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Author: admin

Move to streamline private hospital charges welcomed

Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) applauds the Ministry of Health for planning to control charges at private hospitals, including doctors’ consultation fees and the number of in-house visits to patients in a day. The reports of recent abuses justify this action. The Ministry plans to amend Schedule 13 of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Regulations 2006 which is the Fee...
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Instead of a new healthcare financing scheme…

The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) welcomes the news that the Ministry of Health is not going to rush ahead with any implementation of a healthcare financing scheme. The right to good health has been recognised as a basic human right that everyone possesses. In 1978, the Alma Ata Declaration was adopted by the world community, to which Malaysia was a party. The Declaration proclaimed that...
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Act now to protect the health of our school kids

The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) is simply perturbed to read the report that the "Guidelines on Management of School Canteens" (Panduan Pengurusan Kantin Sekolah) is being violated and that unhealthy food such as sweets, pickled food (jeruk), snacks containing artificial flavouring and artificial colouring are still being sold inspite of it clearly being not permitted. The problem of...
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caffeine

How caffeine affects children

Most of your parents wouldn't dream of giving you a cup of coffee, but they may readily give you soft drinks containing caffeine.  Though soft drinks may be tasty and sweet, it's a good idea to keep caffeine consumption to a minimum, especially if you are young. Although there are no guidelines in Malaysia, Canada recommend that preschool children get no more than 45 milligrams of caffeine a...
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heavy-school-bags

Heavy school bags take toll on children’s backs

The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) has been calling on the education authorities for some years now to address the problem of heavy school bags. In this University Putra Malaysia study carried out by Tamrin SBM and his colleagues, it was found that as high as 58.3% of the schoolchildren studied reported having low back pain associated with carrying heavy school bags. The researchers...
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Stem culture of violence against children

The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) is disturbed to note the number of abuse cases involving children reported of late. Toddlers being sexually abused, a stepchild apparently beaten to death, young girls raped the list goes on. Alarmingly, parents or caregivers are the perpetrators in many cases of child abuse. These are the very people that society expects to protect the child. It has been...
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mental-kid01

Children’s mental illness jumps to 20.3%

Malaysian kids need protection and help The National Health and Morbidity Survey 1996 found that the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in children between 5 to 15 years old was at a high percentage of 13%. The latest survey shows that the rate has shot up to 20.3%. Malaysian children are under tremendous stress and many are unable to cope with the pressures from the education system, their...
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alcoholic-soft-drink1

Alcoholic soft drinks – An Insidious way of creating a society of alcoholics

Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) is deeply concerned that alcoholic soft drinks have once again flooded our markets under the guise of soft drinks. While the law clearly states that alcoholic beverages are prohibited for those below the age of 18, these drinks are being sold to school children without restraint in supermarkets and 24 hour outlets. The issue of alcoholic drinks sold as...
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sugar-price

Why sugar subsidy should be withdrawn immediately

The Government should stop subsidising the price of sugar since sugar is nothing less than a toxic substance. The recent 20 sen increase in each kilo of sugar means that the government will still end up subsidising a sinful sum of RM1 billion in 2010, based on a subsidy of 80 sen per kilogram. Malaysians consume an average of 26 teaspoons of sugar per day. This sweet indulgence has resulted in...
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brain-cancer-risks-colour

Mobile phones should carry cancer warnings

Manufacturers should put labels on phones and packaging warning of the potential for brain cancer associated with electromagnetic radiation. The warnings should also warn that the most vulnerable users like children and pregnant women keep the devices away from their head and body. Over the last few decades, there has been rapid worldwide development of wireless technology, including increasing...
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