CodeBlue

Today's Health News Recap The Free, Over-The-Counter Drug That Prevents Opioid Deaths This drug to prevent opioid deaths is free, and available without a prescription across Australia. So why has uptake of naloxone been slow? https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/11/the-free-over-the-counter-drug-that-prevents-opioid-deaths/ Malaysian Doctors Stigmatising HPV Patients As Promiscuous Women: UMMC Study UMMC’s Prof Woo Yin Ling says a study of 578 doctors in Malaysia found that 1 in 5 believe women with HPV deserve their condition, 29% think HPV-positive women have multiple sexual partners, 39% think HPV-positive women started having sex at an early age. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/11/malaysian-doctors-stigmatising-hpv-patients-as-promiscuous-women-ummc-study/ Galen Centre Disappointed With Government’s Broken Promise To Earmark Vape Tax Revenue For Health The Galen Centre is disappointed that the government broke its promise to earmark half of vape liquid tax revenue for health, with all the funds going to the Federal Consolidated Fund instead. The earmarking was pledged in exchange for not banning vape. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/11/galen-centre-disappointed-with-governments-broken-promise-to-earmark-vape-tax-revenue-for-health/ Memorandum To The Health Minister And Health Parliament Committee On The Parallel Pathway In a memo to the Health Minister and Health Parliament Committee on the parallel pathway, 10 academics and NGO reps (including NCWO, a surgeons’ society, UM’s medical dean, HASA director, and G70 professors) say there’s no need to amend the Medical Act. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/11/memorandum-to-the-health-minister-and-health-parliament-committee-on-the-parallel-pathway-10-academics-and-ngo-representatives/

Today's Health News Recap Where Is Australia’s Drug-Fighting Money Going? Australia’s drug budget heavily focuses on law enforcement over harm reduction and prevention, underscoring the need for more balanced, effective spending. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/10/where-is-australias-drug-fighting-money-going/ RM141 Million In Vape Liquid Tax Revenue Collected Since 2021, Not Earmarked For Health RM141.1 million in vape liquid tax revenue has been collected since 2021, comprising RM82.5 million (non-nicotine) and RM58.6 million (nicotine). The finance minister says this tax revenue isn’t earmarked for health, but goes to federal consolidated fund. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/10/rm141-million-in-vape-liquid-tax-revenue-collected-since-2021-not-earmarked-for-health/ Getting Updated Covid-19 Vaccine Like Updating Phone OS Regularly: Expert Immunity by infection wanes; vaccination cuts death/ hospitalisation risk. A new CDC study shows 54% effectiveness against symptomatic Covid-19 with the updated 2023-2024 Covid-19 vaccine. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/10/getting-updated-covid-19-vaccine-like-updating-phone-os-regularly-expert/ Bank Negara Won’t Mandate No-Claim Bonus For Health Insurance: MOF Bank Negara doesn’t plan to mandate no-claim bonus for health insurance, says MOF, to avoid inadvertently encouraging policyholders to delay treatment. Yet, Bank Negara also says co-payments are intended to control “over-consumption” of health services. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/10/bank-negara-wont-mandate-no-claim-bonus-for-health-insurance-mof/

Today's Health News Recap Warning: Your Smartphone May Be Messing With Your Mind The earlier they got a smartphone in childhood, the more likely people are to have mental health issues as young adults. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/09/warning-your-smartphone-may-be-messing-with-your-mind/ Ice Bucket Challenge Returns To Malaysia After A Decade At the Ice Bucket Challenge event, PJ MP Lee Chean Chung announced an RM5,000 donation to MND Malaysia to support MND (motor neurone disease) patients and improving treatment infrastructure at UMMC. Malaysia sees 1,000 new MND cases yearly. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/09/ice-bucket-challenge-returns-to-malaysia-after-a-decade-for-mnd-community/ Number Of Children Diagnosed With Autism In Malaysia Increased By 663% From 2013 To 2023 The number of children with autism registered with the Department of Social Welfare (JKM) has been steadily rising, from 6,991 children in 2013 to 53,323 children in 2023. https://ova.galencentre.org/number-of-children-diagnosed-with-autism-in-malaysia-increased-by-663-from-2013-to-2023/ Independent Audit Of MMC’s Administration Needed Dr Milton Lum wants an independent audit of MMC’s administration; MMC hasn’t addressed a claim that some MMC members didn’t have an APC. “When even one MMC member has no APC, it raises the question of whether MMC was properly constituted under the Act.” https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/09/independent-audit-of-mmcs-administration-needed/ MOF Passes The Buck On Regulating Private Hospital Charges To MOH In Parliament, Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying passed the buck on regulating private hospital charges to MOH. PHFSA’s Schedule 13, amended 2013, only regulates professional fees of doctors/ dentists in private hospitals, not other hospital charges. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/09/mof-passes-the-buck-on-regulating-private-hospital-charges-to-moh/

