens of thousands of ringgit every month.

" If they are made to pay GST at a standard rate, they will need to pay an extra of RM600 in tax for every RM10,000 they need to pay for their medication. It is already sad for a person to fall seriously sick which cripples his ability to generate an income necessary to battle for his life. With GST he may has to pay even more for his medicines," she added.

The MPS had started a petition campaign to seek support that all Controlled Medicines (Schedule Poison B and C)to be zero-rated under GST.

Health minister brushes off queries on shabby Lahad Datu hospital

The Malaysian Insider

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam today brushed aside questions about poor facilities at the Lahad Datu hospital in Sabah which have hampered treatment for life-threatening cases and surgeries, saying he would only speak on the matter when visiting the state.

"When I go to Kota Kinabalu you can ask me about Sabah hospitals," he said today in response to a report by The Malaysian Insider on December 17 about problems faced at the government district hospital in the eastern district of Sabah.

A major problem at the hospital was its faulty air-conditioning system which prevented surgeries from being conducted. Repairs to the system required operating theatres to be sterilised for days before they could be used.

A source at the Sabah Medical Department had told The Malaysian Insider that the hospital was well-equipped for a period to handle cases during the incursion by armed Suluk militants on Sabah's east coast in February last year.

High-tech medical equipment such as a computerised tomography or CT scan as well as top-notch surgeons, had also been posted there to handle battlefield casualties from the incursion.

However, in just over a year, the hospital has slid back to the state in which it was before the conflict, facing problems like frequent air-conditioning system breakdowns that have rendered two of the three operating theatres (OTs) unusable for the most part of the last three years.

The degree of neglect prevented it from handling simultaneous cases if they were life-threatening and required immediate surgery. The situation had also stopped plans by a charity organisation to provide surgery for 14 children with cleft lips. This was confirmed to The Malaysian Insider by plastic surgeon Dr Margaret Leow of the Universiti Hospital in Kuala Lumpur.

The Tawau and Sandakan hospitals were also reportedly in a similar predicament as the Lahad Datu hospital.

Dr Subramaniam was on a working visit to the Penang Hospital today, where he proposed to the state health director and hospital director that outpatient services be relocated to another venue to ease congestion.

"If you have 1,000 outpatients daily, you get 2,000 to 3,000 people, such as the patients' family members coming to the hospital, that creates congestion and problems like insufficient parking spaces.

"If the outpatient services can be moved outside the hospital to a location that is nearer to patients, it could be more convenient for the people as well," he told a press conference during his visit to the hospital.

Dr Subramanian also proposed that the hospital look into setting up a standalone low-risk maternity centre for high-risk and high dependency cases, as well as a cardiology lab.

The ministry also has plans to integrate all government hospitals in Penang to distribute the workload by sharing manpower and resources, including specialists.

Construction of a new maternity and paediatrics hospital on Jalan Residensi near the Penang Hospital is also expected to begin in 2016.

The existing maternity hospital, which is in a 125-year-old building that will be demolished, had been emptied earlier this month and temporarily moved to different sections within the main hospital, he said.

"The old building was declared unsafe so we have no choice but to move. Maternity cases will be handled at the main hospital for the next four to five years.

"The new hospital, which will be built on the same site, has been approved and is now in planning stage. It will take three to four years to complete. We hope it will be ready by 2020," he said.

He added that the new building would add another 329 beds to the hospital and handle all future paediatric cases when it was ready. – December 22, 2014.

Relocate outpatient services, health minister advises congested Penang Hospital | Malaysia

Malay Mail Online

GEORGE TOWN, Dec 22 — In a bid to clear the long, snaking lines at Penang Hospital, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam suggested today a relocation of its outpatient services.

He ordered the state health director and the general hospital director to look into suitable locations for the move, saying splitting the outpatient services from the main building could cut down the waiting time that have left patients in queue for an entire day at times besides putting a strain on the staff.

