- S E G A L A_ M A C A M_ P E N Y A K I T -

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Anti-malaria pills replaced after NS man's death
Channel NewsAsia
Channel NewsAsia - Thursday, August 30

SINGAPORE: A common anti-malaria pill given to about 30,000 servicemen every year since 1985 has been taken off the inventory following the death of a full-time national serviceman who developed complications after taking the drug.

Mr Muhammad Sufian Jamil, 18, was undergoing Basic Military Training at Pulau Tekong when a rare drug-induced disease � Dapsone Hypersensitivity Syndrome � struck him down. He died of liver and organ failure on February 1 last year.

After his enlistment on December 3, 2005, Mr Muhammad Sufian was administered the anti-malaria drug, Maloprim, on seven separate occasions. He started to develop a cough, fever, rash and headache and sought treatment at the Pulau Tekong Medical Centre on six occasions.

On January 15 last year, he sought treatment at Alexandra Hospital (AH) after developing a fever and rash.

He was then in a stable condition and was given an appointment to see a dermatologist about a week later. His condition had deteriorated further when he returned to AH on January 23.

In view of his worsening liver condition, he was admitted to the hospital and later transferred to National University Hospital (NUH) on the same day.

At NUH, dermatologists and the infectious diseases and liver transplant teams treated him. But his condition declined, developing multi-organ failure before eventually dying.

On Wednesday, State Coroner Ronald Gwee ruled a misadventure verdict on Mr Muhammad Sufian's death. Citing reports from two medical experts, the District Judge ruled out any negligence on the part of the physicians who provided "aggressive supportive treatment" to the deceased.

Consultant dermatologist Dr Lim Kah Beng's report noted that Mr Muhammad Sufian's case was "unusual", as the "complaints were more of a flu-like illness".

In an investigation report read out in court, Chief Army Medical Officer Colonel Dr Benjamin Seet said that Maloprim "had been very effective in preventing malaria amongst SAF troops training on Pulau Tekong and overseas". Prior to the incident, the drug "had a good safety profile in the SAF" and the serviceman's death was "unprecedented".

The court also heard of steps taken by the SAF to address the situation after a forensic report attributed Mr Muhammad Sufian's death to one of Maloprim's components.

SAF doctors were educated on the rare condition through a medical advisory and lecture.

An independent expert panel to review the SAF's anti-malaria policy was also convened last October. Based on its recommendations, Maloprim was replaced with two other drugs. - /ra

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Singapore News        
       
Raffles Hospital offers new method to accurately test for sleep apnea
By Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 30 August 2007 1954 hrs
                  

SINGAPORE: If you snore when you sleep, you're certainly not alone.

Doctors say one in four snores in his sleep. And the older you get, the more likely you'll snore, due to diminished muscle tone.

Almost one in two older men and women aged 60 and above, snores in their sleep.

What's more disturbing is that snoring can sometimes be due to what's known as "obstructive sleep apnea" - that's when you stop breathing while you're asleep.

Raffles Hospital has introduced a new sleep test that is supposed to be more accurate in pinpointing where the obstruction is.

The test can even be done in the comfort of your home, so there's no need to go to hospital.

Doctors say if you stop breathing in your sleep more than five times an hour, you have mild sleep apnea. If it is more than 40 times an hour, then the condition is considered severe.

Those who have obstructive sleep apnea can be treated by wearing an air mask. Another method is surgery to remove the tissue that is blocking the airway.

Most hospitals that conduct sleep tests require patients to be strapped down to be monitored overnight.

This is uncomfortable and can only tell how often the patient stops breathing in his sleep.

It does not identify where the obstruction to breathing is or what exactly the obstruction is. This could be the tongue, tonsils or polyps in the nose.

But now patients have another option - the Apnea Graph test offered by Raffles Hospital.

A patient needs to drop in at the clinic, so that a doctor can insert a fine catheter down the airway.

He can then head home with the catheter, which is lined with four temperature and pressure sensors. These will track where and when the patient stops breathing as he sleeps.

Dr Stephen T S Lee, who is an ear, nose & throat surgeon at Raffles Hospital, said: "Currently your doctor would generally use a telescope to assess your airway, make an eyeball assessment and determine - based on his or her assessment - what's the level of obstruction.

"It has been the only real technique that we had to date to analyse the level of obstruction. That's what we've been using. However when you analyse the level of obstruction based on telescopic examination, you do suffer from a few weaknesses.

"Firstly it's subjective. You're not able to quantify your outcome. It's based on a snapshot, meaning that you take it at one point in time, and it is not being done of a patient who is sleeping but a person who is awake.

"Unfortunately we know that the dynamics of the airway movement in sleep are very different from a person who's awake."