Today's Health News Recap Enhancing The Drug Dependants Bill For A Holistic Approach — Dr Prem Kumar Shanmugam Counselling psychologist Dr Prem Kumar Shanmugam says assigning AADK, which lacks expertise, more responsibilities under the drug dependants bill may not be effective, while there are insufficient experts/ doctors in MOH to support methadone distribution. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/08/enhancing-the-drug-dependants-bill-for-a-holistic-approach-dr-prem-kumar-shanmugam/ Quitting For Jobs Abroad: 2,400 Nurses Last Year, 20 Specialist Doctors In Past Decade MOH data shows 2,445 nurses (64% from private, 36% from public) applied to work abroad in 2023. From 2013-2023, a total of 20 specialist doctors resigned to emigrate overseas, comprising 1% of 1,991 specialist doctors who quit MOH in the past decade. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/08/quitting-for-jobs-abroad-2400-nurses-last-year-20-specialist-doctors-in-past-decade/

Bank Negara: Insurers To Set Health Insurance Co-Payment Caps https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/06/bank-negara-insurers-to-set-health-insurance-co-payment-caps/

Today's Health News Recap Transforming Health Care With Cutting-Edge Surgical Capabilities By harnessing the transformative power of innovation, Island Hospital continues to set new benchmarks in medicine, ensuring that it is able to provide the best possible care to all patients. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/04/transforming-health-care-with-cutting-edge-surgical-capabilities/ Health Over Handcuffs: A Public Health Approach To Drug Use Current drug laws focus on criminalisation, causing high incarceration rates and poor outcomes. Reform is needed to prioritise harm reduction and treatment. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/04/health-over-handcuffs-a-public-health-approach-to-drug-use/ The Hidden Burden To Consumers With Medical Insurance APHM head Dr Kuljit Singh calls for national health insurance funded by taxes and lower admin costs that will “eliminate the need for private insurance firms, potentially lowering prices by allowing the government to negotiate lowest rates with insurers.” https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/04/the-hidden-burden-to-consumers-with-medical-insurance-dr-kuljit-singh/ The Unfair Vilification Of The Malaysian Medical Council MMC was unfairly vilified as the “bad guy” in the parallel pathway conflict. As regulator, MMC was doing its job in upholding the law so it can be confident that any specialist doctor it registers is safe and competent to provide treatment to the public. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/04/the-unfair-vilification-of-the-malaysian-medical-council/

Today's Health News Recap How Indonesia Can Prevent Youth Suicide While case numbers are small, there is a chance many suicides go unreported, known as the “iceberg phenomenon”. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/03/how-indonesia-can-prevent-youth-suicide/ Explainer: Royal College Of Surgeons Of Edinburgh Isn’t A University, It’s A Surgical Society The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh isn’t a university, higher education institution, or “college” as Malaysians understand it. RCSEd is a surgeons’ society, the Scotland version of the College of Surgeons under the Academy of Medicine of Malaysia. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/03/explainer-royal-college-of-surgeons-of-edinburgh-isnt-a-university-its-a-surgical-society/ Remembering Feilina Feisol: Mother, Friend, Wonderful Person, And Great Advocate For Autism Feilina Feisol, who died on June 30, 2024, was an active disability advocate who was always willing to engage with, support, and work with anyone who would provide opportunities for disabled persons. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/03/remembering-feilina-feisol-mother-friend-wonderful-person-and-great-advocate-for-autism-dr-amar-singh-hss-anit-kaur-randhawa-nori-abdullah-badawi-ras-adiba-radzi-yap-sook-yee/ New Bill Empowers AADK To Arrest, Treat, Rehabilitate Drug Users The Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Bill 2024 authorises AADK officers to apprehend, treat, and rehabilitate “drug dependants or misusers”. Experts oppose mandatory rehab and question whether AADK can diagnose drug dependency. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/03/new-bill-empowers-aadk-to-arrest-treat-rehabilitate-drug-users/ Is Coaching In Palliative Care Necessary? Coaching in palliative care refers to the practice of providing support, guidance, and education to individuals facing terminal or life-threatening illnesses, as well as their families and caregivers. https://ova.galencentre.org/is-coaching-in-palliative-care-necessary/

