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Free Malaysia Today
6 days ago
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Health expert calls for comprehensive approach to tackle adolescent obesity
(From left) Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy CEO Azrul Khalib, Malaysian Obesity Society president Dr Rohana Abdul Ghani, health ministry disease control division director Dr Noraryana Hassan, young patient advocate Mikhael Qaiser, and Novo Nordisk Pharma (Malaysia) general manager Dr Praful Chakkarwar at the forum today. KUALA LUMPUR : A health expert has urged the government to adopt a comprehensive and multi-ministerial strategy to address adolescent obesity as a national concern. Malaysian Endocrine and Metabolic Society vice-president Dr Yazid Jalaludin said all ministries, and not just the health, education, and women and community ministries, must collaborate and acknowledge adolescent obesity as a problem. 'We are seeing 18 to 24-year-olds having diabetes, (with) two-thirds of them not even knowing that they have (it)', said Yazid, a panellist at a forum titled 'Addressing the Adolescent Obesity Burden: Collaborative Solutions for a Healthier Malaysia' here today. Yazid emphasised the importance of establishing clear guidelines on who should be screened for complications related to being overweight or obese. 'We should screen them now rather than having to treat them in their 20s and 30s,' he said, adding that complications could be better managed when treated early. He highlighted the financial problems that some families might face for investigative and treatment services, and noted that some insurance policies might not cover these services as obesity was not recognised as a disease. The other panellists were health ministry disease control division director Dr Noraryana Hassan, Malaysian Obesity Society president Dr Rohana Abdul Ghani, and young patient advocate Mikhael Qaiser. Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy CEO Azrul Khalib moderated the discussion. Noraryana affirmed the ministry's recognition of adolescent obesity as critical, saying that this issue required a coordinated, multi-sectoral action involving education, urban planning, and food policy. She highlighted the ministry's intervention programmes, including the National Health Screening Initiative, which revealed a high percentage of individuals classed as either obese or overweight. While highlighting the importance of population-based and primary interventions, she said the main focus for now was to initiate clinical interventions for obesity. Need for destigmatisation Rohana said it was important that adolescent obesity be recognised as a complex, chronic disease and not merely a matter of lifestyle choices. 'The destigmatisation of obesity is important so young people can receive the appropriate care they need without shame or delay, before they grow up into sick adults,' she said. Mikhael called on all parties to show empathy instead of judgment when dealing with young patients who were overweight or obese. 'It's not just about weight but also the constant burden of shame and anxiety. 'I want you to know that teenagers' lives with obesity are far more difficult than you think. 'Starting today, parents should stop commenting on their child's weight. Instead, show them unconditional love and create a healthy home environment,' he said. He said teachers also played an important role in advocating for these students and fostering a classroom culture of respect. Earlier, Galen Centre launched a policy report, titled 'Addressing Obesity in Children and Adolescents in Putrajaya', prepared in collaboration with Novo Nordisk Pharma (Malaysia). The report highlighted critical gaps in Malaysia's current approach, including insufficient recognition of obesity as a chronic disease and the lack of insurance coverage for treatment. It also called for structured treatment modalities, ranging from lifestyle interventions to pharmacotherapy, and stressed the importance of involving families throughout the treatment process.
Free Malaysia Today
31-07-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Addressing workforce shortage in health sector crucial to 13MP
Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy CEO Azrul Khalib said the country was heading for a severe workforce shortage and may need to bring in foreign healthcare workers. (Envato Elements pic) PETALING JAYA : Healthcare experts say addressing the workforce shortage should be a key thrust of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) which was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat earlier today. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Putrajaya will allocate RM40 billion for the health sector under the 13MP. Apart from building and upgrading health facilities in several states, Anwar also said a framework for professional development will be developed to ensure talent retention in the health sector. Azrul Khalib. Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy CEO Azrul Khalib told FMT that the RM40 billion allocation should fund long-term investment in healthcare infrastructure, modernisation of medical equipment, and improvements to the workplace environment. He also said it was crucial to continue developing the public health workforce by offering students scholarships or grants for training as fewer students are now opting for STEM subjects. 'We're heading for a severe (workforce) shortage (and) we may have to bite the bullet and bring in foreign healthcare workers from countries like Indonesia,' he said. 'We also need to invest more in health literacy programmes that inform and empower people to take charge of their health. A sedentary lifestyle, poor diet and the lack of effective obesity treatments must be addressed.' Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira. Malaysian Medical Association president Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said addressing worker shortages must be prioritised as it continues to be one of the biggest issues facing the public healthcare system. Kalwinder said although the government's plan to upgrade more than 1,700 dilapidated public health clinics and build new facilities across the country was timely, it should be accompanied by clear timelines to ensure accountability – and corresponding plans to boost human resource capacity. 'We welcome plans for a national framework for development in the health sector to address human resource needs. We hope this will encompass all healthcare professions in the ecosystem,' he said in a statement. Meanwhile, Federation of Private Medical Practitioners' Associations Malaysia president Dr G Shanmuganathan said the RM40 billion figure must be viewed in the context of Malaysia's chronic underinvestment in health as national health spending in the country, at just over 2% of the gross domestic product, lags behind regional benchmarks. Dr G Shanmuganathan. Shanmuganathan said the focus on infrastructure upgrades, digitalisation and public-private collaboration in the 13MP was timely, but warned against centralised, top-down digital projects that exclude frontline providers such as general practitioners. 'If the RM40 billion is to truly transform healthcare … it must rebuild trust, empower providers and improve patient care — especially at the community level where most care begins. 'Without interoperability with private clinics and pharmacies, digitalisation efforts will fall short of their potential,' he said. Shanmuganathan also said the RM40 billion must be accompanied by structural reforms, transparency and clear measurable outcomes. 'The real question is not only the size of the budget but how effectively and equitably it will be used. If poorly governed, even RM100 billion will not fix systemic issues,' he said.
