Condoms In M'sia Safe For Use - Chua

KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 (Bernama) -- Condoms sold in Malaysia are safe but the Health Ministry will enforce stringent checks on their quality soon to ensure that defective condoms are not sold to consumers.

Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said Monday the ministry, through its Engineering Department, would use the Medical Devices Act 2006, which is in its final stage of enactment, to monitor condom quality.

"Malaysian condoms are of good quality and we have not received any complaints so far," he told Bernama after opening the 26th Asian Medical Students' Conference here.

Dr Chua was asked to comment on whether the government would monitor the quality of condoms following a recent report that in Hong Kong more than one in 10 condoms sold was likely to leak or burst.

Last week, a Hong Kong Consumer Council survey revealed that 28 popular brands of condoms failed laboratory pressure tests and they included popular brands like Infinity, Strawberry Flavour, Wedding and Wonder Life Fruit Flavour.

Some 15 million condoms are sold annually with a market value of nearly RM17 million, said an industry source.

Condoms, mostly latex made, are either produced locally or imported and there are about 10 leading manufacturers in the country.

Dr Mohamed Ismail Mohd Tambi, an advisor with the Condom Evaluation Technical Committee under the Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (Sirim), said quality was vital as more people use condoms to prevent sexual diseases.

"Quality is important because more people are using condoms to prevent sexually transmitted diseases like HIV rather than to prevent pregnancy, especially in the developing world.

"It is sad if end-users use condom and yet get infection. More clinical tests need to be done to ensure that there is less slippage and breakage," he added.

-- BERNAMA

Healthcare Development Industry Unit

Ministry To Help Generate Income From Health Industry

KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry will establish a Healthcare Development Industry Unit to develop and promote the lucrative healthcare industry which is likely to hit RM8 billion in the next five years.

Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said Monday the cabinet had approved the ministry's proposal to set up the unit which would be in place within the next three months.

"The unit will be focused to help agencies in the health sector to promote, sell and benchmark Malaysian healthcare products to compete in the international market," he told reporters after opening the 26th Asian Medical Students' Conference here.

"The time has come for the ministry to play an active role to generate income from the health sector which can benefit the economy rather than just giving medical services to the public," he said.

He said the healthcare industry, ranging from pharmaceutical products, health tourism, medical equipment to herbal medicine, was worth billions of ringgit and yet remained unexploited.

"The health industry has a big potential but our problem is that we are not focused, we always take the easy way out," he added.

For instance, Dr Chua said, last year Malaysia exported medical equipment, including products like condoms, gloves and syringes, worth RM4.6 billion and drugs worth RM468 million.

"The export of Chinese drugs and traditional herbs like Tongkat Ali and Kacip Fatimah, which is growing without any assistance, is worth RM4 billion a year.

"Health tourism is another revenue generator but remains unexplored compared to Singapore and Thailand," he added.

He said health tourism was a healthy business and more foreigners were arriving in Malaysia for medical treatment.

In 1998, 39,140 foreign patients sought treatment in local private hospitals but the figure rose to 174,189 last year. In 1985 there were only 133 hospitals but the number has increased to 218 now.

"Income (from foreign patients) was RM105 million in the private sector but this is on the low side. This is under-reporting, private hospitals are not revealing actual figures for fear of competition" he added.

He also said that the Medical Devices Act 2006 was being enacted in line with the government’s move to further expand and protect the growing sector,

Some 500 medical students from 14 countries are attending the week-long conference themed "Technology in Medicine" in Kuala Lumpur.

-- BERNAMA

It is good news to the health providers if the gomen can help to encourage the country to develop industries to cater for the health sector. Earlier there was talk of producing our own vaccines. This would help to cut cost and encourage more to get vaccinated. Recently it was pointed out that we have a high number of our population without antibodies to Hepatitis A; the patent rights for this vaccine should be running out soon, maybe we can produce it then. Already we have products like condoms, gloves and syringes which we are exporting. In time we may want to make surgical instruments and other stuff. There are also locally produced hospital equipments like ward beds, delivery beds, trolleys and wheelchairs. Surely we are capable of more items.