“Patients can also get comprehensive healthcare at government clinics so they do not need to go to hospitals for outpatient care,” Dr Subramaniam said.

He pointed out that if the hospital was to receive 1,000 outpatient cases daily, it would mean two to three times the number of people thronging the hospital daily, clogging up the parking lots in its grounds.

Other than the outpatient care services, Dr Subramaniam also told the state health director and Penang Hospital director to set up a stand-alone maternity centre to handle high risk and high dependency cases for better maternal care.

“Hospitals in Putrajaya are doing this now so it can be done here too,” he told a press conference during his working visit to the state public hospital.

He also proposed that a cardiology lab be set up in the hospital to enable it to take in more cardiology cases.

Another measure to cut down congestion at the hospital is to integrate all the government hospitals in the state so that the hospitals could share resources and manpower in providing specialist healthcare services.

“I will appoint a team to come up with this integration plan for the hospitals here and the team will study each hospital’s capacity and strengths for the integration,” he said.

Earlier today, after visiting the maternity ward that was emptied out earlier this month for upgrading works, the minister said construction work on a new maternity and paediatric hospital will start in early 2016.

The current maternity ward, located diagonally across from the Penang Hospital along Jalan Residensi, is a 125-year-old building that has not been renovated and expanded for many years.

Dr Subramaniam said the building will be demolished to make way for construction of a new hospital.

The ward has been closed and temporarily relocated to the main hospital building.

“The old building is unsafe so we have no choice but to relocate the maternity and paediatric wards to the main hospital for the next four to five years pending completion of the new maternity hospital,” he said.

The new maternity hospital is scheduled to be completed by 2020.

Health Ministry keens on improving quality of service

BorneoPost Online 

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The Ministry of Health gives serious attention to the aspect of efficiency and effectiveness of Health Care management and administration for assessment and identification of the achievement level according to the international standard as well as the best practices, ©BRUDIRECT.COM reported.

Speaking at the Ministry’s Excellent Service Appreciation Ceremony yesterday, the Minister of Health, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awg Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Haji Awg Mohamad Yusof said that apart from focusing on the administrative aspect, the management also includes the aspect of patients’ safety, standard procedure of operation and work environment, the medical and health services assessment programme carried out biennially also aims to appreciate and recognise various service disciplines according to the respective categories which have successfully displayed excellent qualities.

It is also to enhance the spirit of responsibility and commitment in working as a team to continue to make reforms, improvement and upgrade work quality and service efficiency from time to time.

The Minister added that in conducting the assessment, the assessing group could identify the aspects of service that need to be improved and updated, especially those with the potential to affect health care services.

Yang Berhormat Pehin said that the assessment results should be accepted positively and that they constituted a challenge for the Ministry to be responsible in together resolving and improving them in order to uphold its image and integrity.

Therefore, Yang Berhormat Pehin urged his staff to give serious attention towards the procedure of overcoming any problems identified that need prompt action and monitoring.

The implementation should be systematic and evidence-based so that the issues would not persist, but instead would enhance public confidence towards the health care services provided.

Yang Berhormat Pehin also reminded every management and administration of Health Centres and Clinics, wards and specialist clinics as well as Allied Health Services on the importance of strengthening the implementation of a systematic internal audit programme according to fixed methods or guidelines.

Yang Berhormat Pehin further clarified that the internal audit is not only to identify weaknesses or deficiencies but is also as a warning signal for the Ministry to take follow-up actions in addressing the weaknesses within a short time in giving a positive impact towards enhancing effectiveness.

It would even make the Ministry prouder if the service quality and excellence level could be further elevated. This does not mean having to wait for the defects to get worse or continue what more if they are to leave a negative impact on the organisation’s performance and administration.

The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of certificates and souvenirs to the recipients of the Civil Service Excellence Award, the Civil Service Excellent Employees Award 2014, as well as certificates of appreciation to the Recipients of International Award in the Field of Health and the Ministry’s retirees.

