SEPTEMBER , 2022 | THE HEALTH
03
| The Health says ... |
Don ’ t ignore public feedback
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Steadfast in its determination Duopharma Biotech leads the way to maintain its position as the leading halal and sustainable pharmaceutical company in the country
p20
Unseen dangers lurking in our soil Work on your soil safely without getting infected by harmful organisms
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It ’ s always possible to be kind Being a caring person has obvious positive effects on one ’ s health and happiness
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More than an obsession with thinness Eating disorders remain under-recognised and include actual , life-threatening illnesses with potentially deadly outcomes
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A weekend in Bangkok Thailand is the first country in Southeast Asia to legitimise the use of cannabis and ketum for medical purposes . Will Malaysia follow suit ?
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Anxiety : Hope and solution Anxiety disorders are mostly treated as outpatients and receive less attention from clinical psychiatrists than patients with disorders requiring inpatient treatment
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Kidney transplant the viable option While dialysis is indeed a life-saving treatment , a kidney transplant is a better choice for a vastly improved quality of life
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Strengthen resilience to the pandemic Enhancing the environmental health of societies is a key component to the economy , recovery and stimulus measures that governments are currently designing
p27 People
• Choosing Selayang over San Diego
• Malaysian students heading to Harvard
• Muhyiddin launches his doctor ’ s biography
• Mohd Shukrie abruptly quits KPJ Healthcare
HEALTH Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has asked for support for the Health White Paper expected to be tabled in Parliament in November .
He said it was the country ’ s collective statement of intent on how it could make the health system more sustainable and resilient through a “ whole of government ” and “ whole of society ” mindset .
Covid-19 had brought into sharp focus the need for healthcare reforms , where never before had the interdependence of health , finance and the social fabric been so visible and the demand for healthcare reforms been more apparent for the wellbeing and social needs of the people , he said .
Malaysians , in general , will welcome any health reforms that are good for the country . After all , there is a dire need for reform in not only health but other areas such as education and local government .
We understand the Ministry of Health ( MoH ) is still in the process of getting feedback from stakeholders on the White Paper . This public engagement is commendable as White Papers are policy documents that set out proposals for future legislation .
It ’ s basic for ministers , politicians and government officials to get public feedback before deciding on important issues affecting the public and national interest . But to what extent will the public ’ s feedback or proposals by stakeholders be adopted ?
We have seen the Ministry of Finance holding dialogue sessions with the business community in the run up to the Budget . But were many of their proposals adopted ? Given the complaints from the business community post-Budget , it would seem many of their views were ignored .
The MoH ’ s move to get feedback for its White Paper should , therefore , not be a smokescreen . The key issues must be addressed .
They are focusing on preventive rather than curative healthcare , the brain drain , bullying of housemen , need for a national health financing scheme , shortage of healthcare facilities , lack of transparency in procurement and providing healthcare for marginalised communities , to name a few .
Khairy can be assured that his White Paper will receive support from lawmakers and the public if the proposals are fair to everyone . Malaysia badly needs healthcare reforms postpandemic , so let ’ s get it right this time .