Today's Health News Recap Why Aren’t We Doing More About Youth Suicide? A public health approach to suicide prevention means better data collection, multi-sectoral collaboration, gatekeeper training and evidence-based interventions. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/02/why-arent-we-doing-more-about-youth-suicide/ Minister Admits Potential Tuaran Hospital Misdiagnosis, After Teen Dies From Dengue Fever Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad acknowledges possible misdiagnosis in the case of a Sabahan teen who died from dengue fever in Dec 2023, citing it as “a bit of a mistake” for Tuaran Hospital to not admit the patient despite symptoms like repeated vomiting. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/02/minister-admits-potential-tuaran-hospital-misdiagnosis-after-teen-dies-from-dengue-fever/ Khairy: Don’t Blame Vaccines For Deaths Or Illnesses Happening Today KJ says vaccines shouldn’t be blamed for deaths or illnesses happening today like stroke or heart attack. NPRA says only 26 serious AEFI reports were received per 1 mil doses across Covid vaccine type as of Nov 30; most were not directly caused by vaccine. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/02/khairy-dont-blame-vaccines-for-deaths-or-illnesses-happening-today/ How We Slogged To Develop UKM’s Paediatric Surgery Specialist Programme Dr Dayang Anita details the extreme hardcore work involved in complying with regulatory requirements to develop UKM’s paediatric surgery specialist programme. “Without the MQA Act embedded in the Medical Act, many programme heads/ providers will cut corners.” https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/02/how-we-slogged-to-develop-ukms-paediatric-surgery-specialist-programme-dr-dayang-anita-abdul-aziz/ Main Cancers In Malaysia Increase In Incident Rates From 2013 to 2021 Breast cancer had the highest number of incident rates among all main cancers in Malaysia during that period. https://ova.galencentre.org/main-cancers-in-malaysia-increase-in-incident-rates-from-2013-to-2021/

Today's Health News Recap The Tragic Toll Of Competitive Exams The extreme pressure on students to compete sometimes results in students taking extreme steps such as taking their lives. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/01/the-tragic-toll-of-competitive-exams/ Abu Bakar Appointed Clinical Advisor To Health Minister, MOH Former Health DG Dr Abu Bakar Suleiman has been appointed clinical advisor to Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad and also to the Health Ministry. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/01/abu-bakar-appointed-clinical-advisor-to-health-minister-moh/ Gazettement Of Regulations Urgently Needed To Curb Vape Addiction All MPs should stand ready to collaborate on initiatives aimed at curbing the spread of vaping and protecting youths from its harmful effects, says the MMA. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/01/gazettement-of-regulations-urgently-needed-to-curb-vape-addiction-mma/ Sunway Medical Centre Launches CSR Radiotherapy And Educational Forum On Innovative Cancer Treatment In Sarawak The event featured educational sessions on cancer treatment and innovation by SMC experts, who also provided free consultations. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/01/sunway-medical-centre-launches-csr-radiotherapy-and-educational-forum-on-innovative-cancer-treatment-in-sarawak/ Malaysian Researcher Wins Inaugural Andrew P. Goldberg Early Career Award From American Diabetes Association Tye Sok Cin – a Malaysian postdoctoral research fellow at the Joslin Diabetes Research Center, Harvard Medical School – received the first-ever Andrew P. Goldberg Early Career Award by the American Diabetes Association for her work in diabetes research. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/01/malaysian-researcher-wins-inaugural-andrew-p-goldberg-early-career-award-from-american-diabetes-association/ How You Can Sell Your House (But Continue Living There) To Fund Cancer Treatment Under KALSIS, Malaysian seniors in the Klang Valley with cancer can sell their house to the scheme to fund their treatment, while continuing to live in that property for life. They get lump sum payments for health care, plus monthly payments until their passing. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/07/01/how-you-can-sell-your-house-but-continue-living-there-to-fund-cancer-treatment/

Dr Dzul says amendments to the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) will be tabled in July, without specifying further. He said previously MOH will act as the IHR Focal Point, after the WHA approved IHR amendments last June 1. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/06/29/infectious-diseases-act-amendments-to-be-tabled-next-month-minister/