THE pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) was first made available in our country in 2005. Within a few years, healthcare professionals in Malaysia had begun calling for the inclusion of PCV into our national immunisation programme (NIP) following the growing practice in other countries.This move reflected widespread recognition of the vaccine’s importance in preventing some of the most devastating diseases caused by the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterium. Based on Malaysian studies, its impact is profound, as shown below:
2. S. pneumoniae is believed to cause 23.4% of bacterial meningitis (inflammation of the brain membrane) cases in our country;
3. Bacteraemia (blood infection), which may lead to shock and organ failure, occurs in about 30 in 100,000 children under five years old in Malaysia; and
4. There are about 500,000 cases of pneumococcal otitis media (middle ear infection resulting in deafness) in children under two years old every year.
For the parents and other family members, there is untold grief and trauma when any child becomes permanently disabled or dies as a result of pneumococcal disease. Parents not only have to care for their sick children, but most low- or middle-income families will also have to struggle with debilitating hospital bills. Their livelihood may be put at risk if they have to take time off work, leading to salary cuts or even job loss. This can put tremendous stress on the individuals, disrupt everyday lives and even break some families apart.As a children’s health advocacy initiative by parents, we in MyHealth Outreach were very moved by the plight of all parents and children affected by pneumococcal disease. Thus, we decided to play our role and actively advocate for the inclusion of PCV in the NIP. In 2013, we ran a “Say YES to Pneumococcal Disease Protection” petition. Over 20,000 parents and paediatricians expressed their desire to have PCV in the NIP. We presented the results to our former health minister but were sorely disappointed that the ministry was unable to fulfil the public’s wish.
Fast forward to 2018, we were very encouraged when Pakatan Harapan pledged, in its election manifesto, to provide PCV to all Malaysian children under two years old. Inspired by our current Health Minister’s passion and commitment to realise the promise, MyHealth Outreach started an online petition in English (http://chng.it/D9nB4zYxc6) and Bahasa Malaysia (http://chng.it/p7kshMBsG4) in April.
IT is time for the Selangor state government to start addressing the numerous complaints against the Peduli Sihat medical assistance scheme, which has been suspended since the beginning of this month, and rectify the problems plaguing this novel and noble healthcare initiative.
1. The Peduli Sihat cards are not being topped up every year for those who have used up their annual entitlement, which is RM200 for individuals and RM700 for families. How is the topping-up done?
2. There has been a lull in new applications as many of those who had applied for the card last year have yet to receive it. Many have lost their enthusiasm over this medical assistance scheme due to the uncertainty, red tape and waiting period for the applications to be processed. These issues must be resolved quickly.
3. Cards that are ready should be posted to the applicants, as the address and telephone numbers are provided. A lot of cards are currently piled up in the state representatives’ offices because they are not being immediately handed out or collected by the applicants.
PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry needs to take serious steps to address growing concerns over mental health issues, says social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
Lee, who is patron of the Malaysia Psychiatric Association, suggested that insurance coverage be made available for mental healthcare and treatment."There is a need to initiate the subject.
Such an initiative should come from the Health Ministry," he said, adding that such coverage had been offered in Singapore.Lee also said NGOs supportive of mental health issues could play a role in explaining the need for insurance coverage for mental health problems by sending a memorandum to both the government and insurance association.
Lee also lauded the Health Ministry's support for better mental health by improving the country's mental health assessment system through programmes like Health Mind for secondary school students, as well as the Suicide Prevention Initiatives.
"Nevertheless more improvements are required, mainly through collaborative efforts among the communities and governmental and non-governmental agencies," he said in a statement on Wednesday (May 22).Based on statistics from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2015, Lee said about 4.2 million Malaysians aged 16 and above, or 29.2% of the population, suffered from various mental problems.This was an increase of 11.2% compared to 2006.
Lee added a survey done in 2017 on mental health among youths also revealed that one of five adolescents felt depressed; two out of five felt anxious; 11.2% had suicidal ideas and 10.1% had attempted suicide.