Pineapple stem may combat cancer

Two molecules isolated from an extract of crushed pineapple stems have shown promise in fighting cancer growth.

One molecule called CCS blocks a protein called Ras, which is defective in approximately 30% of all cancers.

The other, called CCZ, stimulates the body's own immune system to target and kill cancer cells.

It is hoped the research, carried out by Queensland Institute of Medical Research, could lead to new anti-cancer drugs.

The origin of many anti-cancer drugs can be found in nature :: Dr Julie Sharp

The extract studied by the scientists, bromelain, is a rich source of enzymes and is widely used as a meat tenderiser, to clarify beer and tan leather hides.

The Queensland team discovered that the extract also had pharmacological properties and could activate specific immune cells while, simultaneously, blocking the immune function of other cells.

Lead researcher Dr Tracey Mynott said: "We suspected that different components of the crude mixture might be responsible for bromelain's biological effects.

"In searching for these components, we discovered the CCS and CCZ proteins and found that they could block growth of a broad range of tumour cells, including breast, lung, colon, ovarian and melanoma."

New action

Both CCS and CCZ are protease enzymes, more usually associated with breaking down proteins, as in the digestive process.

Dr Mynott said it was the first time this class of enzymes had been shown to have a specific effect on the immune system.

"The way CCS and CCZ work is different to any other drug in clinical use today.

"Therefore, CCS and CCZ will represent a totally new way of treating disease and potentially a whole new class of anti-cancer agent."

Dr Julie Sharp, at Cancer Research UK, said: "The origin of many anti-cancer drugs can be found in nature.

"However, it's early days for this research and the real test will be to see if the effects seen in the lab can be reproduced successfully in patients."

Story from BBC NEWS:

Malaysians at risk of contracting viral hepatitis A

Malaysians at risk of contracting viral hepatitis
By Annie Freeda Cruez


It is ironic. Malaysians risk getting viral hepatitis, particularly Hepatitis A, because of improved sanitation. This is because the clean environment has affected the ability of the body to form antibodies.

By improving sanitation, providing safe water supply and encouraging personal hygiene, the Government has managed to control food and water borne diseases

Hepatitis A is an infectious, food and water borne disease which is especially common in children aged between five and 14.

Following the improved sanitation, the reported national incidence rate has been decreasing steadily from 2.24 per 100,000 population in 2000 to 0.42 per 100,000 population last year.

The possibility of the risk came to light at the three-day Sixth Liver Update 2005 conference, which ended today. It was revealed that about 50 per cent of Malaysians under 30 years of age do not have antibodies for Hepatitis A and are therefore susceptible to the disease.

Malaysians who do not have immunity against the disease are advised to vaccinate themselves against Hepatitis A, which will confer protection for up to 10 years.

Health experts warned that Hepatitis A in adults may lead to severe liver disease. To date, there is still no specific treatment Hepatitis A except for rest, and avoiding alcohol consumption and heavy exertion.

---NST

Ironic isn't it. Improve sanitation leading to one having a higher risk of contacting an infection. Just like the case of keeping a toddler away from the infections to be found in the nursery! But what it really means is that the incidence of Hepatitis A infection has fallen thus leaving the community immunity to the disease being lowered. Obviously the answer is for those susceptible to get active immunisation and be protected. But at the present moment, vaccination is not cheap. For an effective vaccination programme the cost has to be brought down.

