HRPB bariatric clinic offers hope to patients battling obesity
24 May 2025 02:00pm
Introduced at HRPB in April last year, the SADI-S procedure has shown promising results, combining the benefits of sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass to deliver sustained weight loss and remission of obesity-related conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, with minimal side effects.
HOSPITAL Raja Permaisuri Bainun's (HRPB) bariatric clinic offers a lifeline to individuals struggling with obesity, providing them with a path toward better health and improved quality of life.
HRPB Consultant in General, Bariatric, and Oesophago-Gastric Surgery, Dr S Kumaresan, said the hospital's bariatric surgery services have been instrumental in transforming the lives of patients battling obesity.
"One of the hospital's standout offerings is the Single Anastomosis Duodenal-Ileal Bypass with Sleeve Gastrectomy (SADI-S), an innovative weight-loss procedure that combines elements of sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass.
"Recognised as the gold standard for weight loss treatment, bariatric surgery is not only helping patients shed excess weight but also improving their overall health and life expectancy", he said in a statement.
Introduced at HRPB in April last year, the SADI-S procedure has shown promising results, combining the benefits of sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass to deliver sustained weight loss and remission of obesity-related conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, with minimal side effects.
"The procedure, however, is only recommended for individuals meeting strict criteria, such as those with a BMI (Body Mass Index) over 45 or conditions like diabetes, hypertension or sleep apnea.
"Patients must also commit to a high-protein diet and lifelong dietary monitoring and supplements. This is not just about weight loss, it's about transforming lives," Dr Kumaresan added.
Meanwhile, he stressed that obesity should be recognised as a chronic disease, not something that can be resolved by diet and exercise alone.
He pointed out that misconceptions and stigma surrounding bariatric surgery remain major barriers to treatment.
"Many still view the procedure as an 'easy way out', which undermines its role as a medically supervised intervention,' he said.
"This stigma remains one of our biggest challenges,' he added. - BERNAMA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sinar Daily
3 hours ago
- Sinar Daily
Batik meets medicine: Malaysian doctor creates stylish, hospital-ready scrubs
A MALAYSIAN doctor, seeking a practical yet patriotic way to dress at work, has started a quiet fashion trend in hospitals by producing a range of hospital-compliant scrubs for healthcare sector employees. Dr Nisha Puvan, an internal medicine specialist with a special interest in gastroenterology and currently working in a government hospital here, said it started as a passion project. "Wearing vibrant (batik) prints lifted my spirits and created a positive vibration with my colleagues and patients,' she told Bernama in an interview recently. She is the founder craftbynishapuvan, a custom-made clothing brand, which she runs from Subang Jaya, Selangor. She said the idea took off during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 when she began making batik face masks. But a key turning point came in August 2023 when the Public Service Department issued a directive requiring civil servants, including doctors in public hospitals, to wear batik every Thursday. That was when Dr Nisha decided to create batik scrubs for hospital staff. To make sure the batik attire would not compromise practicality and hygiene, she did her own research, testing fabrics that met infection control standards while remaining breathable, durable and colourfast. "The scrubs had to be short-sleeved, free from embellishments that could potentially harbour bacteria and withstand frequent washing. "I wore them myself daily - tweaking pocket sizes, material thickness, and even testing how colours held up over time,' she said, adding her scrubs are made from cotton-blend fabrics adorned with batik prints, handcrafted by local artisans using traditional techniques. For Dr Nisha, functionality is key. "Doctors are constantly on the move - from clinics to wards to emergency situations - and we carry many items,' she said. "So I designed (scrubs with) large pockets and added tailored features without compromising style.' Today, her scrubs are being worn by many doctors working in government and private hospitals and at private practices nationwide. While she expressed her desire to collaborate with the Health Ministry to supply batik scrubs to public hospitals on a larger scale, currently, she receives bulk orders from only certain departments of government hospitals. In some district hospitals, some of their departments order them in specific colours - such as blue batik scrubs for Mondays and green for Tuesdays. Photo for illustrative purposes only - 123RF photo Her client base also includes Malaysian professionals working abroad, particularly in the United Kingdom and Australia. "It is mostly Malaysians abroad who want to wear something that connects them to home. Batik gives them a sense of pride in being a Malaysian,' she said. Dr Nisha manages her business on her own, from handling her social media accounts and taking orders to quality control and packaging. "It is a one-woman show. I have a couple of tailors, but everything else is done by me,' she said, adding that her four-year-old twin daughters are also involved in the creative process. "If a print is not nice, they will say so. It is my way of introducing them to Malaysian heritage.' Apart from scrubs, craftbynishapuvan also creates custom-made batik sarees, cheongsam, baju Melayu, lehenga and coordinated family sets. "We cater to all body types. Some families choose a single signature batik print and request different styles to be made, such as a cheongsam for mum, Mandarin-collared shirt for dad and matching outfits for the children.' Recognising the need for modest wear among Muslim doctors, the brand is expanding its range of scrubs to include adjustable sleeves, longer tunics and higher necklines. Sustainability is also a priority, with craftbynishapuvan using deadstock fabrics - leftover materials from larger productions - to reduce waste. Dr Nisha attends to her business after working hours, often packaging orders at night whilst her children are asleep. "When I am at work, I stay fully focused on my patients. Craft comes after-hours… it is how I unwind and recalibrate,' she said. Referring to her batik scrubs, she said: "This is my form of patriotism. A quiet pride. We may not realise it, but even what we wear can carry our identity, dignity and culture into places that feel cold and clinical. "Every time I see a doctor in batik scrubs, not just in my hospital but any other place, it reminds me that Malaysian heritage is alive, adaptable and proudly worn.' - BERNAMA