PETALING JAYA: Stern action will be taken against doctors and those who promote alternatives to the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, says Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye (pic).While he respects those who are against vaccination as they have the right to voice their concerns, he hopes they will not “convey a message that is wrong or confusing to the public”.“We know there are those who advocate alternatives, which clearly do not work. There are also those who advocate homeopathy – the natural way.“If there are doctors who are involved in such practices, we will take action against them.
“Those who promote alternative methods, we too will take action against them because they are conducting a practice that will harm the health of a child,” he said during a press conference at the launch of the Halcyon radiotherapy machine at Beacon Hospital yesterday. The Halcyon radiotherapy machine is said to be the first of its kind in South-East Asia to treat cancer.As part of Beacon Hospital’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, the hospital also launched a RM3mil Halcyon Radiotherapy Welfare to lessen the financial burden of cancer patients.Dr Lee said he was not worried about other vaccines such as the human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, and polio as coverage was above 95%. But the MMR coverage in the country was still short; where coverage was only at 89% in 2017 and rose to 90% in 2018.
THE hallmark of a profession is its ability to self-regulate. This right is grudgingly granted by the government and public to members of the profession. This is because professionals are considered so specialised and highly skilled in their knowledge that it would be difficult for an external agency to regulate without stifling.Members of the profession in turn understand this concern that the public has and prove their ability to self-regulate by having robust internal mechanisms to keep their profession scientifically updated and professionally ethical. This includes ensuring that specialist qualifications are of the highest standard.However, a recent editorial co-authored by Yale histopathology professors Dr David Rimm and Dr Robert Homer titled “False-positive pathology: improving reproducibility with the next generation of pathologists” in Laboratory Investigation 2019, points to a situation where this self-regulatory mechanism seems to have failed.
Before I get into that, let me explain who histopathologists are. Briefly, histopathologists (aka surgical pathologists, anatomical pathologists) are medical doctors who work primarily outside of wards/clinics and in laboratories.One of the most important aspects of the work is in cancer diagnostics. Cancers are rarely diagnosed or treated without a written report from a histopathologist. It goes without saying that an accurate diagnosis is essential.What is the difference between histopathologists and clinic doctors? Clinic doctors see a patient from start to finish, that is, they see the full disease cycle (diagnosis, treatment, outcome). Hence they have a two-pronged feedback mechanism to ensure that they are providing accurate treatment. The first is informal-direct observation of how previous individual patients responded to their treatment, and the second is formal-clinical research whereby data of previous groups of patients are collected and analysed. Together, they provide a check-and-balance mechanism that ensures that future patients are treated based on the best possible medical evidence.
Histopathologists, on the other hand, are only present in one part of the disease cycle (ie, the diagnostic stage). We usually have no access to the informal mechanism – ie, no direct knowledge of how our diagnosis worked out in any individual patient since we do not participate in the complete disease cycle. We are almost fully dependent on the formal mechanism – ie, clinical research – to ensure that we are making the correct diagnosis.
With the establishment of Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed) - the first international branch university of the United Kingdom-based Newcastle University, with over 180 years of history in the field of medical research, interested students can obtain a solid grounding from a top medical institution right here in Malaysia.In just over a decade, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that diabetes will be the seventh leading cause of death worldwide. As well as causing serious long-term health problems, including impaired vision, blindness and amputation of the lower limbs and feet, diabetes is a major cause of kidney failure, heart attack and even stroke, as well as causing serious long-term.Type 2 diabetes has long been regarded as a chronic disease with a complex and unknown cause. However, research by Newcastle University’s Professor Roy Taylor using innovative magnetic resonance methods has confirmed his Twin Cycle Hypothesis – that Type 2 diabetes is caused by excess fat within the liver and pancreas. By clearly defining the cause of the disease, a planned treatment can reverse the processes.
The research has established that people can reverse their Type 2 diabetes to the point where they no longer require medication. More importantly, recent findings by Prof Taylor who is also Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre Director, showed that diabetes stays away provided that the excess weight is not allowed to reaccumulate.Now, a trial is underway, aiming to find an effective and accessible way to put Type 2 diabetes into remission for good. Results from the first year of the trial, published in late 2017 by Prof Taylor, identified that people in the first six years of Type 2 diabetes who follow a low-calorie programme with support from their general practitioner (GP) can reverse their diabetes for at least a year.