MINIster Clears the Air

Chua Assures Government Hospitals Clean, Safe

BUKIT MERTAJAM, July 14 (Bernama) -- Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek Thursday assured that government hospitals have cleanliness and safety levels that conform to international standards.
He said the public need not worry about visiting or being admitted to government hospitals as measures had been taken to reduce the risk of infection among the staff, visitors and patients.
Critical sections in hospitals such as intensive care units, operating theatres, coronary care units, paediatric wards and delivery wards were constantly cleaned and sterilised, he told reporters after a visit to the hospital here.
He said the airconditioning system also conformed to the standards set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRE) or the United Kingdom's Health Department."In the operating theatres, the airconditioners have filtering systems to increase the air cleanliness levels," he said.
Dr Chua said the operating theatre staff all adhered to strict safety procedures while on the job by wearing surgical gloves, face masks and special clothing, and they scrubbed their hands well before surgery.
He was commenting on a report in an English daily two days ago that claimed only a few of the government hospitals had equipment to clean the air breathed in by doctors and patients.It alleged the lack of sterilising equipment in many hospitals endangered the health of staff working in them and exposed patients to risk of infection.
According to the report, at least 25 doctors, nurses and staff in 11 government hospitals were infected with tuberculosis last year.Dr Chua said every district and state hospital had its own special team to monitor the condition of patients and staff.
"The total number of staff reportedly infected with infectious disease is minimal compared to the total number of 80,000 staff in all government hospitals," he said.
Last year, he said, government hospitals treated about 40 million outpatients and 1.7 million inpatients.
Dr Chua described the newspaper report as incorrect and confusing which could cause alarm in health professionals and the public.
-- BERNAMA

The NST has caused much concern among Malaysians recently with its scary articles on the safety of the hospital environment, see this and this. The staff of gomen hospital may not go home wondering whether they are carrying dangerous bugs of all sorts but family members and friends may wonder whether they should be keeping a healthy distance. The article concerning the pregnant doctor who contacted TB was definitely alarming to many.
It is good that the MOH has come out to clear the air regarding his hospitals' airs. And for all intent and purposes what he say is true. But it would be good pratice if our children can be kept away from being taken along when their adults go visiting sick friends or relatives warded in hospitals. The rule that children should not be brought during such visits need to be strictly observed by the hospital authorities.
The MOH would need also to have more isolation facilities in its hospitals and with the rise in tuberculosis cases maybe the TB wards may need to be reopened.

Plan To Create 'Super Doctor' Posts

PUTRAJAYA, July 12 (Bernama) -- The government plans to create "super doctor" promotional posts to retain experienced doctors in government hospitals, Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said Tuesday.
He said experienced doctors promoted to become directors engaged in administrative matters had been a reason for many resignations.
Dr Chua told a press conference that the plan was in accordance with a suggestion by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to fill vacancies and to get the specialists to remain longer in government hospitals where they were much needed.
He also announced that the government had agreed to increase to 298 the number of promotional posts for doctors and medical specialists up to the year 2010 compared to the current 111 posts.
Apart from increasing the number of promotional posts, the government agreed that medical practitioners and specialists be allowed to serve until 65 years of age to help reduce the number of resignations, he said.
Dr Chua said his ministry had also suggested to the Public Service Department that medical specialists who came back from overseas be given higher ranking positions based on their qualifications and experience.
"The format of the Bahasa Malaysia qualifying exam for medical officers will also be more practical and focus more on the oral aspects," he said.
Dr Chua also said that nurses, paramedics and a number of personnel in the support services who have university degrees will also be promoted to a better grade.-- BERNAMA

It looks like after having "Super Teachers", we will be having "Super Docs" next. The plans announced by Dr Chua should come as a big welcome by the doctors in public service. Will these plans keep them in gomen service is uncertain at the present but they are moves in the right direction. The starting pay for the most junior, the house officers, may go up by RM1000 will provide these doctors a better start in working life in view of the increasig coat of living.
More incentives for the doctors and other paramedical staff can be glimpsed in this STAR article :: Carrots for Doctors.
These changes have been long overdue but are better late than never. There have been many calls in the past for a separate salary commission for doctors and gomen healh staff. This may be the gomen's answer to these requests.

MMA Opposes Move To Replace Doctors As Hospital Directors

KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) opposes the government's plan to replace doctors as government hospital directors with paramedics or administrative officers.

Its president, Datuk Dr Teoh Siang Chin, said today that only a doctor trained in medicine could perform clinical governance.

He feared that the changes would result in a decline in the quality of medical care in government hospitals.