The Medical and Health Services Award 2014 went to the Wards or Health Centres and Clinics based on the results of the Medical and Health Services Assessment Programme.

The programmes are one of the Ministry of Health’s initiatives towards improving the quality of Health Care Service delivery.

Among the objectives of the programme is to recognise the existing service in line with the needs and provisions towards achieving recognition of international standard.

Women dominating pharmaceutical sector?

Daily Express 

KOTA KINABALU: The 21st century is dubbed the "women's century" with their influence being the most evident in the pharmaceutical profession – whereby their achievement in the field stands out against their male counterpart.

It is a worldwide trend, not only in Malaysia, that women are increasingly dominating university admissions, and the pharmaceutical profession is a field that the fairer sex seemingly excel in many more ways than men.

Prof Datin Nur Mariani of Cyberjaya University College of Medical Sciences, one of the many female presenters at the 25th Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Associations Congress (Fapa), said her study shows "an association between gender and future career choices as females seem to prefer a more stable working environment".

The pharmaceutical profession is one of the well remunerated professions with great opportunities for career or business advancement.

"The profession must make the shift to being seen as provider of care in which women excel. The public and other healthcare professions primarily see pharmacists as suppliers of medicines.

"There are widespread consensus that pharmacists are an under-utilised resource," she said at the Fapa event held at Magellan Sutera Harbour on October 9-12, this year.

"Pharmacists are well placed to help address many of the issues by supporting the care of older and vulnerable people, helping people to manage multiple long term conditions, helping people to stay healthy through public health interventions, support urgent and out of hours care, and helping people to get and stay out of hospital by treating them closer to their homes."

Participants also noted that the organising chair and head of the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society Datuk Nancy Ho and the head of the Sabah Pharmaceutical Society Susan Pan are ladies as are Dr Salmah Bahri, the Director of Pharmacy Practice and Development of the Pharmaceutical Services Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Chief Pharmacist of Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Adiba Haq Syed M Haq, Leonila Macuto-Ocampo, President of Asia Pacific Institute for Medication Management and Past President of the Philippine Pharmacists Association, Head Pharmacist Lita Chew of Singapore, and many others like Prof Vivian W. Y. Lee heading the Fapa's Education Bureau.

Dr Salmah said it is imperative that women pharmacists be courageous to go into politics and influence government policies especially in the interest of the profession as well as for public good. Presently there are only two women ministers in the Federal Cabinet.

Prof Vivian Lee, however, said that the profession accords equal opportunities for all through education.

"Pharmacy education is important for the training of capable future pharmacists and is crucial for the clinical pharmacy development.

"We nurture our next generation to be the future leaders of our society, and young people learn and grow academically and morally.

"The impact of university education on the development of students for the future of society cannot be underestimated.

"This is the time when they learn how to be independent and reliable individuals," she said.

"Understanding of patients' behaviour and psychology are paramount in order to achieve good outcomes from medication therapy.

"The concept of behavioural sciences and health psychology are embedded as the fundamental foundation of the field of social pharmacy and it is imperative that this field be taught and nurtured to the future pharmacy practitioners."

The practice of pharmacy, and consequently, the pharmacy curriculum had undergone significant change over the years in response to a rapidly changing economic, political and social environment.

Within this context, the role of the pharmacist now includes more direct interaction with the public in terms of the provision of health information and advice on the safe and rational use of medications.

In order to carry out this function effectively within the society, future pharmacists need to be well prepared on how to deal with patients' behaviour and psychology.

Understanding of patients' behaviour and psychology are paramount in order to achieve good outcomes from medication therapy.

Poor adherence led to increase in returned medications, escalation in healthcare costs, substantial worsening of diseases leading to increased mortality.

According to WHO study on patient medication compliance, 50 per cent of patients do not take their prescribed medication.

There is a need for the continuous training of healthcare providers, and education of patients.

Dispensing errors can harm patients. Hence, Dr Salmah outlined as one of the challenges to overcome was inadequate health literacy and lack of professional knowledge and skills which lead to lack of confidence.

