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IT is an issue that resurfaces every so often – should doctors only prescribe, while pharmacists dispense?

The latest bout of verbal sparring has come about after it was reported in this paper that pharmacists hoped that the separation of dispensing rights would be accepted by the Health Ministry and come into effect on April 1.

Doctors have responded to this with arguments that seek to protect their “inherent” right to dispense medicines to their patients.

This issue is not limited to Malaysia alone. In countries where doctors dispense medicines, calls have also been made to separate prescribing and dispensing duties.

Even in countries where there’s a separation of duties, it’s not a totalitarian rule.

For example, the American Medical Association Code of Ethics provides that physicians may dispense drugs as long as there is no patient exploitation and patients have the right to a prescription that can be filled elsewhere.

Some doctors in the United Kingdom, especially in rural areas, are allowed to prescribe and dispense medicines to their patients.

At the root of the issue lies a “competitive” relationship bet­ween doctors and pharmacists, with each trying to “protect and preserve” task domains.

Evaluating this issue is no easy task. After all, drugs and medicines cannot be regarded as a common commodity, where the customer can be given options where he or she can make an educated and reasonable choice.

If there was separation, what happens to rural patients when there’s a scarcity of pharmacies?

The Star Says.

Read more @ http://www.thestar.com.my/Opinion/Columnists/The-Star-Says/Profile/Articles/2015/02/22/Dispensing-rights-Who-should-get-it/

LABUAN: Close cooperation between the school authorities and parents and their strict monitoring are important in addressing the smoking habit among students.

Labuan Health Department director, Dr Ismail Ali said despite efforts made by the national authorities, information campaigns and advice on the deleterious effects of smoking, the inability to reduce smoking addiction was indeed regrettable and a cause for serious concern.

“Cigarette smoking is a prevalent habit among students and we believe the number of student smokers is growing. We need the cooperation of the parent-teacher associations (PTAs) to help resolve this issue,” he told Bernama today.

He said undeniably, the habit was influenced by their family members’ habit, mainly of their fathers’.

“Hence, parental behaviour, whether it is positive or negative can have a great impact on the growing years of children and even during their adolescent period,” he said.

Dr Ismail said peer pressure at school and the workplace was another major factor for individuals to pick up the smoking habit.

“There must be a set of rules and policies to guide students on proper behaviour and on having good habits.”

He noted that the mass media could play a significant role in disseminating important information about the bad effects of smoking, by supporting anti-smoking campaigns and promoting intervention programmes against smoking.

“Education and enforcement are two important elements in tackling the problem and they must go hand in hand,” he said.

Secondary school teacher, Sitiphanus Alwi said the type of school attended by students was one of the major reasons for students to pick up smoking or not.

BERNAMA.

Read more @ http://www.nst.com.my/node/72695

PETALING JAYA: Lack of awareness of the dangers and bad hygiene habits are the main reasons why contact lens users get eye infections, say experts.

“We hear all kinds of horror stories from patients, like cleaning their lenses with saliva, wearing lenses longer than they are supposed to and swapping lenses with friends to try a different colour or pattern,” said the Health Ministry’s Malaysian Optical Council (MOC) secretary Nor Azizah Ismail.

She said that in 2013, the number of patients seeking treatment for corneal ulcer and infections due to contact lens-related complication in government hospitals jumped to almost double the number in 2010.

Although most cases were mild, some were so bad that they needed eye transplant or caused blindness.

She said the worry was that the number of sufferers could be the tip of the iceberg, as the number of cases treated in the private sector was not known.

“I saw between 100 and 200 cases over the last few years, but I think there is a potential for an explosion of cases when you hear of some of the horrifying things users, especially the teens, say they are doing when wearing their contact lenses,” said Dr Michael Law, consultant ophthalmologist and eye surgeon at the International Specialist Eye Centre.

Hygiene is important because the most common contact lens, the soft contact lens, is made of a hydrogel material which is prone to collect dirt or protein deposits, making it an attractive home for bacteria and fungi.

“Acanthamoeba, a parasitic microbe, is in our water and can’t be killed by cholorine. If you leave your case wet with tap water, it can breed on your case or contact lens. When you put the lens on, the amoeba will find a new home in your eyes,” he said.

Read more @ http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/02/08/Bad-hygiene-habits-the-cause-of-eye-infection/

WASHINGTON: Struggling to stand on one leg for less than 20 seconds is linked to a higher risk of stroke, small blood vessel damage in the brain and reduced cognitive function, Press Trust of India (PTI) reports citing a study.

“Our study found the ability to balance on one leg is an important test for brain health,” said Yasuharu Tabara, lead study author and associate professor from the Centre for Genomic Medicine at Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine in Kyoto, Japan.

“Individuals showing poor balance on one leg should receive increased attention as this may indicate an increased risk for brain disease and cognitive decline,” Tabara said.

The study involved 841 women and 546 men with an average age of 67.

To measure one-leg standing time, participants stood with their eyes open and raised one leg.

