The worst reasons why people visit A&E
A&E stands for Accident & Emergencies but for some reason people seem to think it stands for “All & Everything”.
The A&E is not a polyclinic to treat all your minor ailments. Non-urgent cases do clog up the A&E services and even with triage systems (green zone for the non-urgent), patients do not understand and complain about the waiting.
Which brings us to this news item we came across about the NHS UK on The worst reasons people visit A&E when they shouldn’t.
We thought we’d ask our doctors for their experience on worst reasons for people coming to the A&E in Mal...
Source: Malaysian Medical Resources - March 29, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: palmdoc Tags: - Ethics - Health tips - Nation - Offbeat news A&E Eemrgency ER Source Type: blogs
The worst reasons why people visit A & E
A&E stands for Accident & Emergencies but for some reason people seem to think it stands for “All & Everything”.
The A&E is not a polyclinic to treat all your minor ailments. Non-urgent cases do clog up the A&E services and even with triage systems (green zone for the non-urgent), patients do not understand and complain about the waiting.
Which brings us to this news item we came across about the NHS UK on The worst reasons people visit A&E when they shouldn’t.
We thought we’d ask our doctors for their experience on worst reasons for people coming to the A&E in Mal...
Source: Malaysian Medical Resources - March 29, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: palmdoc Tags: - Ethics - Health tips - Nation - Offbeat news A&E Eemrgency ER Source Type: blogs
Common licensing exam for Malaysian medical graduates
3 years ago we heard some noise about an MMLE or Malaysian Medical Licensing Examination which was to be a common licensing examination for all graduates but apparently this proposal did not see the light of day.
Now we hear the MOH is mulling a licensing examination for foreign medical graduates
The Health Ministry is considering a proposal for all graduates from foreign medical schools to sit for a licensing
examination before being granted registration in the country.
Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the ministry was looking into measures suggested by the Malaysian Medical Council in order to ...
Source: Malaysian Medical Resources - March 18, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: palmdoc Tags: - Education - Nation Examination licensing Medical school MMC MMLE MOH USMLE Source Type: blogs
Tumour markers revisited
It’s still happening in Malaysia where some private labs offer routine “cancer marker” screening to otherwise normal people. When used routinely there are many problems as this Malaysian doctor pointed out in our Facebook page:
Hi guys, I am a Malaysian doctor currently working in Australia. I am wondering if there’s an avenue I could pursue to help push for pathology labs in Malaysia to require doctor’s requests to perform harmful tests such as tumour marker for “cancer screening” in asymptomatic population. I am sure all of us have had experience with our family and friends appro...
Source: Malaysian Medical Resources - February 18, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: palmdoc Tags: - Ethics - Health tips cancer laboratory markers Screening tumour Source Type: blogs
The dengue vaccine – an open letter to the MOH
(image credit: the MalayMail online)
There’s no doubt about it – the statistics are grim. Dengue has seen a steep rise in 2014 and even higher numbers were seen in 2015. Early on in 2016, we have to brace ourselves for a spike due to the El Nino effect
The Star reported the very grim data:
According to the ministry, 336 people – an average of 28 a month – died from dengue last year compared to 215 in 2014, a rise of 56.3%.
There was also an increase of 11.2% in the number of dengue cases throughout last year, up from 108,698 in 2014 to 120,836 cases.
That’s 333 cases a month or 110 cases each day!
The min...
Source: Malaysian Medical Resources - January 16, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: palmdoc Tags: - Nation dengue Vaccine Source Type: blogs
The dengue vaccine – an open letter to the MOH
(image credit: the MalayMail online)
There’s no doubt about it – the statistics are grim. Dengue has seen a steep rise in 2014 and even higher numbers were seen in 2015. Early on in 2016, we have to brace ourselves for a spike due to the El Nino effect
The Star reported the very grim data:
According to the ministry, 336 people – an average of 28 a month – died from dengue last year compared to 215 in 2014, a rise of 56.3%.
There was also an increase of 11.2% in the number of dengue cases throughout last year, up from 108,698 in 2014 to 120,836 cases.
That’s 333 cases a month or 110 cases each day!
The min...
Source: Malaysian Medical Resources - January 16, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: palmdoc Tags: - Nation dengue Vaccine Source Type: blogs
The changing landscape of junior doctor jobs in Malaysia IV
An interesting announcement was recently made by the MOH/MMC on the waiting period for housemanship, a need for screening candidates and last but not least a line about the MMC not issuing the temporary registration until the Public Services Commission offers the candidate a post as a house officer. See:
Kenyataan Akhbar KPK/YDP MPM 29 Dis 2015: Penyelarasan Pengeluaran Sijil Pendaftaran Sementara bagi Graduan Perubatan
and the Star article MMC: Medical graduates to get endorsement first before licence due to long waiting period
Is there the possibility that house officer jobs in Malaysia are not assured in the future? If ...
Source: Malaysian Medical Resources - December 29, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: palmdoc Tags: - Nation - Training House officer Houseman Jobs JPA MMC MOH PSC PSD Source Type: blogs
Incentives to stay healthy
Recently a medical doctor called for incentives for Malaysians to stay healthy. I happen to think she is on the right track though some were rather critical.