"Currently, hospital directors are those doctors who have been chosen to use their clinical acumen and experience to practise clinical governance of their hospitals so as to ensure a high standard of patient care," he said in a statement here.

He said hospital directors must be professionals trained in medicine to understand the specific needs of other professionals like specialists, doctors, pharmacists and dieticians to command their respect and to ensure the quality of all facets of the care provided.

Since the doctors had been doing an excellent job for decades, they should not be replaced by officers who were less qualified, he said.

"Basically, it is must easier to teach a doctor management skills than to teach a layperson the complexities of medicine," he said

Dr Teoh said the present system was working very well and what the government needed to do was to "look at constructive long-term measures to attract and retain doctors in the service."

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi recently announced the government's plan to train experienced medical officers and nurses to take over the administration of hospitals so as to release doctors from administrative work to enable them to concentrate fully on their hospital or clinical work.

He was reported as saying that this was one of the approaches identified by the government to overcome the shortage of doctors in the country.

-- BERNAMA

Medical Director of Hospital aka Pengarah Hospital aka Pegawai Perubatan yang menjaga Hospital have traditional been medical doctors appointed to administer with the help of senior medical assistants and nurses. With their medical background they have been the ones running the various hospitals and health facilities for the MOH. Some have been sent for hospital administration courses and eventually became better at administering these health facilities. Over the years they have managed to keep these facilities running with the help of the clinical specialists in the health facilities and the senior paramedical staffs. Now the Minister is thinking of replacing them with administrators without medical backgrounds. First impression is that these administartors may function less efficiently. As pointed out by the MMA president, it may be better to send medical doctors who are keen to function as hospital directors for hospital administration courses in order for them to function better than to have them replaced by pure adminstrators.

Man faints, dies after seeing epidural

Man faints, dies after seeing epidural
Wife sues California hospital for wrongful death

LOS ANGELES - A California woman is suing a hospital for wrongful death because her husband fainted and suffered a fatal injury after helping delivery room staff give her a pain-killing injection.
Jeanette Passalaqua, 32, filed the suit against Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and Southern California Permanente Medical Group Inc. in San Bernardino County state court last week.
In June 2004, Passalaquas husband, Steven Passalaqua, was asked by Kaiser staff to hold and steady his wife while an employee inserted an epidural needle into her back, court papers said.
The sight of the needle caused Steven Passalaqua, 33, to faint and he fell backward, striking his head on an aluminum cap molding at the base of the wall.
Jeanette Passalaqua delivered the couples second child, a boy, later that day. Steven Passalaqua, however, suffered a brain hemorrhage as a result of his fall and died two days later, the lawsuit said.
The suit seeks unspecified damages related to Steven Passalaquas death and to Jeanette Passalaquas emotional distress at being widowed with two young children.
Because Passalaqua was solicited by Kaiser to assist in the epidural, the lawsuit said, the hospital owed him a duty to exercise reasonable care to prevent foreseeable injuries resulting from his participation.
A spokesman for Oakland, California-based Kaiser Permanente called the death a tragic accident.
Some of the allegations in the lawsuit are simply that --allegations. The legal process is under way and we should respect that, said Kaiser spokesman Jim Anderson.

---From MSN

Australian Scientists Win A$28 Mln Vaccine Grant::Courtesy of Gates

MELBOURNE, July 7 (Bernama) -- Australian scientists are part of an international team awarded a A$28 million grant (about RM78 million) to develop a malaria vaccine, courtesy of multi-billionaire Bill Gates.

The team, including scientists from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) in Melbourne, the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute in the US and the University of Heidelberg in Germany, was among 40 applicants awarded grants by the Microsoft chief's Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

About 650 applicants sought the lucrative grants.

A group headed in Australia by WEHI infection and immunity division chief Professor Alan Cowman was awarded A$17.6 million to use genetically manipulated malaria parasites to develop a vaccine for the disease.

Professor Cowman said research would be a major step forward in developing a vaccine for the disease, which kills three million people, mostly children, every year in places such as Africa, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and East Timor.

