Saturday, May 31, 2008
From Deputy Director-General of Health (Medical)
The MOH affirmed that only medical officers from recognised universities are accepted to work as contract officers in line with the requirements of the Medical Act 1971.
These medical officers are given full registration and Annual Practicing Certificates as per their contracts. Therefore, they can only practise medicine at the specified MOH facilities.
Hence under the Act, they cannot practise in universities or act as locums in private clinics or private hospitals.
While working with the MOH, these contract doctors are not allowed to join the Masters Programme in public universities.
Ref: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/29/focus/21387338&sec=focus
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
from Minister of Health
Liow also urged more private sector doctors to volunteer their time at government medical establishments at least once a month. “It is national service and we pay a token fee of RM80 an hour,” he said.
Liow said as of two weeks ago, doctors at government hospitals were required to place their names at the beds of patients to create a “patient ownership” environment.
Ref: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/28/nation/21376236&sec=nation
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Fast relaying of info can help to save lives, says Health Minister
Getting the vital medical statistics of a patient in an ambulance to a hospital even before the vehicle gets there is the latest digital project to be considered by the Health Ministry. Its minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said that if implemented, medical assistants in the ambulances would be able to obtain help from emergency rooms to treat the patient during the journey to the hospital. He added that patient information such as blood pressure reading, pulse, breathing rate and ECG could be transmitted to the control centres. Liow also said that 400 ambulances were needed in the future to serve Malaysians efficiently. An initial 100 units worth about RM30mil has been ordered and another 100 will be bought soon.
Ref: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/9/nation/21199795&sec=nation
My questions are do the minister knows that many district hospitals in Malaysia do not have even a pulse oxymeter at their emergency units. Most of current ambulances available under the ministry of health do not have proper equipment such as BP set, pulse oxymeter and ECG monitoring device. So why spend millions of ringgits just for ICT when most basic requirements can not be provided. Even, we do not have enough number of trained medical assistant for our ambulance services. I do hope the ministry will study the plan properly. Advances in IT we have may appear great among the developing countries, but it will not be a wise decision when the basic needs can not be fulfilled.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Drive-through counter at Penang Hospital soon
Monday, March 17, 2008
Convocation in USM
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Higher Pay For Alll
PUTRAJAYA: At least 2,000 graduate house officers in government hospitals will get an automatic promotion to grade UD44 upon completion of their two-year housemanship in 2010.
They will be getting at least RM6,000 including allowances every month, which is almost double what the present graduate house officers are getting on grade UD41.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said the promotion exercise would cost RM1.7mil annually.
He added that at least 7,000 doctors on grades UD41 and UD44, who were appointed before 2008, would also get their long overdue promotions. This would cost another RM9.8mil.
He said many doctors had been stuck at UD41 for six to seven years and that they would be moved to the higher scale of UD44.
“Hopefully, this promotion exercise will indirectly encourage many doctors to remain in the civil service,” he said.
Dr Ismail denied allegations by certain parties that there were not enough opportunities for other races compared to Malays in the medical sector.
He said that from 2000 to February this year, there were 2,085 specialists of whom 56% were Malays, Chinese (23.7%) and Indians (19.3% ).
He said 55% of the specialists on grade UD48 were Malays, 23% Chinese and 18.2% Indians. As for UD54, it was 58% Malay, 21% Chinese and 16% Indian.
Of the specialists under special grade C, he said 51.1% were Malays and Chinese and Indians made up 24% each.
