Latest news with #Kalwinder
Daily Express
17-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Express
Doctors urge nationwide ban on the sale of vapes
Published on: Saturday, May 17, 2025 Published on: Sat, May 17, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2023, which found that e-cigarette users had increased exponentially by 600pc over the past 12 years, with the prevalence among those aged 15 to 25 also rising from 1.1pc to 8.6pc in that period. PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) urged the Government to impose a nationwide ban on the sale of vapes and e-cigarettes, commending four states for implementing prohibitions on their own. MMA President Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said the harmful effects and high healthcare costs associated with treating conditions like e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury (Evali) were well documented. Advertisement He said the Health Ministry had reported 41 Evali cases from 2019 to 2024 and that it had cost the Government RM150,000 to treat each patient. 'MMA strongly believes that a comprehensive national ban is the only viable course of action to safeguard public health. 'Public health must take precedence over profit, and we cannot allow these harmful products to jeopardise the wellbeing of future generations. 'While a federal ban on vape products may require legislative amendments, this should not delay urgent action,' he said in a statement. Advertisement Kalwinder also cited the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2023, which found that e-cigarette users had increased exponentially by 600pc over the past 12 years, with the prevalence among those aged 15 to 25 also rising from 1.1pc to 8.6pc in that period. Expressing concern over the use of vapes among the youths, he said it was unsurprising for children to get hooked on the products given their attractive flavours and packaging. 'Close to 20,000 cases of students vaping in schools were reported in the country last year. This is despite the age restriction on the sale of vaping and e-cigarette products. 'We are also deeply concerned over reports of students as young as 13 caught using vapes containing substances mixed with drugs.' The Perlis government announced on Wednesday that it would ban the sale of vapes from Aug 1, joining Johor, Kelantan and Terengganu in imposing a full ban on vape sales. Terengganu's ban will be enforced from Aug 1, while Johor and Kelantan have banned the sale of these products since 2016 and 2015, respectively. Kedah has decided not to impose an outright ban but to stop allowing the renewal of business permits for vape traders once their licences expire. Kalwinder lauded the state governments of Johor, Terengganu, Kelantan and Perlis for taking 'decisive action' for the sake of public health. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
10-05-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
Malaysian Medical Association expresses gratitude to PM, calls for MOH dialogue on price control, fee reforms
Dr Kalwinder stresses the need for meaningful dialogue, particularly regarding the use of Act 723 and the long-overdue revision of private GP consultation fees, which have remained unchanged for over three decades. KUCHING (May 10): The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for his prompt response to a joint memorandum submitted by 11 medical associations, while urging immediate engagement with the Ministry of Health (MOH) ahead of the Cabinet's tabling of related working papers. MMA president Dato Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira stressed the need for meaningful dialogue, particularly regarding the use of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723) to enforce the medicine price display order, and the long-overdue revision of private general practitioner (GP) consultation fees, which have remained unchanged for over three decades. 'We commend these important initiatives and respectfully urge that meaningful engagement be held by MOH with MMA and stakeholders prior to the tabling. 'Constructive dialogue by the MOH is essential to fully understand the requests outlined in the memorandum, rather than conducting a unilateral review that lacks the necessary input from the medical profession,' he said in a statement. Dr Kalwinder clarified that doctors are not opposed to price transparency, but are concerned with the application of Act 723 – a non-medical law – to regulate medical clinics. Instead, the MMA advocates using the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586), which already governs clinics and enables ministerial regulation under Section 107. 'Doctors only dispense medications which they feel are needed for treatment in strict adherence to the Poisons Act 1952, which applies to them and comes under the purview of MOH. 'Doctors are also personally held responsible for every treatment rendered and medication given. 'Doctors are also accountable under the Medical Act 1971 (Act 50) and can be hauled up for disciplinary proceedings if any complaints are made,' he said. On the revision of consultation fees, MMA welcomed the government's commitment to a fixed timeline and expressed hope that the new rates will fairly reflect the contributions of private GPs, who have endured a 33-year freeze in fees, currently ranging from RM10 to RM35. 'We hope the new increased rates will also acknowledge the vital contributions of private GPs to the health of the population and will be meaningful towards the sustainability of Malaysia's primary healthcare sector in line with the Ministry of Health's focus on strengthening primary care in the promotion of health and the prevention of diseases,' said Dr Kalwinder. Act 723 Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira lead mma private GP
New Straits Times
09-05-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
MMA calls for engagement on disputed use of price control act to display prices
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has called for an engagement with the Health Ministry and other stakeholders before tabling working papers on the controversial use of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 to compel private clinics to display prices of medicines and consultation fees. MMA president Datuk Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said constructive dialogue with the ministry was essential to fully understand the requests outlined in the memorandum, which was submitted by MMA and 10 other associations to the Prime Minister's Office on May 6, rather than conducting a unilateral review that lacked input from the medical profession. In a statement today, Dr Kalwinder said the association thanked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for acknowledging and promptly acting in response to the MAA's memorandum. He said it was upsetting to see that despite multiple objections by MMA on the use of the Act on private clinics, the false narrative that doctors were against displaying prices had continued to be played up by certain quarters. "We wish to reiterate once again that doctors are not against price transparency, but strongly oppose the use of the act, which is a non-medical act, against their profession." He said MMA fully supported the government's medicine price display initiative as it was part of patients' rights. "However, we ask that it be enforced under the existing Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998, which governs medical practice, with regulations and mechanisms under Section 107 of the act that can be made by the health minister for its implementation and enforcement at private clinics." Dr Kalwinder added that it was always the stand of doctors and clinics to use the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 in implementing the display of prices. "Doctors only dispense medications which they feel are needed for treatment in strict adherence to the Poisons Act 1952, which applies to them and comes under the purview of the ministry," he said. Meanwhile, regarding the consultation fee revision, Dr Kalwinder said MMA appreciated the government's provision of a fixed timeframe for its implementation. "We hope that the revised fee structure will fairly reflect the 33-year stagnation in rates of RM10 to RM35. We hope the new increased rates will also acknowledge the vital contributions of private general practitioners to the health of the population and will be meaningful towards the sustainability of Malaysia's primary healthcare sector in line with the ministry's focus on strengthening primary care in the promotion of health and the prevention of diseases. "The primary healthcare sector plays an important part in the healthcare of the country and as such, we plead for action on all the contents of the memorandum as we honestly believe that it will have a long-lasting effect on clinics and the country's primary healthcare."
