Medical groups, Fomca sign MOU outlining rights of patients
PETALING JAYA: Medical groups and a consumer association have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that outlines the rights and expectations of patients when receiving medical care.
The “2023 Patient’s Charter” was signed by the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca), Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) and the Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia (APHM).
The signing was done at the MMA house on Monday (August 28) and it was witnessed by Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
Fomca president Datuk Marimuthu Nadason said the Patient’s Charter supports the principle of mutual respect between patient and healthcare provider.
“Whilst it does not generally grant formal legal rights, it can act as a catalyst to enhance patient welfare and resolve individual patient concerns, feedback and complaints quickly and economically through an appropriate redress mechanism in place,” he said.
Read more: Medical groups, Fomca sign MOU outlining rights of patients
Skim Perubatan MADANI akan diperluas
KUALA LUMPUR: Pelaksanaan rintis Skim Perubatan MADANI akan diperluaskan bagi memastikan lebih ramai menerima rawatan kesihatan secara percuma di klinik perubatan swasta yang berdaftar.
Syarikat yang mengurus dan melaksana Skim Perubatan MADANI, ProtectHealth Corporation Sdn Bhd (ProtectHealth) dalam kenyataan pada Rabua memaklumkan skim itu akan diperluaskan ke Kota Bharu, Pasir Mas di Kelantan; Kuantan (Pahang); Melaka Tengah (Melaka); Seremban (Negeri Sembilan); Seberang Perai Tengah (Pulau Pinang) dan Perlis pada minggu keempat bulan ini.
Ini menjadikan keseluruhan 21 daerah yang terlibat dalam inisiatif rintis kerajaan bagi menampung keperluan kesihatan golongan B40 terhadap Penjagaan Kesihatan Primer Akut (Rawatan Pesakit Luar Kes-Kes Akut) itu.
Menurut kenyataan itu Fasa 1 rintis Skim Perubatan MADANI telah dilaksanakan di 10 daerah iaitu Johor Bahru (Johor); Kuala Lumpur; Klang, Petaling, Hulu Langat dan Gombak (Selangor); Kinta (Perak); Timur Laut (Pulau Pinang); Kuching (Sarawak) dan Kota Kinabalu (Sabah).
Fasa 2 skim itu pula bermula di dua negeri iaitu Terengganu di Kuala Nerus dan Kuala Terengganu manakala di Kedah melibatkan Kota Setar dan Kuala Muda, pada minggu kedua bulan ini.
Fasa rintis ini dijalankan untuk tempoh enam bulan bermula 15 Jun lepas dan akan berakhir 31 Dis depan.
MMA calls for stricter enforcement of beauty industry
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has called for stricter regulation and enforcement of the beauty and aesthetics industry following a recent death linked to a plastic surgery procedure.
MMA president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai said the increasing number of incidents involving unlicensed or unregistered beauty centres in recent years suggested a lack of enforcement by the authorities.
“The MMA takes a serious view of these incidents and urges the health ministry to immediately take action to address these concerns,” he said in a statement.
His statement comes after China Press reported on Saturday that a 29-year-old woman had died after allegedly undergoing breast augmentation surgery at a beautician’s home in Skudai, Johor Bahru.
The victim was admitted to the hospital after complaining of pain and swelling in her chest before dying three days later.
Read more: MMA calls for stricter enforcement of beauty industry
Skim Perubatan Madani diperluas ke 11 daerah
Putrajaya: Skim Perubatan MADANI akan diperluaskan ke 11 daerah lain bermula minggu kedua bulan ini bagi memastikan lebih ramai rakyat mendapat kemudahan kesihatan, kata Menteri Kesihatan Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
Ia terdiri daripada Kota Setar dan Kuala Muda, Kedah serta Kuala Terengganu dan Kuala Nerus, Terengganu akan bermula pada minggu kedua, manakala Seremban, Negeri Sembilan; Kota Bharu, Pasir Mas (Kelantan); Kuantan (Pahang); Melaka Tengah (Melaka), Seberang Perai Tengah (Pulau Pinang) dan Perlis bermula pada minggu keempat Ogos.
Dalam kenyataan hari ini beliau berkata klinik perubatan swasta umum (GP) di daerah terlibat dialu-alukan untuk mendaftar sebagai klinik panel Skim Perubatan MADANI dengan melayari laman sesawang ProtectHealth di www.protecthealth.com.my/skimperubatanmadani atau menghubungi talian 03-8687 2525.
Skim Perubatan MADANI bermula pada 15 Jun lepas di 10 daerah iaitu Gombak, Hulu Langat, Klang dan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, Kinta (Perak), Timur Laut (Pulau Pinang), Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) dan Kuching (Sarawak).
Prices of medicines must be more transparent, says KJ
July 26, 2022 1:03 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: The health ministry is looking into developing a price transparency mechanism that would require pharmaceutical companies to reveal the selling price of crucial medicines, especially those used to treat cancer.
Health minister Khairy Jamaluddin told the Dewan Rakyat that this mechanism was necessary as there was currently no transparency from pharmaceutical firms on the matter.
“We are at the mercy of Big Pharma where we have no idea of the actual production cost of these drugs.
“Therefore, the ministry will present a paper on a price transparency mechanism for drug prices so that we would be able to know what would be fair prices for these medications.”
He was responding to Salim Sharif (BN-Jempol) who asked the ministry about its measures to stabilise the prices of drugs for the treatment of cancer and leukaemia.
Salim said the Jakavi drug used to treat leukaemia would cost RM3,000 for one month, while Posaconazole and Letermovir would cost RM13,000 and RM21,000 respectively for a month.