As for those under special grade B, he said that 42% were Malays with the Chinese and Indians making up 24% and 34% respectively
Ref: http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/6/nation/20080306070517&sec=nation
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Barisan Nasional's Election Manifesto
Cushion the effects of rising prices and ensure quality living standards for the people
Strengthen private sector’s role as the main driver of economic growth
Nurture and assist 1 million SMEs and entrepreneurs over 5 years
Generate at least 2 million quality job opportunities over 5 years
Reduce the Budget deficit further –more funds for development, without increasing taxes
Follow through on 5 Development Corridors to bring equitable growth, investment and job opportunities to all parts of Malaysia
Increase quality rural jobs and incomes
Improve services and facilities for low-income urban households including rural to urban migrants
Improve provision of quality and affordable housing
Ensure access to modern quality healthcare
Upgrade urban public transport and reduce traffic congestion
Enhance road development in rural and other less developed areas
Upgrade rail and aviation infrastructure
Improve rural electricity coverage in Sabah to 81% and Sarawak to 90% by 2010
Improve water supply coverage to 70% in both Sabah and Sarawak by 2010
Continue to close the digital divide and improve broadband internet penetration via the National Broadband Plan
Continue to implement the New Villages Development Masterplan
Equitable distribution of quality opportunities in income generation, employment, business and education to all parts of Malaysia. Towards this end, the ‘Kelantan Baru, Kelantan Maju’
initiative will deliver development and better quality of life to people in the state
Continue to make national schools the school of choice by, among others, expanding the teaching of Mandarin and Tamil
Safeguard the position of national-type schools
Enhance national unity by fostering student interaction
Provide more scholarships at the undergraduate level for poor but deserving students
regardless of race
Identify apex universities and provide more autonomy and resources for public institutions of higher learning to attain world-class standards
Raise investment in science and technology particularly in indigenous R&D
Tackle drug abuse and other social ills
Address the issue of illegal immigrants
Add 60,000 Police personnel by 2011
Set up more than 150 new Police stations and beat bases to increase presence in more neighbourhoods
Improve safety in schools, playgrounds and public areas
Enhance community policing via partnerships with non-governmental organisations, the
private sector and local community
Upgrade Police communications technology, armaments, vehicles, technical aids and training
Focus Police operations and resources in crime hot-spots across the country
Redelineate Police districts to better match Police resources with community security needs
PUBLIC SERVICES
Speed up implementation of e-government initiatives
Complete overhaul of all land offices and district offices
Speed up issuance of licences and permits
Establish rating system for local authorities to improve performance
Tie civil servants' promotions, rewards and penalties more closely to performance targets
Increase ethnic diversity in the public sector
Have a 3 to 7-day response time by all government agencies to all public queries and complaints
REDUCING CORRUPTION AND IMPROVING GOVERNANCE
Continue to enforce anti-corruption measures without fear or favour
Strengthen monitoring and enforcement by agencies such as the ACA, Customs, Inland Revenue and local authorities
Establish an effective Special Complaints Commission to act on complaints of misconduct in enforcement agencies
Continue to foster a culture of integrity and high ethical standards through the National Integrity Plan
RELIGION, UNITY
Enhance appreciation for diverse cultures among Malaysia’s multiethnic people
Expand the teaching of J-QAF to more schools
Ensure provision of reserve land for places of worship in newly developed areas in accordance with developed guidelines
Facilitate construction, consolidation and relocation of all places of worship via state government mechanism, co-ordinated at federal level, that will protect the interests of all communities
Increase dialogue on inter-faith issues through the Department of National Unity and National Integration
Improve unity programmes, especially in schools and institutions of higher learning
Expand trade and investment linkages
Advance the economic agenda of the OIC through capacity-building programmes in less developed OIC countries
Promote strategic partnerships between the West and the Muslim world to advance the economic agenda of the Makkah Declaration 2005
Continue to build bridges between the Muslim world and the West through continuous dialogue
Contribute towards a development agenda for the world’s poorest countries
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Tua Pek Kong predicts sluggish economy from Feb to June
The deity had predicted during the annual Chneah Hoay (flame-watching) ceremony here at the Hai Choo Soo (Sea Pearl) Temple in Tanjung Tokong that the country’s economy would be slow during the first four months of the lunar year (Feb 7 to June 3).
However, it is expected to pick up during the second third (June 4 to Sept 28).
The ceremony on the eve of Chap Goh Meh last night was the 118th Chneah Hoay at the temple.
