Latest news with #PH-Cheras
The Star
3 days ago
- Health
- The Star
Young adults top new HIV cases
75% of those infected in 2024 were between the ages of 20 to 39, says Dzulkefly Young adults made up the majority of new HIV cases reported in Malaysia last year, with 75% involving those aged between 20 and 39, says Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad ( pic ). He said the pattern of HIV transmission in the country has changed significantly over the years – shifting from infections caused by sharing drug needles to those spread through sexual contact. 'In 2024, sexual transmission accounted for 96% of all HIV cases. Of these, 64% involved homosexual or bisexual contact, while 32% were heterosexual,' he said in a written reply to Tan Kok Wai (PH-Cheras). Dzulkefly said a total of 3,185 new HIV cases were reported in 2024, with a notification rate of 9.4 per 100,000 people. Most of the cases involved men, who made up 90% of the total, while women accounted for 10%. 'This shows some change compared to the 1990s, when almost all cases involved men (99%) and only 1% were women,' he added. The overall number of new HIV and AIDS cases in Malaysia dropped by 50% between 2000 and 2009. However, the decline has slowed in recent years, with only a 27% decrease recorded from 2010 to 2024. On a separate matter, Dzulkefly said between 2022 and 2024, a total of 705 medical officers and 1,394 nurses resigned after serving for more than five years. He added the primary reasons for these resignations include pursuing opportunities in the private sector or statutory bodies, as well as personal and health-related issues. Despite these departures, the Health Ministry appointed 12,761 new medical officers and 5,396 nurses within the same period to fill permanent positions. To retain talent and mitigate the outflow of experienced healthcare personnel, the ministry has implemented several initiatives. These include exemptions from interim contract appointments for nurses by central agencies for the years 2023 and 2024, with the potential for permanent appointments in 2025. In a written reply to Tan Kar Hing (PH-Gopeng), Dzulkefly said that shift hours for medical officers in emergency departments and ward nurses have been reduced from 45 to 42 hours per week. The ministry has also introduced specific allowances and incentives, such as the Locum Allowance, Specialist Incentive Payment, Post-Basic Allowance, and Location and Hardship Incentives. Moreover, incentive payments are offered to pre-gazettement medical officers undergoing supervised work experience (SWE) in recognition of their workload and specialist commitments. Faster career progression is another focus, with time-based promotions from Grade UD9 to UD14 achievable within nine to 12 years for medical officers. Paramedics are also eligible for Time-Based Excellence (TBK 1 and TBK 2) promotions after 13 years of service.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Health
- New Straits Times
Sexual transmission accounts for 96pct of new HIV cases in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: Sexual transmission now accounts for nearly all new HIV cases in Malaysia, marking a significant shift from previous patterns of infection through needle sharing, the Dewan Rakyat was told. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said that in 2024, 96 per cent of new HIV infections were linked to sexual contact, with 64 per cent involving homosexual or bisexual transmission and 32 per cent through heterosexual transmission. "In 2024, a total of 3,185 new HIV cases were reported, with a notification rate of 9.4 per 100,000 population. "The majority of cases were among men, accounting for 90 per cent, compared to 10 per cent among women. "This trend marks a shift from the 1990s, when women made up only 1 per cent of cases and men 99 per cent," he said in a written parliamentary reply published today. He was responding to Tan Kok Wai (PH-Cheras), who enquired about the current status of HIV infections in the country, including the number of patients by age group and gender, as well as the main causes of transmission. Dzulkefly said 75 per cent of the cases reported last year involved youths aged between 20 and 39. "New HIV or AIDS infections in Malaysia generally recorded a 50 per cent decline between 2000 and 2009. "However, from 2010 until now, the rate of decline has slowed, registering only a 27 per cent reduction." In February, Dzulkefly said more than 60 per cent of HIV infections last year were transmitted through homosexual and bisexual relations. He said a key factor behind this increase in transmission is the inconsistent use of condoms, especially among high-risk groups.
New Straits Times
29-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Govt study looks into raising retirement age to 65
KUALA LUMPUR: A feasibility study on raising the mandatory retirement age for public service to 65 years by 2035 is being initiated to lay a strong foundation in addressing Malaysia's ageing population. Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib said this is among 11 high-impact intervention measures across ministries and agencies currently being implemented under the National Ageing Blueprint (NAB) 2025–2045. "The NAB was presented at the National Economic Action Council Meeting on Feb 12. Following the meeting, it was agreed that 11 high-impact intervention measures across ministries and agencies would be implemented immediately to establish a strong foundation in addressing population ageing. "The implementation of strategies and initiatives outlined in the NAB will help the country increase the number of skilled caregivers in the care sector and the labour force participation rate of individuals aged between 60 and 65 in the local job market by 2030," she said in the Dewan Rakyat today. She was responding to a question from Tan Kok Wai (PH-Cheras) regarding policy improvements and interventions being formulated to ensure that an ageing population is not a challenge but instead a catalyst for economic growth and social progress. Hanifah said another intervention is to encourage older individuals to rejoin the workforce for up to five years after reaching the minimum retirement age. She said the government would also enhance career mobility to improve the employability of the local workforce, introduce legislative controls to ensure the production of safe and high-quality food products, and improve access to domiciliary and palliative care services within communities. "(This includes) the creation of a sustainable long-term care ecosystem through the introduction of comprehensive legislation and governance, developing talent and skills in the care sector through training and recognised standardised certification, including for informal caregivers and volunteers, and reforming the social protection system to be more inclusive in meeting future challenges," she said. The NAB aims to provide strategies and initiatives to prepare Malaysia for the impacts of becoming an ageing nation by 2043. It encompasses policy planning, frameworks, and action plans in areas such as the economy, employment, education, social protection, health, and long-term care.