Another consortium, involving WEHI researcher Dr Louis Schofield, was awarded A$10.8 million (about RM30.2 million) to study how people in developing countries develop immunities to parasitic infections, and how such immunity can be developed against malaria.

-- BERNAMA

Harm Reduction Programme::January Start

Needle exchange programme expected to begin in January
BY AUDREY EDWARDS

PETALING JAYA: The needle exchange and condom distribution programme to check the spread of HIV among drug users is expected to start in January.

Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said his ministry has decided that the harm reduction programme, involving the two methods and drug substitution therapy, will go ahead.

“The earliest we can begin is in January. There are many people to train. And I have been told that in terms of amending the law, it can be done administratively,” he said yesterday.

A pilot programme involving 1,200 volunteers will begin at the end of October for the drug substitution therapy, which uses methadone.

Harm reduction focuses on preventing or reducing actual harm associated with risk behaviour.

The concept, which has been around for a long time, realises that some drug users will not stop using drugs despite the risk of HIV/AIDS and other blood-borne diseases.

It also includes providing information to injecting drug users (IDUs) of the risk, outreach programmes, peer education, voluntary counselling and HIV testing.

Recently, the Government said it was seriously considering the needle exchange and condom distribution programme for IDUs in an effort to halt the spread of HIV among Malaysians.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had said that it was necessary as the situation had reached an “emergency level.”

Statistics released by the ministry show that 64,439 Malaysians were infected from 1986 until December last year.

The number of new cases in 2004 was 6,427.

Of the total number of people living with AIDS reported so far, 75% are IDUs.

It has been estimated that if left unchecked, 300,000 Malaysians would be infected with HIV in 10 years’ time.

A study conducted in 1998 among 6,326 inmates at 26 Pusat Serenti (government-run drug rehabilitation centres) found that 65% of them were IDUs and 77.6% were sexually active. But only 18.7% used condoms during sex.

Dr Chua also said that no extra infrastructure was necessary as the ministry would use existing drop-in centres to carry out the programme.

“It is only making sure that we have enough trained staff from both the ministry and NGOs (non-governmental organisations). We have already started talking to some of them,” he added.

A meeting with the ulama will be held on Aug 11 to explain the harm reduction programme. “We will meet leaders from other religions on a separate day,” Dr Chua said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad said the programme must be fully understood to ensure its success.

He said NGOs, the medical fraternity and ministry staff had a role to play in the “social marketing” of the programme.

“We want ministry officers to be really skilled in the programme and there will be human resource training.

“If they do not understand the programme, how can it be implemented successfully?

“If one doctor or staff nurse makes a wrong remark because he or she does not have adequate information, it will affect our goals,” he told reporters after opening the Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia's Seventh National Scientific meeting.

Dr Latiff said that while the programme would follow guidelines set by the World Health Organisation and based on the experiences of other countries, it would be drawn up to suit Malaysian culture.

--STAR

It looks like the gomen is serious about the harm reduction programme. The gomen has finally accepted that many drug addicts will not stop using drugs despite the many efforts taken to get them off their habit. The pilot project involving some 1,200 addicts will be launched in October. It is also obvious that the gomen is keen to ensure that the programme works well and is going to train those involved in the implementation of the programme intensively before the actual programme starts next year. As usual there will be the need to make sure the programme fits in with Malaysian culture, whatever that means. Hopefully, the ulamas and other religious leaders will not get in the way of effective working of the programme.
In the presently on-going Seventh International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific in Kobe, Japan; Asia has been mentioned as having the second-largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world after sub-Saharan Africa. Papua New Guinea is at risk of an African-level HIV/AIDS epidemic, but other Asia-Pacific nations like Malaysia, Vietnam and Myanmar are also worrisome as the number of infections there continue to rise warned the head of the U.N. AIDS agency.
AIDS is a "silent tsunami" that threatens all of Asia, but the deadly disease can still be conquered if governments take urgent action now, world health officials said. One in four new infections occurs in Asia and 1,500 die in the region each day. Failure to fight AIDS will have a critical economic impact on the region. The United Nations estimates losses could total $29 billion from AIDS alone by 2010 if nothing is done now. J.V.R. Prasada Rao, Director of the Regional Support Team for UNAIDS, said ::

"The virus doesn't kill hundreds of thousands at a thunderous stroke like the tsunami, and it doesn't provide vivid television pictures." "It is more like a silent tsunami."