Sinar Daily
19 hours ago
- Sinar Daily
Malaysian tourists with burn injuries in Bangkok face long recovery, mounting expenses
The two Malaysians, Gan Xiao Zhen, 27, and her boyfriend Ong Yik Leong, 26, were attacked by an unemployed man who allegedly doused them with thinner before setting them alight near a shopping mall on Ratchadamri Road on Aug 7. 15 Aug 2025 08:52pm The families of two Malaysian tourists set ablaze in Bangkok on Aug 7 fear their medical expenses could exceed insurance coverage. - Photo by Bernama BANGKOK - The families of two Malaysian tourists set ablaze here on Aug 7 fear their medical expenses could exceed insurance coverage. Gan Kin In, 80, said he and his wife, Kek Ley Lan, expressed gratitude to the Malaysian and Thai governments, along with other relevant agencies, for their assistance following the incident involving their daughter and her boyfriend. "We have been in Bangkok for the past week. The Malaysian government, through the Embassy, has given us constant support, while the Thai side, through the Tourist Police and the Tourism and Sports Ministry, has provided transportation and accommodation,' he told Bernama on Friday. The two Malaysians, Gan Xiao Zhen, 27, and her boyfriend Ong Yik Leong, 26, were attacked by an unemployed man who allegedly doused them with thinner before setting them alight near a shopping mall on Ratchadamri Road at about 10 pm on Aug 7. However, Kin In said they were worried about the medical expenses, which had already reached around 150,000 baht after just over a week of treatment at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. He said the Thai government had agreed to provide total compensation of up to 550,000 baht per person. "We are worried that the total amount of compensation may not be enough to cover the total medical costs here, as the charges are quite high,' he said. Kin In, a retiree, added that doctors were not optimistic about allowing the victims to be transferred back to Malaysia anytime soon. "Yesterday, Xiao Zhen had a fever and high blood pressure, but she has recovered today. Her condition is now more stable, and if her health permits, doctors will carry out minor skin operations in phases,' he said. In the latest update on Xiao Zhen's condition, Kin In said doctors estimated it would take around two months for her to recover after the skin graft procedures, which would need to be done in stages to minimise pain and discomfort. Meanwhile, Yik Leong, who is being treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Police General Hospital, is also reported to be in a stable condition and is being cared for by his aunt, Ong Siew Kien. - BERNAMA More Like This
Barnama
20 hours ago
- Barnama
MBSB IB Maintains Positive Call On Insurance Sector Despite Healthcare Inflation
-- Photograph for illustrative purposes MBSB IB Maintains Positive Call On Insurance Sector Despite Healthcare Inflation KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- MBSB Investment Bank (MBSB IB) has maintained its 'positive' recommendation on the insurance sector, citing attractive valuations and high dividend yields despite persistent healthcare inflation and delays in healthcare cost-control reforms. In a research note today, the bank said healthcare inflation remains a 'tricky issue to fix' as higher spending on the sector appears inevitable. 'Our primary concern is that if healthcare inflation is still rampant, what will happen at the end of Bank Negara Malaysia's three-year cap on medical insurance premium hikes? 'But there are multiple tailwinds -- a cheap price point, attractive dividend yields, a potential windfall in investment income, and encouraging progress by insurers in addressing the healthcare inflation problem -- making the sector due for a positive re-rating,' it said. The bank noted that companies under its coverage are market leaders, enabling them to withstand challenges better than most. MBSB IB said medical cost pressures are being fuelled by private hospitals rejecting proposed cost freezes, opposing pharmaceutical price controls, and what insurers describe as 'buffet table syndrome', where high claims are linked to increased service use without clear medical need. It also pointed to Malaysia's relatively low preventive healthcare spending and intensifying competition in healthcare tourism from Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore. However, the bank highlighted some progress in tackling medical inflation, including the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Price Marking for Drug) Order 2025, which will require mandatory medicine price displays in the private sector by 2026. 'The initiative aims to enable the public to make informed choices by knowing the prices in advance and to encourage competitive medical pricing, although it has faced resistance, with several medical groups filing a judicial review," it said. The bank added that another factor is the decline in active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) raw material prices to pre-pandemic levels, after surging during the pandemic and staying elevated for several years due to logistical constraints, factory closures and increased demand for healthcare products. MBSB IB's top picks are Allianz Malaysia Bhd, with a target price of RM21.59, and Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Bhd, with a target price of RM4.59, while LPI Capital Bhd is also rated 'buy'. -- BERNAMA
