DOCTORS CALL ON MINISTRY OF HEALTH TO ENSURE OPEN ENGAGEMENTS ON THE PHARMACY BILL 2015

Joint Press Statement by Doctors Associations on the Pharmacy Bill/RUUF

Posted on March 5, 2015 by palmdoc

http://new.medicine.com.my/2015/03/joint-press-statement-by-doctors-association-on-the-pharmacy-billruuf/

DOCTORS CALL ON MINISTRY OF HEALTH TO ENSURE OPEN ENGAGEMENTS ON THE PHARMACY BILL 2015

We refer to the Minister of Health’s statement “Dispensing Separation Still Under Review’, (Bernama 4.3.2015), following a meeting called by the Pharmaceutical Services Division (PSD), Ministry of Health Malaysia to discuss issues with regards the Pharmacy Bill. The following attending the meeting on behalf of the medical profession:

Malaysian Medical Council (MMC)
Medical Practitioners Coalition of Malaysia (MPCN)
Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia (IMAM)
Pertubuhan Doktor-Doktor Islam Malaysia(PERDIM)
Malaysian Medical Association(MMA)
Federation of Private Medical Practitioners Associations Malaysia(FPMPAM)
Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia(APHM)

At the very outset of the meeting, the doctors’ request for details of the Bill to be made available for the discussion was denied

In the light of this it would have been impossible to discuss rationally the provisions in the draft Bill that are of concern to the doctors and its impact on patient care. Thus we, the above, representing the medical practitioners of Malaysia had no choice except request that the meeting be terminated in the light of the impasse. The chairman of the meeting concurred and ended the meeting prematurely.

We hereby express our grave concern how such an important Bill, that will affect the duty of care of patients and professional medical practice be allowed to promulgated without due and transparent consultations with all stakeholders including patient care groups, doctors, relevant healthcare professionals and the public.

We are extremely concerned that there will be provisions in this Bill that will:

1: Interfere with continuity of patient care by doctors

2: Interfere the patients’ choice of medications
3: Affect the safety of patients
4: Interfere with patients’ preference on where to obtain medicines
5: Unnecessarily increase cost of medical care
6: Inconvenience patient by impeding access of patients to one-stop care
7: Compel patients to fill prescriptions from limited pharmacies
8. Increase patients’ vulnerability to exploitation by monopolistic and oligopolistic mega-pharmacy groups

We hereby urge the Minister of Health to ensure that all engagements be held in a transparent manner with all stakeholders.

Issued by:

Federation of Private Medical Practitioners Associations Malaysia
Medical Practitioners Coalition of Malaysia
Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia
Pertubuhan Doktor-Doktor Islam Malaysia(PERDIM)
Academy of Family Practitioners Malaysia

Comment

Pharmacies to dispense medicines if proposal accepted

Pharmacies to dispense medicines if proposal accepted

by christina chin, from the star online

PETALING JAYA: Instead of getting their medicine from private clinics, patients will have to obtain it from pharmacies if the Health Ministry accepts the proposed “Doc­tors diagnose, pharmacists dispense” system.

While the system may cause some inconvenience to patients, pharmacists say it will help bring down the prices of medicine and give doctors access to many more drugs to prescribe.

It is learnt that doctors and pharmacists have held several discussions on the issue over the last year and they plan to meet the Health Minister soon.

They are represented by the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), Medical Practitioners Coalition Association of Ma­­lay­­sia, Islamic Medical Association of Ma­­­laysia, Malaysian Pharmaceutical So­­ciety (MPS) and Malaysian Community Phar­­macy Guild (MCPG).

According to MCPG president Wong Sie Sing, the five organisations had, at their last meeting on Nov 8, agreed in principle that dispensing be left to pharmacists.

Representatives of pharmacists later met Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdul­lah on Nov 26.

He said the two professions met to work out a timeframe to introduce the new system, adding: “I hope we can implement it by April.” Debate on the issue has been going on from as far back as 2008.
“If pharmacists are allowed to dispense, doctors would have access to 10 times more drugs to prescribe than what they have in stock. This will benefit the patients,” Wong said.

MCPG represents more than 2,000 community pharmacies employing some 2,500 pharmacists.

MPS president Datuk Nancy Ho said patients would receive further counselling from another group of well-trained healthcare professionals if pharmacists were to dis­­pense medication.

“The check-and-balance reduces prescription and dispensing errors. Dispensing separation is about professional medication management and only pharmacists are trained in this specialised practice. We know everything about a drug’s healing value and possible harm,” she said.

MMA president Dr H. Krishna Kumar confirmed that the associations had met on the proposed new system but said nothing had been agreed on yet.

Dr Noor Hisham confirmed meeting representatives of pharmacists, and said they discussed about integrating and consolidating the Pharmacy Act.
Stating that nothing had been decided on, he stressed that the ministry’s main priority was to ensure quality and safety.

Universiti Sains Malaysia (School of Phar­maceutical Sciences) Assoc Prof Mohamed Azmi Ahmad Hasalli said a 2013 study of 40 clinics and 100 pharmacies in Penang found that doctors dispensed more medicine and antibiotics and charged more than pharmacists.

Separation of dispensing rights will raise cost

MALAYSIANS are learning to adapt to rising prices all round, including the added burden of the impending Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Thus it is surprising that there are vested parties wanting and demanding to separate dispensing rights from doctors.