The turnout was, unexpectedly, lower than in previous years but there were still hundreds, mostly businessmen, thronging the seafront temple to witness the ceremony.
It is believed that the deity could foretell the country's economy for the Chinese lunar year, through the flames from some 60 burning joss sticks.
The prediction is based on the height and intensity of the flames, and the speed with which the embers in the deity's urn flare up.
The embers were fanned in three stages – once each for every four months of the lunar year.
The ceremony, which lasted about 15 minutes, began at 11.55pm.
Lights, candles and oil lamps were put off to enable the Poh Hock Seah Temple committee members to scrutinise the flames for prediction.
Poh Hock Seah Temple president Datuk Lim Chooi Beng said embers from the burning joss sticks ignited after about nine minutes of the first fanning, signifying that the economy was slow in taking off.
“The second fanning took about two minutes while the last was only a minute, showing that the economy will be improving from mid-year onwards,” he said.
Advising the public to not panic, he said Chneah Hoay is only a religious ritual and the results merely a prediction.
Ref: http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/2/21/nation/20400097&sec=nation
Zakaria dropped from BN line-up
Roselinda, who is the Klang Puteri Umno chief and a Klang Municipal Council (MPK) councillor, is married to Zakaria’s son Zaidi.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Veteran HK actress Lydia Sum dies
Veteran Hong Kong actress Lydia Sum, known for her iconic black-rimmed glasses and starring role in a range of film and TV comedies, has died at the age of 60.
The actress - affectionately known as Fei-fei, or "Fatty" - died at on Tuesday morning at Hong Kong's Queen Mary hospital.
The cause of death was not immediately clear, but Hong Kong broadcaster RTHK said Sum died after a protracted fight with liver cancer.
Sum was reportedly admitted to hospital two weeks ago after her condition worsened.
Born in Shanghai in 1947, Sum made her movie debut at age 13.
She appeared in more than 100 movies in Hong Kong and hosted more than 5,000 episodes of variety shows.
She also stared in the Singaporean English-language sit-com "Living with Lydia," which was broadcast in many Asian countries.
Donald Tsang, Hong Kong's chief executive, said "Hong Kong grew up with her laughter".
"She brought us a lot of joy," he said.
Sum is survived by ex-husband, actor Adam Cheng, and their daughter Joyce
Ref: http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/577398FD-8CF8-4C8A-8E53-0A9B103524AD.htm
Friday, February 15, 2008
Malaysia's 12th general election
The Election Commission announced that nomination day for the 222 parliamentary and 505 state seats would be Feb 24.
A total of 10,922,139 registered voters on the 2007 master electoral roll gazetted on Feb 5 would be eligible to vote. Of this, 221,085 are postal voters.
Stating that March 8 would be the start of a one-week school holiday, Abdul Rashid advised all registered voters to exercise their fundamental rights to cast their votes between 8am and 5pm.
Abdul Rashid said the commission had no power to endorse observers but that it was supportive of efforts by election watchdog group Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) to continue monitoring the conduct of the general election
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
USM is tops!
Monday, February 4, 2008
Laman Wira
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Petition To Have Safer Bus Rides For Long Distance Routes
IPOH: Two people died and three were seriously injured after the double-decker express bus they were travelling in lost control before crashing into a divider at southbound of Km382 of the North-South Expressway between Slim River and Behrang.
The two dead were identified as Mohd Zailini Mustafa, 23, and Lee Nian Ning, 21. Both are from Sg Nibong and Taman Bukit Gelugor, Penang, respectively.
The unidentified bus driver in the 5.55pm incident was also seriously injured.
There were 39 people on board including the driver and co-driver. The injured had been sent to the Slim River Hospital for treatment.
Slim River deputy OCPD Deputy Supt Adzhar Othman said initial reports found that the bus, which was travelling from Penang to Kuala Lumpur, had lost control and was lying sideways blocking both sides of the expressway.
“A multi-purpose vehicle, which was travelling behind the bus, could not brake on time causing it to crash onto the bus.