Khairy also said implementing a price control mechanism would be the last resort and maintained that the government was not in favour of intervening in the market.
“However, we will do it (implement a price control mechanism) if it is necessary. We have done this previously for vaccine supplies for the private sector,” he said.
No shortage of medicines, ministry says
June 3, 2022 11:32 AM
PETALING JAYA: The health ministry has clarified that pharmaceutical products are not experiencing a shortage as there are alternative medicines and brands in the market which offer the same results.
It said manufacturers have also increased their production capacity to fulfill the increased demand.
According to industry players, the increased demand was for several medicines such as paracetamol (used for fevers and mild pains) and vitamin C, and also cough and flu medicines for children.
“The health ministry is waiting for further response from the industry regarding the actual supply status of medicines produced in Malaysia and those imported, along with related issues,” it said in a statement today.
Yesterday, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) advised the public against panic buying of medicines in light of the recent shortage of certain medications in the market.
MMA president Dr Koh Kar Chai said the local industry had trouble meeting the demand because of the lack of raw materials and insufficient production capacity.
However, he said, they have placed increased product orders from overseas manufacturers.
MMA said it hoped to see a correction in the supply and demand of such medicines in the market soon.
'Kurangkan makan garam, utamakan perisa asli'
08 Mac 2021
KUALA LUMPUR - Tahap pengambilan garam bagi rakyat Malaysia adalah agak tinggi iaitu pada kadar purata 7.9 gram atau 1.6 sudu teh sehari, melebihi saranan lima gram sehari oleh Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia, menurut kajian Malaysian Community Salt Study (MyCoSS) 2017/2018.
Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan, Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah sehubungan itu berkata, bersempena Minggu Kesedaran Garam Sedunia yang disambut hari ini, kementeriannya menyeru agar rakyat Malaysia mengambil beberapa langkah mudah bagi mengurangkan pengambilan garam dalam pemakanan harian.
“Antara langkah berkenaan adalah mengenali nama lain bagi garam dalam makanan, seperti Sodium Nitrate, Sodium Bicarbonate dan Monosodium Glutamate, membaca label dan bandingkan maklumat kandungan natrium sebelum membeli makanan.
“(Selain itu)...hadkan pengambilan garam tidak melebihi satu sudu teh sehari, termasuk garam beriodin bagi mengurangkan risiko sakit jantung dan strok,” katanya dalam kenyataan di sini pada Isnin.
Beliau berkata, rakyat Malaysia juga disaran mengutamakan perisa asli dengan mengurangkan penggunaan garam, sos dan kicap dalam masakan, selain mengubah suai masakan yang lebih sihat serta kerap makan di rumah atau bawa makanan yang dimasak di rumah ke tempat kerja.
Jelas Dr Noor Hisham, pengambilan garam berlebihan boleh meningkatkan risiko penyakit hipertensi, yang jika tidak dikawal akan menyebabkan penyakit jantung serta penyakit angin ahmar.
“Kerjasama semua pihak amat diperlukan, dalam usaha menjayakan strategi pengurangan pengambilan garam berlebihan di Malaysia.
Rokok beri kesan perkembangan otak kanak-kanak, remaja
05 Februari 2022
SHAH ALAM – Gabungan Persatuan-Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (FOMCA) menyokong usaha kerajaan melaksanakan larangan merokok dan pemilikan sebarang produk merokok kepada generasi akan datang melalui peruntukan berkaitan Generational End Game.
Penyelaras Kawalan Tembakau FOMCA, Muhammad Shaani Abdullah berkata, ia bagi melindungi golongan kanak-kanak dan remaja yang akan menjadi generasi akan datang kerana tembakau atau vape mengandungi nikotin.
“Nikotin memberi kesan yang besar kepada perkembangan otak kanak-kanak dan remaja. Pada peringkat pertumbuhan otak mereka, pengambilan atau penggunaan nikotin akan merencatkan otak dan akal mereka.
“Dari segi kesihatan, kita tidak boleh berkompromi dengan pendedahan tabiat merokok atau sebarang bentuk alat merokok oleh kanak-kanak,” katanya ketika dihubungi Sinar Harian pada Jumaat.
Muhammad Shaani berpendapat, pengenalan rokok elektronik atau vape juga menyasarkan kepada golongan kanak-kanak dan remaja dan amat wajar kerajaan melaksanakan akta baharu itu.
“Dengan akta baharu ini akan memberi lebih kuasa kepada kementerian untuk melaksanakan langkah-langkah yang menyeluruh untuk mengawal tabiat merokok,” tegasnya.
Sumber : https://www.sinarharian.com.my/article/186306/BERITA/Nasional/Rokok-beri-kesan-perkembangan-otak-kanak-kanak-remaja
'Compel insurance firms to cover Covid-19 treatment'
January 21, 2021 @ 9:00am
KUALA LUMPUR: Private hospitals are urging the government to compel insurance companies to revise their policies and cover the treatment cost of Covid-19 patients.
Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh said this was the most decent solution in light of the state of emergency.
"Rejecting patients for us means coughing up fines up to RM5 million or jail time.
"While we are happy to help the government, some of us will take in patients at the risk of going belly-up.
"But the same is not expected of insurance companies."
"The government has to make similar demands (with the insurance companies) so that we can treat them without burdening taxpayers," Dr Kuljit told the New Straits Times.
He was referring to new laws under the state of emergency which allow the government to direct private hospitals to take in Covid-19 patients and give public healthcare facilities some breathing space.
Earlier, Dr Kuljit appealed to the government to consider the plight of insurance policyholders who could not go to hospitals that were full and had no option but to come to private facilities and pay out of their own pocket.
Read more: 'Compel insurance firms to cover Covid-19 treatment'
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