Latest news with #NorFarizaNgah
Daily Express
02-08-2025
- Health
- Daily Express
RM2.3 billion lost to respiratory diseases: Experts
Published on: Saturday, August 02, 2025 Published on: Sat, Aug 02, 2025 Text Size: According to the 2023 National Health and Morbidity Survey, 6 per cent of adults and up to 13 per cent of children in Malaysia have asthma, with an estimated one in three sufferers remaining undiagnosed. Kota Kinabalu: Respiratory diseases continue to pose a significant challenge to the Malaysian and Sabah health systems, with experts calling for more integrated strategies to manage asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and post-tuberculosis (TB) lung conditions. According to the 2023 National Health and Morbidity Survey, 6 per cent of adults and up to 13 per cent of children in Malaysia have asthma, with an estimated one in three sufferers remaining undiagnosed. Another study puts the national prevalence of COPD at 6.5 per cent among adults, a disease that often leads to breathlessness and poor quality of life. The cost of managing COPD is estimated at RM2.3 billion a year, with additional financial pressure caused by reduced productivity and increased social welfare costs. Although Sabah-specific statistics are limited, health officials believe the situation mirrors the national trend. More efforts are being made in the state to strengthen screening and diagnosis, particularly in rural areas. These issues took centre stage in here as more than 100 health experts and researchers from across Asia gathered for the Annual Scientific Meeting of the NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Respiratory Health (Respire), Held from July 29 to Aug 1, marking the first time Sabah is hosting the annual meeting since the programme was launched in 2017. Themed 'Promoting and Prioritising an Integrated Lung Health Approach', the meeting brought together participants from Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam and the United Kingdom, who presented research findings and discussed strategies to reduce the burden of lung disease in low- and middle-income countries. The discussions highlighted the need to improve early diagnosis, provide timely treatment and ensure long-term follow-up for chronic respiratory conditions, particularly for communities with limited access to healthcare. The event was officiated by Deputy Director-General of Health (Research) Datuk Dr Nor Fariza Ngah. Dr Nor said the Ministry of Health (MOH) remains committed to addressing lung health issues through the Healthy Lungs Initiative 2025-2030, which aims to enhance screening and care services nationwide. Sabah, in particular, continues to record the highest TB burden in the country, with 161 cases per 100,000 population. In response, Respire researchers are working with the Sabah Health Department and MOH to co-develop a clinical tool for improving TB diagnosis in primary care settings, especially for patients with smear-negative results. Malaysia has also taken a lead role at the international level, tabling a resolution at the 78th World Health Assembly to address asthma, COPD, TB, lung cancer and pneumonia, along with environmental factors such as air pollution and access to affordable diagnostics and medicines. The Respire programme, led by the University of Edinburgh and Universiti Malaya, is supported by the United Kingdom's National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). It aims to deliver sustainable, cost-effective respiratory health solutions through collaboration with institutions across Asia.
The Sun
17-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
‘Timely' alliance to develop effective dengue treatment
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has welcomed a new international partnership to develop the world's first specific treatment for dengue, marking World Dengue Day with a reaffirmed commitment to addressing one of the country's most persistent and deadly public health threats. The initiative follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Serum Institute of India (SII) and the not-for-profit medical research organisation Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), formalising their commitment to accelerate the development of a monoclonal antibody therapy for dengue. 'The treatment aims to be effective across all four dengue virus serotypes and accessible to low and middle-income countries,' DNDi said in a statement. Malaysia has expressed strong support for the initiative, which aims to make effective treatment accessible to low and middle-income countries hardest hit by the disease. Health Ministry Deputy Director-General (research and technical assistance) Datuk Dr Nor Fariza Ngah said the partnership between DNDi and the Serum Institute of India is both timely and strategic. She said Malaysia supports the collaboration as a means to accelerate the development and access to dengue treatment, especially for countries like Malaysia where the disease remains endemic. 'The signing of the MoU marks a pivotal step forward in the global fight against dengue. The development of a monoclonal antibody treatment represents a promising new frontier in dengue care, with the potential to save lives and reduce the burden of severe disease, especially in a country like Malaysia, where we average over 90,000 cases a year,' she added. Dengue remains one of Malaysia's most pressing public health threats, with more than 120,000 cases and 117 deaths reported in 2024 alone. Recurring outbreaks put a significant strain on healthcare infrastructure, particularly in densely populated urban centres. Currently, there is no approved antiviral treatment for dengue. Management of the disease is limited to supportive care and severe cases often require hospitalisation. The proposed monoclonal antibody therapy is designed to be administered early in the infection to prevent the disease from progressing to severe dengue, which can be life-threatening. The investigational therapy, previously known as VIS513, targets all four dengue virus serotypes and has shown promising results in early trials. As part of the agreement, the next phase of clinical development will include multinational Phase III trials in dengue-endemic countries, including Malaysia. DNDi dengue global programme head Dr André Siqueira said the treatment could be a game-changer. 'We urgently need a therapeutic option for dengue that is effective, scalable and affordable. ' This collaboration is a critical step toward that goal,' he said.
