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The Health | january-february , 2021
| Cover Story |
Worrisome
BY KHIRTINI K KUMARAN
year ahead
As we begin the new year , several issues and concerns will impact the lives of Malaysians
Many in the healthcare industry
are looking to 2021 with trepidation . The Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc in society , severely distorting the plans and businesses .
The number of positive cases has surpassed 200,000 and the nation ’ s healthcare system is at breaking point . A state of emergency has been declared throughout the country with the Movement Control Order ( MCO ) re-imposed .
Malaysians are wondering how the pandemic and other pressing issues facing the country will be resolved ? The Health spoke to several industry heads on the key issues this year and what can be done to address them .
The President of the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society ( MPS ) Amrahi
Buang said the focus in 2021 would still be on the pandemic . He wanted more transparency on the government ’ s purchase of the vaccines and questioned how safe they were .
He said managing the pandemic would affect management of other diseases , notably Non-Communicable Diseases ( NCDs ). Noting the country was embarking on the 12th Malaysian Plan , he said the country would lose out if there was not much government policy change .
“ The budget for the Ministry of Health is glaringly insufficient to meet the demands of healthcare , and more patients will go to public healthcare facilities because of economic turmoil .
“ Expect lapses in medicines supplies since Malaysia imports about 90 per cent of its medicines ,” he said , adding that private healthcare sector will be affected because of the impact of travel and border controls .
Dr Noor Ani , Director of the Institute of Public Health ( IPH ) from the National Institutes of Health ( NIH ), added : “ It is expected that mental health problems will be among the major healthcare issues in 2021 .
“ The problems are possibly exacerbated by the financial hardship due to the current economic situation .”
She said that other social-related health issues such as violence , excessive consumption of alcohol and drug abuse might also be on the rise in 2021 .
Referring to the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey ( NHMS ) findings , NIH also expects a rise in diabetes and obesity in Malaysia .
“ It is expected that these health issues will still be our major health problems in 2021 , as peoples are more sedentary and possibly consumed more unhealthy diet during MCO .
“ Tobacco use might be on the rise , too , as studies found more people rely on tobacco and nicotine to reduce stress and anxiety during this challenging time .”
Resolving major health problems
Malaysian Medical Association ( MMA ) President Prof Datuk Dr M . Subramaniam shared the sentiment the pandemic was expected to continue throughout the year and possibly through to 2022 .
“ People will also still have to continue with the SOPs as the vaccine is not a cure for Covid-19 .”
He added depression was a significant concern as many were affected by the pandemic ’ s impact on businesses , jobs , income and family . Cases of depression and anxiety were already seeing an increase . “ There is also a worry that people have become more sedentary during the pandemic . This can lead to an increase in cases of NCDs in the country .”
Malaysian Wellness Society President Dr Rajbans Singh said the pandemic had