The maximum time for keeping the leg raised was 60 seconds. Participants performed this examination twice and the better results were used in the study analysis.

Cerebral small vessel disease was evaluated using brain magnetic resonance imaging.

Researchers found that the inability to balance on one leg for longer than 20 seconds was associated with cerebral small vessel disease – small infarctions without symptoms such as lacunar infarction and microbleeds.

The study revealed 34.5 percent of those with more than two lacunar infarction lesions had trouble balancing as did 16 percent of those with one lacunar infarction lesion.

Thirty percent of participants with more than two microbleed lesions and 15.3 percent with one microbleed lesion had also trouble balancing.

Overall, those with cerebral diseases were older, had high blood pressure and had thicker carotid arteries than those who did not have cerebral small vessel disease.

However, after adjustment for these covariates, participants with more microbleeds and lacunar infarctions in the brain had shorter times standing on one leg.

Short one-legged standing times were also independently linked with lower cognitive scores.

BERNAMA.

Read more @ http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/12/20/stroke-risk-and-standing-on-one-leg/

KOTA KINABALU: A total of 1,982 HIV cases, 734 AIDS cases and 291 deaths due to the disease have been recorded in Sabah between 1991 and September, 2014.

A joint statement released by the State Health Department and City Hall in conjunction with the Sabah Level World AIDS Day celebration held here yesterday mentioned that there were some 1,691 people living with HIV in Sabah.

During the first nine months of this year (January to September), 191 new cases of HIV infection were reported in Sabah. Based on this figure, it is expected that Sabah will have 255 new cases of HIV infection by the end of 2014.

The rate of new HIV infection in Sabah is expected to be 7.32 for every 100,000 people in Sabah.

Hence, the government, particularly the Sabah Health Department, is hoping for the cooperation for all parties to ensure efforts towards prevention is implemented thoroughly.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman urged people who are at risk of getting HIV were yesterday urged to go for a test and treatment which are provided free at all government clinics and hospitals in Sabah.

He said that the government provided various tests and screening for HIV, including pre-marriage test, HIV tests for pregnant mothers and suspected HIV patients at all government clinics and hospitals for free.

“The government is committed to ensure all efforts towards its prevention are implemented at all levels of the community,” he said in his speech for the launch of the Sabah State-level World AIDS Day held at the Kompleks Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan Sabah auditorium near here

Musa, in his speech delivered by Rural Development Minister Datuk Radin Malleh, also mentioned that the theme for this year’s World AIDS Day celebration ‘Getting to Zero’ coincided with the effort to address and eradicate HIV/AIDS.

He stressed that the issue required the participation of all levels of the community and not merely left on the shoulders of governments alone. He added that just as important were the roles played by infected individuals, their families and people at risk in the war against the disease.

Meanwhile, Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir said that the Kota Kinabalu City Hall had undertaken a pilot project ‘Kota Kinabalu Towards Zero HIV in 2020′.

Kota Kinabalu is the third city to launch its Zero HIV project, he said. The other two cities in the country to launch the project are Melaka and Kuantan.

He said that the aim of the project was to strengthen the implementation of HIV/AIDS preventive and control activities within Kota Kinabalu.
Read more @: http: //www.theborneopost.com/2014/12/17/1691-with-hiv-in-sabah/#ixzz3MA1h0N1H

KUALA LUMPUR: Far too many Malaysians are married too early in life, compromising not only their health but also their chances of development in a productive labour force.

United Nations resident coordinator in Malaysia Michelle Gyles-McDonnough said the “too early” marriages usually involved young people below 18 years of age.

“The 2010 population census indicated that about 80,000 married women in the country were aged between 15 and 19 years, while the corresponding number of young married men was 70,000.

“Far too many young people are married very early, putting their mental and physical health at risk because they have to shoulder the commitments of marriage,” she told reporters after launching the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) State of the World Population 2014 report here yesterday.

The report highlighted that there were 1.8 billion young people aged between 10 and 24 worldwide, most of whom were based in developing countries.

However, it noted that child marriages were among several challenges these countries, including Malaysia, had to manage if they were to drive socio-economic growth.

by  LOSHANA K SHAGAR.

Read more @ http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/12/17/Many-Malaysians-are-marrying-too-early-warns-UN/

PETALING JAYA: Individuals should exercise care with the Parthenium hysterophorus as the weed has asthma and eczema-causing properties.

“If they come into contact with the weed and begin feeling itchy or short of breath, they should immediately take an antihistamine to counter any allergic reaction,” advised Malaysian Medical Association president Dr H. Krishnakumar.

“And be sure to wash your hands or the relevant body parts which had come into contact with the plant,” he added.

Hypersensitive individuals who frequently experience rashes or hayfever should exercise caution when going outdoors by wearing long-sleeved garments.

Dr Krishnakumar said that if severe allergic reactions – such as throat swelling and low blood pressure – were experienced, the victim should go to the hospital immediately.