I think both the carrot and stick approach can be utilised to encourage people to stay healthy. Well perhaps not “cash incentives” but one of the ways that could be employed is to make health insurance compulsory and the incentive being reducing premiums (much like NCBs for car insurance) if people keep to their ideal weight, don’t smoke and in general stay healthy. This would be a win win solution for all.
What say you? (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources)
Source: Malaysian Medical Resources - December 8, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: palmdoc Tags: - General Health Insurance Source Type: blogs
An open letter to MPs of Malaysia
13 November 2015 An open letter to the Members of Parliament of Malaysia
We, the undersigned medical professional bodies and non-governmental organisations, would like to register our concern regarding the increasing presence of electronic cigarettes and vaping in our society. We note with dismay the Cabinet’s rejection of the Ministry of Health’s proposal to ban the sales and use of electronic cigarettes.
1. Malaysia proudly signed and ratified the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). This is a reflection of the nation’s commitment to protect present and futu...
Source: Malaysian Medical Resources - November 13, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: palmdoc Tags: Miscellaneous Source Type: blogs
Updated: Doctors’ Blogroll
We have updated the MMR Doctors Blogroll which tracks all Malaysian doctor’s blogs with the addition of The Road to Heaven which is a great blog by Cardiologist, Dr. Oteh Maskon. His latest blog post on What I learnt from ESC 2015 is very informative and shared in our Doctors Facebook group, Dobbs/FB
We follow all Doctors blog posts and if you are a Malaysian doctor with a blog but not listed in the Blogroll, please let us know and we’ll be happy to list you.
We will highlight featured blog posts and share them with other doctors.
All Malaysian doctors are welcome to join DOBBS (Doctors Only Bulletin Board Syst...
Source: Malaysian Medical Resources - September 5, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: palmdoc Tags: - Dobbs - Featured site - Updated Links blog Cardiology Source Type: blogs
Selamat Hari Merdeka!
We would like to wish all readers a Selamat Hari Merdeka
May God bless our country and keep it safe
For doctors, nurses and medical staff at work on call the long weekend, we appreciate your dedication and hard work.
from the MMR and DOBBS
(DOBBS = Doctors Only Bulletin Board System, Malaysia’s pioneer and largest online forum for Malaysian Doctors. All Malaysian doctors are welcome to join us in Dobbs Facebook and in the Dobbs Forum) (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources)
Source: Malaysian Medical Resources - August 30, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: palmdoc Tags: - Nation Merdeka Source Type: blogs
Talk: Update on Diabetes Mellitus
Mark your Calendar – Dr. TK Khoo will be giving a couple of lectures at the IMU Seremban clinical school October 7,2015:
– Updates on Diabetes Mellitus
– Specialty training in the USA.
He will be speaking from the US perspective so the talk willinclude the newer medications available here, as well as insulin pump therapy and continuous glucose monitoring systems (“sensors”).
If interested, please RSVP to Ms. Nancy at IMU either via email at choonmui_tham@imu.edu.my or by phone at 06-7677798
Dr. Khoo is a Malaysian Endocrinologist based in the US. He is a prolific blogger and also a member of t...
Source: Malaysian Medical Resources - August 18, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: palmdoc Tags: - Events Diabetes Source Type: blogs
GP Conference and Scientific meeting
Attention GPs and Solo Practitioners
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
Date : 3rd October 2015 .
Time : 8.00am till 5.00pm
Venue : Sunway Putra Hotel
1.JOINTLY ORGANISED BY FPMPAM( Federation of Private Medical Practitioners Association’ Malaysia ) affiliated societies , MMA ( Malaysian Medical Association ) , MPCAM ( Medical Practitioners Coalition Association Malaysia ) , PERDIM ( Pertubuhan Doktor Islam Malaysia )
2.To preserve the uniquely evolved Malaysian General Practice System .
3.To unite GPs despite diversity and lead them to agreed goals in an ever changing socia-economic environment filled with covert challeng...
Source: Malaysian Medical Resources - August 14, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: palmdoc Tags: - Events FPMPAM GP MMA Source Type: blogs
The Malaysian Medical Association website has been updated
The MMA is the official professional body representing the interests of the medical profession in Malaysia. I am pleased to inform you that the website has been thoroughly revamped and has a modern responsive design which is mobile friendly.
There are still some early quirks like the Berita MMA PDF does not download even after signing in but overall it is a good start.
The MMA website is linked together with the other Malaysian medical professional associations in our Societies and Associations webpage
You can also follow the MMA in their Facebook page
The MMA does not have an online forum but for that you can join the pr...
Source: Malaysian Medical Resources - August 6, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: palmdoc Tags: - Featured site MMA Source Type: blogs
Post-call MVA: a real and present danger
Earlier this month we blogged about Post-call accidents in the light of the tragic deaths of young doctors in motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) the day after calls.
The DG did mention it here
We also spoke about the various proposals that would be plausible to improve the oncall system. I am due for a meeting with clinical specialists from MOH hospitals in early August 2015, hence this issue can be brought forth for further discussion. Any improvisation to the oncall system needs to be looked at all angles, including the (i) availability of posts, workforce and resources; (ii) service needs; (iii) continuity of patient care,...
Source: Malaysian Medical Resources - July 28, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: palmdoc Tags: - Dobbs - Health tips Call Fatigue MVA Sleep Source Type: blogs