The Star
09-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
MMA: Ease specialist trainees' pathways
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has raised concerns over the nation's ability to meet its target of producing 28,000 medical specialists in the public healthcare sector by 2030, warning that current training rates are insufficient to keep up with growing healthcare demands. Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Datuk Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said the country should continue setting clear targets and reviewing healthcare needs in line with population growth, with more decisive efforts needed to expand specialist training pathways. 'What we need most of all is for doctors in the public service to be encouraged to specialise early on in their careers and to be provided with all the support. 'It has always been the MMA's view that training avenues for specialisation be made more accessible and convenient. 'For this purpose, both the local Masters and Parallel Pathway programmes must be supported,' he said when contacted yesterday. According to Dr Kalwinder, while Masters programme placements have increased to over 1,500 annually, expansion remains limited by the number of public university teaching hospitals available. 'Government hospitals have always served as training centres for parallel pathway programmes, and this is a strength we must capitalise on. 'With the extensive network of government hospitals and experienced senior doctors, more medical officers could be trained as specialists,' he added. Dr Kalwinder also proposed allowing doctors to undergo supervised, structured training while remaining at their current workplaces to encourage greater uptake of specialist training. He said frequent relocations and disruptions to family life during training have deterred some from pursuing specialisation. 'The MMA also welcomed the government's move last year to amend the Medical Act 1971 to better facilitate parallel pathway programmes,' he added, describing it as 'a step in the right direction'. However, Dr Kalwinder raised concerns about the current requirement for doctors to secure the Hadiah Latihan Persekutuan (HLP) scholarship before entering specialist training, calling for a review of the policy. 'The limited number of HLP awards, which are offered only once a year, has led to delays for many doctors, particularly those pursuing parallel pathway programmes. 'This system discourages many from specialising, as plans change and other career options open up while they wait for opportunities,' he said. Dr Kalwinder suggested that the Health Ministry consider relooking at the HLP requirement, especially for doctors willing to self-fund their specialist training, as how it was allowed in the past. He also proposed increasing the number of specialist programme intakes throughout the year to further encourage participation. The MMA, he said, called on the ministry to provide updated projections on the number of specialists needed in various fields. The Star, in its front-page report yesterday, noted that stakeholders are concerned over the shortage of medical specialists in the country, calling for authorities to take decisive action to address the issue.
The Star
02-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Healthcare will not be cheaper, say unhappy docs
PETALING JAYA: The new law requiring medicine prices to be displayed at private clinics will not bring down the price of healthcare, says the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA). Instead, it may lead to more clinics closing down, resulting in hardship for patients, the group said. With clinics forced to close, it said, the already strained public healthcare system would be further burdened. 'Rising healthcare costs are largely due to other factors, including medical insurance premiums, claims denials, third-party administrator (TPA) policies, illegal, unsafe healthcare centres, etc, all of which are unregulated,' it said on its Facebook page, MMA Schomos. The ruling on displaying medicine prices came into effect yesterday, leaving many in the private healthcare fraternity upset. Disgruntled doctors are set to march on May 6, marking the first protest in four years since the Hartal Doktor Kontrak strike on July 26, 2021. Called 'Doctors Betrayed: The Long Walk to Putrajaya', the march organised by the MMA will see participants walking from the Health Ministry to the Prime Minister's Office. In the social media post yesterday, the MMA called out the government for not keeping its promise of reviewing the consultation fees for 33 years, since 1992. 'Our fees have remained between RM10 and RM35 since 1992, despite rising operational expenses. 'It may even be cheaper than getting a meal and coffee,' the post read. In a statement, MMA president Datuk Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira urged the government to put the ruling on hold, pending the resolution of issues like the consultation fees. 'These valid questions should be answered prior to any decision-making,' said Dr Kalwinder, who was disappointed that the government had proceeded with the implementation without addressing the reservations of the medical practitioners. During the 'Advocacy' meeting in February, it was concluded that the rule for displaying medicine prices would only be implemented after the long-overdue revision of private GP consultation fees. 'That commitment has not been honoured,' said Dr Kalwinder. He said GPs have every reason to feel frustrated over the use of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act, which is a non-medical Act, on the already heavily regulated medical profession. 'The MMA strongly urges the government to halt the rule for displaying medicine prices. 'This will allow for proper engagement and resolution of the concerns raised.' Malaysian Dental Association Assoc president Prof Dr Mas Suryalis Ahmad said the association stands in solidarity with the MMA. 'We believe that healthcare should be recognised as a vital public service rather than a commercial commodity,' she said. A doctor based in Sabah also called on his counterparts to protest by wearing black attire to work and to take photos and post it on social media. 'We will shut our clinics and pharmacies, and we will walk to Parliament – when our associations call.' On Wednesday, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Ali said in a joint statement that the price list initiative was in line with the government's commitment to price transparency. They said the move would allow the people to make informed choices and make price comparisons.