"Health literacy contributes to compliance and safety practices, and differs between developed and developing countries.

"Government policy should incorporate the notion of health literacy into their design of policy with research agendas and research objectives for population health.

"Health professionals should fulfil patients' needs and also foster patients' health literacy.

"Lack of self-improvement calls for improvement on co-curriculum for training in pharmacy schools, and encourage continued professional development.

"We urge the government to implement accessible programmes to upgrade competencies by creating partnership to develop learning programmes, and promote inter and intra professional education and training.

"Developing countries face shortage of manpower which limit expansion of service as listed in 2012 WHO report on pharmacist to population ratio.

Capacity building efforts need to be carried out in all levels with a coordinated approach to forecast pharmacy workforce in order to meet the future healthcare system and the country's needs, she stressed.

MH17: Health Ministry to document forensic experts’ experiences

The Star Online

KUANTAN: The Health Ministry will collect and compile the findings and experiences of its forensic experts involved in the process of identifying Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH17 victims in the Netherlands.

Its director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the valuable information would be documented in a book, which will serve as a reference for high profile cases in the country, as well as to facilitate investigations.

“The opportunity to conduct forensic investigations in the case of flight MH17, that was shot down and crashed in Ukraine, is priceless.

“In this regard we will record our forensic experts’ every activity and role in the investigations.

“I have also urged them to relate their experiences in forensic medical journals,” he told reporters after closing the National Forensic Medicine and Sciences Convention 2014 here, Saturday.

Also present were Pahang Health director Datuk Dr Norhizan Ismail and Forensic Medical Consultant Dr Mohd Shah Mahmood.

Noor Hisham said the Ministry’s forensic officers’ capabilities in conducting the investigations had also impressed other nations.

He also reminded forensic officers in the Ministry, Royal Malaysian Police, and Malaysian Armed Forces against uploading reports and photographs of victims on social media.

He said such actions were an offence under the Medical Act 1971. – Bernama

Health Ministry spends nearly RM20m for dengue advocacy programmes

The Malay Mail Online

SHAH ALAM, Sept 21 — The Health Ministry has spent nearly RM20 million since January this year for implementation of various dengue advocacy programmes nationwide.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the programmes were implemented to enhance public awareness on dengue and also as an approach towards reducing dengue cases in the country.

He said a total of 70,000 dengue cases had been reported in the country since January this year.

“Through integrated action by the ministry and various agencies, the number of dengue cases is showing a drop, including in Selangor and Kelantan, which had been recording high number of dengue cases,” he told reporters after attending a health programme for the 1Malaysia Indian Community here today.

On the programme, he said it was to educate and expose the Indian community on early detection of diseases. — Bernama

Malaysia steps up Ebola screening

AsiaOne YourHealth

PUTRAJAYA - The screening of travellers for Ebola symptoms has been further stepped up at immigration checkpoints to allay fears over the spread of the disease.

Apart from screenings conducted at the country's entry points, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said affected countries would also take up exit health screenings.

Malaysian airports will also query travellers coming from high-risk zones in a quarantine area.

Symptoms of Ebola include fever exceeding 38.6 °C, severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting and diarrhoea."Those intending to visit Malaysia from yellow fever zones, such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria, will be asked to produce evidence of vaccinations before they are granted a visa," Dr Subramaniam said to reporters at the ministry here yesterday.

 

Dr Subramaniam stressed that a person would only be at risk of Ebola if he came into contact with someone who had contracted the disease.

As such, he said it was wrong for news reports to describe the recent hospitalisation of a Zimbabwean student in Kuching as a case of suspected Ebola.

The 24-year-old has been discharged, said Sarawak's Assistant Public Health Minister Datuk Dr Jerip Susil.

The Sarawak Health Department was working closely with the Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre to ensure that the monitoring of travellers were carried out strictly, added Dr Jerip.