“We believe that although the new products’ prices could potentially rise to levels close to the original products with the additional sugar tax, it could also potentially open up new market opportunities in the market.," Kenanga Research said.
PETALING JAYA: Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd’s reformulated drinks with lower sugar content could potentially open up new market opportunities in the health-conscious consumer market, according to Kenanga Research.“We believe that although the new products’ prices could potentially rise to levels close to the original products with the additional sugar tax, it could also potentially open up new market opportunities in the market.“The deferment of the implementation of sugar taxes to July 2019 has allowed the group more time to adjust its product portfolios accordingly.“Previously, the group had announced a RM30mil capital expenditure to expand production lines to facilitate the entry of these new products,” said Kenanga Research in a recent report.With up to 90% of the group’s Malaysian product offerings being affected by the sugar tax, F&N looks to reformulate up to 70% of its products, which would incur research and development (R&D) costs.
Kementerian Kesihatan mengakui cadangan harga siling bagi mengawal harga ubat-ubatan mungkin mendapat respons kurang selesa daripada hospital swasta.Namun, menterinya Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad berkata, pelaksanaan itu tetap diteruskan dan pihaknya akan mencari penyelesaian “menang-menang” untuk semua pihak.“Sektor swasta mungkin melihat perkara ini dengan respons yang agak kurang selesa.“Tapi kita terpaksa mengambil satu penyelesaian yang sesuai untuk semua. Kita tak boleh memilih. Mesti ada jalan penyelesaian untuk semua pihak.“Kalau (harga ubat) swasta terlalu mahal, hospital awam kita akan sesak,” katanya pada sidang media di pejabatnya di Kementerian Kesihatan, Putrajaya pada Selasa.
Namun, katanya harga siling itu tidak akan jauh berbeza kerana ia akan ditetapkan berdasarkan harga sandaran yang digunakan oleh negara seperti Australia, Eropah dan Amerika Syarikat.Apabila ditanya sama ada harga tersebut akan lebih tinggi sekiranya merujuk kepada negara-negara tersebut, Dzulkefly berkata setakat ini, harga ubat-ubatan di Malaysia lebih tinggi daripada negara tersebut.Beliau menjangkakan cadangan dengan kerjasama Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna (KPDNHEP) itu dapat dibentangkan di Parlimen pada sesi akan datang.Untuk rekod, pada November lalu, Dzulkefly dilaporkan mencadangkan mekanisme kawalan bagi harga jualan siling kepada pengguna di semua saluran pendispensan yang sesuai untuk dilaksanakan dan selari dengan amalan antarabangsa.Beliau berkata, ia juga secara tidak langsung dapat menyelaraskan harga ubat dan memastikan akses ubat-ubatan mampu beli kepada rakyat.
SEVERAL patients seeking treatment at Hospital Lam Wah Ee’s traditional Chinese medicine centre are unhappy with the steep increase in the medical fees come Thursday.A regular patient, who wished to remain anonymous, described the steep hike as ‘ridiculous’.
Under the new charges, she would have to pay RM51 for consultation, registration, acupuncture treatment and moxibustion (heat therapy), instead of RM21 now.“For now, I pay RM1 for registration and another RM20 for acupuncture, consultation and moxibustion.“Most of the patients are senior citizens, or those with chronic pain that need regular follow-up sessions.“The new fees would put a strain on our finances,” she said.
Starting Thursday, the centre will impose charges on each acupuncture session (RM20), cupping session (RM5) and moxibustion (RM10), in addition to the RM20 consultation fee and RM1 registration fee.For now, a patient only needs to pay RM20 consultation fee and enjoy all the treatment and services (acupuncture, cupping and moxibustion).
For medication fee, two packets of herbs cost RM15 and an additional pack will cost RM10 each.The dermatology cream will cost RM6 and RM60 for seven packets of herbs to treat dermatology related problems.
Page 5 of 16
- You are here:
-
Home
-
Who We Are
- Our Team