“The driver was however unhurt,” he said when contacted
IPOH: The driver of a double-decker express bus that saw three of its passengers killed in a crash near Slim River on Friday had 13 outstanding police summonses issued against him.
Records in www.myeg.com.my revealed that Ruslim Isa, 43, who was sent to the Teluk Intan Hospital for a broken right leg after the 5.55pm accident, had seven summonses issued against him for speeding, five for illegal overtaking and one for not using an overhead bridge.
The summonses, amounting to RM2,660, dated as far back as 2000.
There is also an online forum at the website (http://buscrashnomore.blogspot.com) to discuss bus crashes in Malaysia.
We, the concerned youths of Malaysia express appalled anger towards the Slim River Bus Crash incident that claimed the life of Lee Nian Ning and two others on the 25th of January 2008. This is not the first time that such an incident has occurred. Despite numerous complaints and public uproar in the past, incidents like this continue to occur. It was reported that the driver’s company had 13 summonses on that bus itself. We find it unacceptable that such a company could have operated that vehicle on the road. What are the explanations? Hundreds of thousands of university students just like Nian Ning and us rely on such public transport to travel back home. Human life should not be taken lightly. How could a vehicle with 13 summonses be free on the roads and not held by the authorities? We, the following, hereby demand that the relevant authorities take immediate solid actions in ensuring that mistakes like this do not occur again in the future.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Law meant to set standards not criminalise docs, says Chua
“It was meant to benchmark and set minimum standards for health care in Malaysia,” he said yesterday when he contacted members of the press to comment on the recent verdict by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, which fined Dr Basmullah Yusof of the Al-Hilal Polyclinic RM120,000 or in default three months' jail for failing to register his clinic.
“The process of registration was also to identify the ‘real’ doctors from the bogus ones and subsequently be the basis of the setting up of the specialist registry,” said Dr Chua.
Some members of the medical fraternity had voiced their dissatisfaction over Dr Basmullah’s sentence and conviction.
He is currently serving the jail sentence after failing to pay the fine.
The Act was enforced on May 1, 2006, and a transition period of six months was given to enable compliance of the law.
Dr Chua said various dialogues had been held with stakeholders such as the Malaysian Medical Association and Federation of Private Practitioners Malaysia before the Act was implemented.
He said they understood the implementation of the Act, adding that a lot of compassion was given including providing the transition period.
“What has happened is rather unfortunate,” he said.
More than 6,000 clinics had applied for registration since the Act came into force.
“I hope the enforcement division of the ministry does not forget the undertaking that was given at that time and the spirit should be maintained. So, doctors, too, need to comply,” he said.
Ref: http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/2/3/nation/20226395&sec=nation
Friday, February 1, 2008
‘Aesthetic medicine’ to be officially recognised
PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry will draw up a training module for aesthetic medicine that will see medical practitioners who undertake the programme being acknowledged as specialists.
Its director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said currently the ministry and The Academy of Medicine Malaysia did not recognise the field as a sub-speciality.
He said stakeholders including professional bodies and associations would draw up a proposal to be presented to the ministry.
They included the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC), Malaysian Dental Council, Malaysia Medical Association, The Academy of Medicine Malaysia, Malaysian Association of Plastics, Aesthetic and Craniomaxillofacial Surgeons and Malaysian Society of Aesthetic Medicine.
A committee at the ministry would look into the recommendations.
"So, while this is pending, we will not allow a person to call himself an aesthetic specialist," he told reporters on Thursday.
"With the training module, it becomes a recognised sub-speciality with a three-year training scheme. All sub-specialists have to undergo this training locally and overseas before they can come back and claim to be sub-specialists." Dr Ismail said there were cases where the practitioner went for a five-day course and received a certificate. An additional five days gained him a diploma.
"We have characters like that in our midst," he said.
Dr Ismail added that with immediate effect, medical practitioners who currently offered aesthetic practices were required to produce evidence of their training and qualifications to the ministry's medical practice division before being allowed to carry out the procedures.
Ref: http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/2/1/nation/20080201091901&sec=nation