Malaysia not slamming door on African students over Ebola fear, says placement firm

The Malay Mail Online

PETALING JAYA, Aug 19 — Foreign students from west African countries are still allowed to enter Malaysia despite the rising number of Ebola cases being reported in those nations. 

Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), a one-stop centre to handle the enrolment of foreign students in private universities and colleges, said it had not come across cases of students from West African countries whose application had been put on hold or rejected.

EMGS chief executive officer Mohd Yazid Abdul Hamid said all foreign students were screened in their countries of origin and their applications would only be processed once they obtained a clean bill of health.

“When students enter Malaysia, they are screened at our entry points just like everyone else. They also undergo a second medical screening as required by EMGS,” he said

“However, Ebola is not listed in part of our screening tests as it has to be treated differently.”

EMGS has received 6,500 applications from students in West African nations since last year. There have also been 3,500 renewals for west African students over the same period.

“We have active applications from students coming from the concerned region but we have not received any directive from the government to put these students on any waiting list,” Mohd Yazid said.

“We have received directives from the Health Ministry and we have notified all colleges about the virus. We have also informed the colleges to advise returning foreign students to get themselves screened if they develop any signs related to the virus.

“At this point we are focusing on the pre-entry medical tests as it’s all about prevention as we do not want those who have contacted the virus to leave their country.”

He said the agency had also not come across foreign students being stopped at Malaysian airports because of Ebola-related symptoms.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) classifies Ebola as a severe, often fatal illness, with a case fatality rate of up to 90 per cent. It is one of the world’s most virulent diseases.

The infection is transmitted by direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected animals or people. Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. During an outbreak, those at higher risk of infection are health workers, family members and others in close contact with sick people and deceased patients.

According to WHO’s latest data, the death toll has risen to 1,145 in the four afflicted west African countries of Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

The Health Ministry had said in a report that although the probability of Ebola spreading to Malaysia was quite low, it was not taking chances.

The ministry’s director of the disease control division, Dr Chong Chee Kheong, said healthcare personnel in Malaysia were trained and equipped to ensure they were prepared to manage any eventuality of Ebola breaking out in the country.

Fewer places for medicine due to glut of doctors, says ministry

The Malaysian Insider

The government has offered places to only 418 brilliant students to take up medical studies (first degree) at public institutions of higher learning for this year's intake.

Deputy Education Minister P.Kamalanathan (pic) said the limited number of offers was meant to control the number of new medical graduates and avoid a flood of new doctors in the employment market.

"A total of 1,163 students with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.00 applied to do medicine, but offers were only made to only 418 of them and the selection was also based on interview results.

"We made this decision following discussions with the Health Ministry and the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC)," he told reporters here today.

He said the others who were not offered medical studies were offered other courses, but related to the field.

He said this in response to complaints by students with CGPA of 4.0 in the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) and matriculation who failed to get offer to study medicine.

Kamalanathan advised those who failed to get places at IPTA to appeal to the Education Ministry online at upu.moe.gov.my before August 23.

"A total of 37,467 students have received offers at IPTA, there might be some students who are not happy with their course.

"For them, I suggest they accept the course and register first, then put appeal in writing directly to the university concerned," he added.

The ministry, he said, made sure that all students with CGPA of 4.00 received offers at IPTA for the 2014/2015 academic session. – Bernama, August 18, 2014.

BP Healthcare wants to take on the big boys

theSundaily

SHAH ALAM: Integrated healthcare services provider BP Healthcare Group has come a long way from when it started out as a clinical laboratory in Ipoh 34 years ago, to the nationwide presence and 1,200 staff it is today. Its director Datuk Chevy Beh (pix), however, says that what it has achieved is only 25% of its target.

" At 100% (of my target), I would have at least 20 hospitals and be controlling the whole value chain in the market - from primary, secondary to tertiary care," he told SunBiz in an interview.