He went on to explain the advantage of the Apnea Graph test offered by Raffles Hospital.

"The advantage of this technique is that your results are based on a continuous six hours of recording, and it's being done in actual sleep condition. And you're able to quantify the problem.

"In other words, the results can come like that - you can say that it might be 90% upper airway obstruction... and 10% in the lower. So a person who comes back with that kind of results would be a patient that's likely to do well in surgery.

"We have very effective surgeries for treating the palate and treating the nose. Such a patient would have his results improved... up to 80% response. With this technique, we can save patients from unnecessary surgeries."

Raffles Hospital claims it is the only hospital in Singapore which has performed over a dozen Apnea Graph tests since May, putting it in the forefront of a sleep apnea treatment that is becoming the standard in Europe. - CNA/ir

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84-year-old man dies from dengue, sixth victim this year
By Margaret Perry, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 04 September 2007 1551 hrs


SINGAPORE: An 84-year-old Eurasian man died from dengue last Thursday, making it the sixth death from the disease this year.

The Ministry of Health said the man had multiple chronic medical conditions and was admitted to the National University Hospital on August 22 after complaining of pains in his abdomen and back.

Tests showed the man, who was living in Choa Chu Kang area, had contracted dengue haemorrhagic fever.

The patient's condition deteriorated rapidly while he was in hospital, and he died on August 30.

Twenty-five people died from dengue in 2005.

The health ministry advised anyone who has a fever and feels unwell to seek medical attention immediately. - CNA/ac

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MOH may change rules hindering patients' preference to die at home
By Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 07 September 2007 1635 hrs
         


SINGAPORE: Surveys in Japan and London have found that most people prefer to die at home. Yet most ended up dying in hospitals.

In London, only 20 per cent of deaths occurred at home, with 66 per cent occurring in hospitals.

In Japan, over four-fifths of people died in hospitals while the rest died at home.

But in Singapore, statistics showed that 55 per cent died in hospitals and about 28 per cent died at home.

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said that anecdotally, up to 90 per cent of patients in Singapore prefer to die at home.

In view of this, he may change current rules and processes that hinder them from doing so.

Mr Khaw was speaking at the official opening of the 18th Children Hospice International Congress in Singapore.

The Health Minister said he hopes more people in Singapore would discuss the question of 'where do I want to die', just like the Japanese at a so-called village of long life he recently visited.

"At the Ogimi village, I did not find villagers squeamish when talking about it (death). They laughed and joked about it. They realised that treating death as taboo does a disservice to both the dying and the living, adding to loneliness, anxiety and stress for all," Mr Khaw said.

He also recounted how many Japanese lamented that despite their strong preference to die at home, few got their final wish granted.

No survey has been done in Singapore yet on the preferences of where patients want to die.

But Mr Khaw said that he did not expect Singaporeans' preference to be much different from the Japanese and Londoners who prefer to die at home.

"Judging from other countries' experience, for the terminally ill, those who have time to think of their last moments, I think most point to this preference, which is understandable. You want to die where your loved ones are around you and in familiar surroundings. The reality of modern healthcare is that that wish is seldom achieved. If indeed that's the case, then let's find out what's stopping this. What are the factors that hinder this," he said.

"Off-hand, some people told me that to get doctors to certify death (at home) is not the easiest thing to do in the world. Whereas, if a person dies in the hospital, there're ready doctors there. I'm sure if a person has a family GP for many years, the GP would go there to certify the death. But I may be speculating. So let's find out," said Mr Khaw.

"Or, it could be because of money, the way subsidies are being given....Dr Seet Ai Mee just told me that for those who die in hospital, they receive subsidies. Once they go into home hospice, they don't receive subsidies. Likewise, insurance may insure, may cover if the person is dying in hospital but not at home. If that's the case, then we'll have to look at some of these distortions. I suspect there are many factors.....let's find out what are the obstacles and whether it makes sense to remove these obstacles," he said.

But for now, Mr Khaw wants to survey Singaporeans on their preferences so that his Ministry can accommodate the last wishes of the terminally-ill.

In fact, Singapore is thinking of setting up a register where people could record their preferences of where they want to die, as recommended in a London report.

Mr Khaw also said that to make hospice and home palliative care an important part of Singapore's healthcare delivery system, his Ministry will support and grow palliative medicine into an attractive and effective medical sub-specialty.

It will extend palliative care and its benefits beyond oncology to other terminal-stage chronic conditions such as heart failure and chronic obstructive lung disease.

The Ministry will also ramp up the manpower needed to support the growing demand. More nurses, counsellors, medical social workers and therapists will be trained.