The one-stop consultation and dispensing of medicines by general practitioners has kept the price of healthcare affordable.

This time-tested practice has existed in Malaysia for more than a century.

Doctors package the cost of a visit to a GP on an average of RM50, which includes medicine and consultation.

If separation is done, the average cost will balloon many times more.

The GP then will have to charge RM30 to RM50 for consultation alone as approved by the Health Ministry Fee Schedule.

Patients will have to look for a pharmacy after consultation with a GP, to get the medicines of his prescription from the pharmacies. This will make healthcare unaffordable for most Malaysians.

GP clinics are easily accessible. There are probably more GP clinics than post offices or police stations in Malaysia. GP clinics exist even in remote corners of the country, including Sabah and Sarawak. Many GP clinics operate a 24-hour service.

Pharmacies are few especially in the rural areas. None offers round- the-clock services even in urban areas.

Most Malaysians prefer and have used this one-stop service without any complaints. Why change a system that works and keeps all happy?

Malaysia is known to have the most affordable private primary healthcare system in the world.

Let us not lose this hard won international accolade due to pressure and lobbying by those having financial self-interest.

Malaysians will have to pay a heavy price for this change if it ever becomes a reality.

They hope the Government will not yield to this “bullying” by the concerned parties to separate dispensing from doctors.

DATUK DR NKS THARMASEELAN
Malacca

‘Papaya leaf extract can help in dengue recovery’

By ELVINA FERNANDEZ | New Straits Times – Thu, Oct 2, 2014

KUALA LUMPUR: HOSPITALS and clinics can now advise dengue patients to consume papaya leaf extract as a supportive treatment to accelerate their recovery process, which usually takes nine to 10 days.

The Institute for Medical Research (IMR), in a circular to state health directors recently, revealed that clinical research on the leaves had shown that its extract could help increase the blood platelet count of dengue patients.

The circular, dated Sept 19, also stated that IMR would soon share its findings and distribute pamphlets detailing the correct preparation and use of the extract for dengue patients to government hospitals and clinics.

 Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said papaya leaf extract had increased blood platelet count and could assist in the recovery of patients with fewer complications.

“The damage from a dengue infection, however, could be more than a platelet count issue, such as blood plasma leakage or dengue shock syndrome, in which dangerously low blood pressure could occur,” he said.

It was earlier reported that a study, led by Dr Soobitha Subenthran and a team from IMR Kuala Lumpur, had found that Carica papaya leaf extract could assist in increasing blood platelet count.

The researchers conducted clinical trials on 288 dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever patients, in which half were given the extract for three days while the remaining received standard dengue treatment.

The two groups were constantly monitored and their blood platelet count checked every eight hours for 48 hours.

It was found the group that was administered the extract showed a significant increase in their platelet count.

It was also reported that those intending to take the extract should consult a doctor first before doing so.

Once cleared by a certified health specialist, they can start taking two tablespoons a day for a maximum of three days.

The right method of extracting papaya leaf juice includes using mature leaves and washing the leaves thoroughly before soaking them in water for 15 minutes.

The leaves are then either blended or pounded and filtered using a sieve.

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Five questions to ask your GP -- from the Star

Five questions to ask your GP

BY D.KANYAKUMARI

   

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There are key questions one can ask to help identify the right doctor.

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Your general practitioner (GP) is one of the most important person in your life as they are the ones who evaluates your health and inform you of life-changing illnesses.

Choosing your general practitioner requires effort and time. Here are the five important questions you should ask yourself before you choose your GP.

1. Location

The first question you need to ask yourself when it comes to choosing a doctor, is whether you want to have them near your home or your office.

Workers with children would prefer to have their clinics closer to home. Unless you are a workaholic who insists on heading to work when you are ill, a clinic closer to home is always a good idea, especially in cases of emergency.

2. Gender

The gender of your doctor is actually really important because health issues and treatments can become a very personal experience and  this sets the boundaries you are able to explore in terms of medical consultation.

This does not necessarily mean one has to choose a doctor of the same gender. Some women  may actually find male doctors more approachable, and male patients may be able to communicate better with female doctors.

3. Compatibility

Good chemistry with your general practitioner is essential, because without that, one will not actually be able to understand and overcome health complication issues.

The first most important thing is to have a doctor who listens to you. Someone who does not say ' I think you are having this' as soon as you walk into the room before hearing you out.

It is of utmost importance to have someone who does not assume and gives you the opportunity to explain your symptoms and how it has affected you. This addition allows a more accurate diagnosis and gives a patient some sense of security.

4. Affordability

Many doctors often say one should not be stingy when it comes to medical facilities, because it would eventually lead to larger medical bill.

However, practicality is at play here because your medical consultant is a long term commitment and you do not want to have to fork out RM200 for migraine medication.

Be reasonable but do not compromise. If you find the medicines from your neighbourhood doctor cheap but ineffective, it is time you look out for better resources, because ultimately health is wealth.

5. Competence

Though you may not literally be going under the knife of your GP, he is a critical arbiter of your health. Hence, a thorough background check before you settle in with one would be a great idea.

If you are new to a particular neighbourhood, you might want to ask around about the quality of the services offered by the doctor who has a clinic behind your house.

It would also be good if you could check on the credentials of the doctor. Most doctors who have graduated from a medical school are not shy to flaunt in in their clinic's, so go ahead and take a look at them.

 Do not be afraid to ask them questions. If they know their stuff, they will answer