“Don’t delay. The reaction might cause your airways to become blocked,” he said in outlining some worst case scenarios.

There are over 50 Department of Agriculture officials monitoring P. hysterophorusinfestation in Malaysia, which is believed to have spread due to the import of animals from affected countries.

Its visual similarity to ulam raja has also hastened the spread, with landscaping companies using it for decorations.

by TASHNY SUKUMARAN.

Read more @ http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/12/10/Try-to-avoid-contact-with-killer-weed-at-all-costs-says-doc/

KOTA KINABALU: University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Social Science Faculty Professor Dr Kntayya Mariappan who participated in the internationally collaborated malaria study programme tagged ‘MONKEYBAR’ Mid-Project Workshop on from Nov 25 to 28 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital here, called for more follow-up action and programmes following the successful conclusion of the event.

“It is very important that awareness of the monkey malaria or P. knowlesi is to be disseminate especially among the affected population in Kudat and Banggi island so that they are educated on how to take preventive action to protect themselves against the disease,” he told Daily Express of the important role that social scientists as agents of change could help the local community.

Dr Kntayya said, depending on the availability of funds, he would encourage some of his students to consider doing research on the subject as part of their course.

The professor attended the workshop with eight other professors and academicians from UMS – Professors Chua Tock Hing, Dr Paul Porodong, Dr Gaim James Lunkapis, Dr Sylvia Daim, Dr Sophia Lau Tiek Ying, Nor Afizah Nuin, Benny Obrain and Hanns Ng.

Dr Kntayya said it is imperative that monkeys should not be vilified and victimised as a result of P. knowlesi prevention education and awareness.

“Conservationists would not want monkeys, some are kept as pets of humans, to be killed wantonly just because of the fear of P. knowlesi malaria, as now it has been established and understood that monkeys through mosquito vectors could spread the disease to humans,” he said.

“To control and eradicate this malaria disease, education is crucial and this is where social scientists with the pertinent knowledge, can play an important role towards this goal,” he stressed.

Read more @ http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=94263

KOTA KINABALU: Overlooked symptoms of eye disease and eye complications can cause blindness if left undiagnosed for a long time, said the Head of Ophthalmology Department Queen Elizabeth Hospital One (QEH1).

Dr Sheena Alexander said diseases such as Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy and Cataracts can go undiagnosed for a long time and by the time it is, it’s too late to save the person’s vision.

Information from the internet explains that Glaucoma is a disease that is caused by damage in the optic nerves, abnormally high pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure) usually, but not always, causes this damage, which may cause gradual loss of vision.

Meanwhile Diabetic Retinopathy is an eye disease caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina.

In some people with diabetic retinopathy, blood vessels may swell and leak fluids.

In others, abnormal blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.

People with this disease may not notice changes to their vision but over time, diabetic retinopathy can get worse and cause vision loss. It usually affects both eyes.

The disease known as Cataracts is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens – which lies behind the iris and the pupils – is a common cause of vision loss in people over the age of 40. In short, Cataracts usually show with age.

Dr Sheena, also the organising chairperson of the Eye Screening Drive programme at the QEH1 yesterday, said the hospital is hoping to spread more awareness among the public of the importance of eye screenings.

“The eye screening drive programme was held to encourage the public to identify the causes of preventable blindness, eye diseases. This is to ensure patients can get treatment at an early stage to avoid blindness,” she said.

To prevent blindness, we have to diagnose it before the patients develop symptoms of decreased vision.

In a survey which was conducted 10-20 years ago, Dr Sheena said the blindness rate was high but with the availability of better healthcare nowadays, she is positive that the number of patients going blind has decreased.

Read more @ http://www.newsabahtimes.com.my/nstweb/fullstory/82258

PUTRAJAYA: BASED on statistics from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), 50 per cent of Malaysians who have diabetes are not aware of their condition.

Malaysian Diabetes Association council member Prof Datuk Dr Wan Mohamad Wan Bebakar said the survey also discovered that children as young as four were prone to the disease if their eating patterns and lifestyles were not controlled.

Diabetes, he said, was a silent disease that could lead to complications if left untreated and more than 2.6 million Malaysians were suffering from it.

“From this figure, five per cent or 130,000 diabetic patients are between 18 and 30 years old.

“The number of young diabetic patients is increasing and the number will continue to rise if changes to lifestyle are not made,” he said after attending the Diabcare Malaysia 2013 workshop that was held in conjunction with World Diabetes Day.

Dr Wan Mohamad said most Malaysians only realised they were diabetic when they sought treatment after a heart attack, which was one of the complications arising from the disease.

“Diabetes is not only a disease, but a silent threat as it can trigger a host of problems related to the eyes, kidneys and heart.”

He said as early prevention was better than cure and Malaysians should get medical check-ups for diabetes, especially if there was a history of diabetes in their families.

by KOI KYE LEE.

Read more @ http://www.nst.com.my/node/53133