Beh said it aims to expand its five BP Specialist Centres to 20 in three to five years' time and then convert them into hospitals, which is part of its plans to build a chain of hospitals. Each specialist centre costs between RM20 million and RM40 million, depending on location.

"The ultimate game plan is to convert all of it to hospitals and compete with KPJ Healthcare Bhd and Pantai Holdings Bhd. But we are privately held, we have limited funds. We have to be very careful how we expand but we're quite fortunate, we've been in the business for 34 years which gives us a huge head start and we will continue growing at that momentum," he said.

The group currently has five specialist centres in Cheras, Petaling Jaya, Klang, Glenmarie (Shah Alam) and Ipoh. It has two more under renovation in Penang and Johor and it will acquire another two more in Muar and Batu Pahat before the year ends, bringing the total to nine centres.

"It is quite capital intensive but for us we're not going in as greenfield. We have already identified the locations where we want to do up, it's mostly upgrades, sort of like an extension of services. We're pretty confident because it's quite safe, we know the area is doing well, then we expand. We're using our own funds so we make sure everything is well spent. Our funds are a combination of internal generated funds and bank borrowings," said Beh.

He said converting its specialist centres to hospitals would complete its value chain, as it would be able to offer the entire range of health services to its patients instead of referring them to other hospitals. This would also offer convenience and quality, coordinated healthcare to patients.

Besides organic growth, the group is also looking at acquisitions and is looking at buying hospitals to grow faster.

"We're evaluating a couple of hospitals but by year-end we should close at least one hospital acquisition. The cost depends on the asset size, type and maturity of the business - whether it is in growth or distress stage, whether it needs refurbishment; all this will be factored into the pricing of the asset," Beh said.

On overseas expansion, he said the group has been courted by various parties from the region including Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam but it has yet to come across any deals that have the right formula or chemistry for the group.

"Not that we don't want to go in…but we want to go in because there's a reason for it. Domestically, I still have so much ample growth opportunity. As I mentioned, from where I am to where I want to be, I'm only 25% there. I still have another 75% to go and I haven't hit that," he said.

He said despite the relationship it has with Red Bull International of Thailand, there have been no concrete plans for a partnership between the two.

"It's a shareholding issue. They need 51%. We don't want to go in and get into trouble after building everything and get taken over. What's the point of doing business that way? It would be better to put money in the bank. A lot of these countries are not very business friendly to foreigners, depending on the industry you're in. Food and beverage is easy but healthcare, like banking, is extremely regulated.

"To put money there for six months with zero revenue or sales, are you going to say, go flood the market? But why flood the market there when there is a gestation period there? Here there's almost no gestation period for us, my branding is so strong here," he added.

Beh said ultimately, it has to have a strong foundation in the local market before expanding overseas.

Last year, the group recorded an additional 800,000 new patients, bringing its total to some three million patients per year, which he said, is more than the total patient load of KPJ and Pantai hospitals combined. Revenue and profit rose 50% and 38% respectively last year.

Health D-G: Don’t practise self-medication blindly

BorneoPost Online 

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians are reminded not to practise self-medication without getting appropriate advice or supervision from professionals.

Health director-general Datuk Seri Noor Hisham Abdullah said it was imperative for patients or individuals to equip themselves with knowledge and understanding of their respective ailments and medication before proceeding to self-medicate.

He noted that some medications could result in complications or side-effects which could lead to organ failure in the long run.

“Even if you have basic understanding of the disease in question, there must be advice or supervision from doctors. If you do it blindly without properly understanding the disease and the medications involved, it can be very dangerous,” he said in a recent interview.

Noor Hisham cautioned that self-administering what might appear to look like simple medication may result in serious complications such as brain failure.

The director-general noted that self-medication was not similar to buying prescribed medicines from doctors or pharmacies.

“Self-medication means no consultation at all, you just order from the internet and take the medicine. You can end up with liver failure, kidney failure and so on,” he said.

He said the worst scenario is to find out that the affected person was in such a serious predicament, at a much later stage. — Bernama