The U.N. estimates 8.2 million people are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Asia, about 5.1 million of them in India. The Chinese government says there are 840,000 patients in China. Worldwide, about 39 million people have HIV/AIDS, including 25 million in sub-Saharan Africa. By 2010, 12 million people are likely to be infected with HIV in Asia if no steps are taken to control the epidemic.

British government goes after smokers' sex lives

British government goes after smokers' sex lives

The British government launched a series of tough anti-cigarette adverts on Friday with the message that smoking is bad for your sex life because it makes men impotent and women ugly.

The campaign is designed to target young Britons' fears about their sexual attractiveness -- an area the government says is more effective than highlighting general health concerns.

One ad uses a burning cigarette end between two "fingerlegs" as a metaphor for a penis with the strapline "Does smoking make you hard? Not if it means you can't get it up."

Another targets women saying cigarettes lead to premature skin aging and warns that smoking causes "cat's bum mouth."

"We know 70 percent of smokers want to stop smoking, however, with younger people, fears about attractiveness and fertility can be a stronger motivation to quit than fears about health," said Public Health Minister Caroline Flint. The government says smoking increases the risk of erectile dysfunction by around 50 percent for men in their 30s and 40s and that up to 120,000 British men in this age group were impotent as a result of smoking.

A recent survey by NHS Smoking Helpline also found two-thirds of young men and women, and over half of smokers, said smoking reduced sexual attractiveness.

---Reuters

Say Tak Nak and other stuff. The British are saying that smoking is not sexy, smoking affects your sexual attractiveness and your sex lives. Smoking also affects fertility.
Apart from sex, smoking has a profound effect on the heart. Researchers have found that even one cigarette has the potential to cause a heart attack. In a study of heart attack patients, the researchers found that those who smoked a cigarette within six hours of developing symptoms had bigger blood clots in their arteries than those who had not smoked for a longer period of time.
Researchers have tried to figure out the cost of smoking. What they found is as follows :: One cigarette costs 11 minutes of life, a pack of 20 costs three hours 40 minute and a carton of 200 cigarettes costs 1.5 days!
For more on smoking and sex, check out this ASH factsheet.

30% Of Deaths In Sabah Hospitals Due To Heart Problems

30% Of Deaths In Sabah Hospitals Due To Heart Problems

KOTA KINABALU, July 3 (Bernama) -- A total of 776 people died of heart problems in Sabah government hospitals in 2003, making up 29.76 percent of all deaths recorded in the hospitals, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said.

He said heart problems constituted the primary cause of death in the state.

Quoting further statistics to show the growing risk to the public's health in the state, he said about 59.8 percent of the population or six out of 10 people neglected physical exercise.

Nationwide, 16.6 percent of adults or about two million people were overweight, he said at the launch of the state-level fitness campaign at Padang Merdeka here Sunday.

The campaign is organised by the National Fitness Council.

Musa said that in the present age when many tasks were done with technological assistance, exercise and sports were gaining importance as essential activities to maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle.

"Keeping ourselves fit will benefit us, our family, the community and nation," he said.

He said exercise and sports were preferable to negative habits such as loafing, gossiping in coffeeshops on unproductive matters and slandering people.

Speaking to reporters later, Musa, who is the Sabah Umno chief, said the party's divisions would set up community sports clubs coordinated by the respective district officers.

He said the clubs' role would be to build public awareness on the importance of keeping fit and healthy.

-- BERNAMA

Sabahans have cause to worry with such a high perentage of cardiac problems. Time to check in at the heart center to learn some healthy tips of cardiac care. This is a good resource to check on tips and articles on caring for your heart. Don't wait till the heart is going going gone before doing so. A replacement heart, natural or artificial is difficult to come by. Take good care of the one God has given you.