Category: Health EN

Previously, when doctors were accorded the legal right to dispense, there were very few pharmacists and pharmacies in the country. However, this is no longer the case. There are already more than 6,000 pharmacists registered with Malaysian Pharmacy Board. More than 500 new pharmacy graduates are added to the nation each year. As such, the issue of a shortage of pharmacists should not arise. A...

The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) is highly shocked and deplores the announcement that the government is going to delay the announced ban on small packs of cigarettes. In a media report in the Edge Financial Daily (27th May 2010) it was quoted that the cabinet had made a decision to defer the ban and no new date has been fixed. The decision to ban the 14 stick packs was taken as one of...

Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) recently came across the findings presented in the Research Highlights of a study on “Patient Safety in Primary Care”. This study was conducted by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in 12 of their primary care clinics in 4 states in Malaysia. From the results, we are alarmed to note that more than 50% of the medical records reviewed from primary healthcare...

Consumer’s Association of Penang (CAP) lauds the Governments initiative in introducing the 1Malaysia community clinic network to help to meet the urgent health needs of the rakyat in urban areas. In the past CAP has called for more government clinics in urban areas across the country to help reduce the number of patients in General Hospitals.  A random survey by CAP on the number of private...

Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) refers to the proposal for restricting the sales of alcohol in Selangor. Protests have abounded since then. Among the views given are that this move will affect the votes in the next election, and that it is unfair to non-Muslims. CAP calls for all parties concerned to unite to focus on the health and social reasons that require action to be taken to restrict...

The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) views with concern the plans of the Sabah government to push ahead with the building of a private hospital. Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman is quoted in the press saying that, “although it is a private hospital, we do not have to think of how to profit first”. By right, there should be a very clear separation between the public and private sector when...

Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) views with concern the recent outbreak of leptospirosis at a detention camp for illegal immigrants in Bukit Mertajam. The disease is caused by the Leptospira spp. bacteria. Infection in humans is said to be rare and is usually through coming into contact with water, food or soil that has been contaminated by an infected animal’s urine. Rats and mice are...