The Sun
17-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Malaysia backs global push for first dengue treatment
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has welcomed a new international partnership to develop the world's first specific treatment for dengue, marking World Dengue Day with a reaffirmed commitment to addressing one of the country's most persistent and deadly public health threats. The initiative follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Serum Institute of India (SII) and the not-for-profit medical research organisation Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), formalising their commitment to accelerate the development of a monoclonal antibody therapy for dengue. 'The treatment aims to be effective across all four dengue virus serotypes and accessible to low and middle-income countries,' DNDi said in a statement. Malaysia has expressed strong support for the initiative, which aims to make effective treatment accessible to low and middle-income countries hardest hit by the disease. Health Ministry Deputy Director-General (research and technical assistance) Datuk Dr Nor Fariza Ngah said the partnership between DNDi and the Serum Institute of India is both timely and strategic. She said Malaysia supports the collaboration as a means to accelerate the development and access to dengue treatment, especially for countries like Malaysia where the disease remains endemic. 'The signing of the MoU marks a pivotal step forward in the global fight against dengue. The development of a monoclonal antibody treatment represents a promising new frontier in dengue care, with the potential to save lives and reduce the burden of severe disease, especially in a country like Malaysia, where we average over 90,000 cases a year,' she added. Dengue remains one of Malaysia's most pressing public health threats, with more than 120,000 cases and 117 deaths reported in 2024 alone. Recurring outbreaks put a significant strain on healthcare infrastructure, particularly in densely populated urban centres. Currently, there is no approved antiviral treatment for dengue. Management of the disease is limited to supportive care and severe cases often require hospitalisation. The proposed monoclonal antibody therapy is designed to be administered early in the infection to prevent the disease from progressing to severe dengue, which can be life-threatening. The investigational therapy, previously known as VIS513, targets all four dengue virus serotypes and has shown promising results in early trials. As part of the agreement, the next phase of clinical development will include multinational Phase III trials in dengue-endemic countries, including Malaysia. DNDi dengue global programme head Dr André Siqueira said the treatment could be a game-changer. 'We urgently need a therapeutic option for dengue that is effective, scalable and affordable. ' This collaboration is a critical step toward that goal,' he said.
Malay Mail
28-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Four senior doctors said to be frontrunners for Health DG post
PETALING JAYA, May 28 — Four senior medical professionals are reportedly in the running for the post of Health director-general. According to a report in Free Malaysia Today (FMT), the post has been vacant since the retirement of Datuk Dr Radzi Abu Hassan earlier this month, after he reached the mandatory retirement age of 60. FMT reported that sources identified the list of candidates as including Deputy Health Director-General (Research and Technical Support) Datuk Dr Nor Fariza Ngah and Deputy Health Director (Medicine) Datuk Dr Nor Azimi Yunus. Also reportedly in consideration are the Health Ministry's Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Datuk Dr Basheer Ahamed Abdul Kareem, and Kuala Lumpur Hospital Director, Dr R Harikrishna Nair. Dr Basheer and Dr Harikrishna are said to have about five years remaining in service, while Drs Nor Fariza and Nor Azimi are reportedly expected to retire next year. All four candidates have held senior leadership roles and are recognised for their contributions to the public healthcare sector. According to the report, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad is expected to present the proposed appointment to the Cabinet for approval soon.
Free Malaysia Today
28-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
4 medical experts in the running for health DG post
Health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad will seek Cabinet approval for the appointment of a new director-general for his ministry in the near future. PETALING JAYA : Four medical professionals are being considered for the position of health director-general, which has been vacant since Dr Radzi Abu Hassan retired. Radzi, who held the post from April 2023, reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 earlier this month. Sources told FMT that four medical professionals are being considered for the post; deputy director general Dr Nor Fariza Ngah (research and technical support), deputy health director (medicine) Dr Nor Azimi Yunus, head of cardiothoracic surgery Dr Basheer Ahamed Abdul Kareem and Kuala Lumpur Hospital director Dr R Harikrishna Nair. Drs Fariza and Nor Azimi are both expected to retire next year, while Dr Basheer and Dr Harikrishna have about five years of their tenure remaining. Health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad is expected to seek Cabinet approval for the appointment soon. Nor Farizah is a senior consultant ophthalmologist and currently chairs the National Specialist Registrar's (NSR) ophthalmology sub-committee. Basheer is currently the health ministry's head of cardiothoracic surgery and heads the department at the Penang Hospital. He is also the current serving president of the Malaysian Association for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons. Harikrishna has been instrumental in the successful implementation of the KL Hospital's 365-day transformation plan and has been a pioneer in the area of wound care. Nor Azimi gained widespread recognition for her impactful policies when serving as Terengganu's health director. She is known to be a firm, decisive and effective leader. The incoming director-general will need to tackle a number of longstanding challenges in the public health sector. These include issues surrounding recognition of parallel pathway specialists, contract doctors, ward nurses' 45-hour workweek, and the exodus of doctors and nurses from government service.