Singapore will also do more to educate the public on hospice and end-of-life care. - CNA/ir

[ Last edited by  fatz at 7-9-2007 10:06 PM ]

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Health Sciences Authority approves new drug for advanced cancer
By Foo Siew Shyan, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 07 September 2007 2039 hrs
                  

SINGAPORE: The Health Sciences Authority has approved a new oral drug that slows down the growth of cancerous tumours, which can be used to treat a rare type of gastrointestinal tumour.

But the drug, Sutent, can potentially tackle difficult-to-treat advanced diseases such as breast cancer as well.

Doctors said the drug comes at the right time when other medicines have become increasingly resistant.

"Sutent works directly on the blood vessels to prevent it from growing. And by stopping the blood from going into cancer cells, it stops the feeding mechanism to the cancer cells. That's why it can stop growing," said Dr Tay Miah Hiang, consultant of the National Cancer Centre.

The drug has so far been effective in treating kidney cancer and gastrointestinal stromal tumour, a rare cancer of the stomach and intestine, by stabilising the patients' condition and delaying disease recurrence.

Potentially, it could also curb tumour growth in diseases such as breast cancer and lung cancer, though further clinical trials will be needed.

For many patients, like Joey Kong, the drug gives them hope when other treatment methods such as chemotherapy fail.

"It was almost to the verge where my wife and I just sat down and said 'Enough, it's been a long tiring fight, and doctors were not very positive.' This drug has been so promising that I'm not healed but I'm still alive. I'm around with the tumours in my liver. I'm walking around. I eat as well as anybody else. It's given me quality of life," said gastrointestinal stromal cancer patient Ms Kong.

However, the drug doesn't come cheap, with treatment costing about S$8,000 to S$10,000 a month. - CNA/ac

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More Singaporeans seeking ophthalmology, orthopaedic treatment
By Foo Siew Shyan, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 09 September 2007 1826 hrs
                 
SINGAPORE: More people are seeking treatment for their eye and bone problems at specialist outpatient clinics, and most are not seeing the doctors for the first time.

Data from the Health Ministry (MOH) shows that the number of repeated visits is growing as the population ages.

The Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) received about 250,000 patients in 2002, and four years later, that figure increased by about 40 per cent.

For those seeking orthopaedic surgeries, the figure went up by 20 per cent from 220,000 in 2002 to over 260,000 in 2006.

The elderly makes up the bulk of such patients.

Those above 65 years old constitute up to half of all patients at eye centres.

At SNEC alone, patients in this age group account for over half of the repeated visits and 36 per cent of new attendances.

It is the same trend at orthopaedic specialist outpatient clinics.

Those above 65 seek help thrice as often compared to younger people.

To meet the rising demand, MOH is ramping up its capacity by training more doctors to specialise in orthopaedics and ophthalmology.

Currently, 28 orthopaedic doctors are being trained to become surgeons and 56 others will soon join the pool of ophthalmologists.

But MOH says the trends underscore the need to better manage patients with chronic conditions.

One way to do this is to have family general practitioners take over the case, once diagnosed by a specialist.

Another way to keep the numbers in check is to encourage patients to go for physiotherapy, which will also shorten the waiting time at specialist clinics.


- CNA/so

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Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan launches 10th Breast Cancer Awareness Month
By Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 29 September 2007 1615 hrs
                                 

Khaw Boon Wan (file picture)
           
Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan launches 10th Breast Cancer Awareness Month

SINGAPORE: The Breast Cancer Foundation aims to raise $300,000 this year through its activities.

One of them is the Pink Ribbon Drive which was flagged off this morning by Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan during the launch of the 10th Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

More than 80 cars involved were decked in the Breast Cancer Awareness Month's colour theme.

The cars were led by the National Healthcare Group's Diagnostic's Mammobus, as they plied the road from Ulu Pandan Road to Orchard Road and back again to create breast cancer awareness among the public. -CNA/vm

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MOH unveils mental health roadmap
By Sheralyn Tay, TODAY | Posted: 02 October 2007 1325 hrs
  

SINGAPORE : In a fitting tribute on World Mental Health Day and Children's Day, the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Monday revealed details in their roadmap to build a mentally-resilient society, including a concerted community programme aimed at children.

Elaborating on her Ministry's recent injection of S$88m towards mental wellness, Permanent Secretary for Health, Ms Yong Ying-I, said that S$40m will go towards four community programmes - targeted at children, youth, adults and the elderly.

Under these programmes, community partners such as general practitioners (GPs), counsellors, schools, family service centres and voluntary work organizations will be trained to pick up mental disorders at the onset. Hotlines will also be set up. Overall, said Ms Yong, the goal is to better connect the existing community agencies for more effective outreach.

The programme for children is an S$8m initiative called the Response, Early Intervention and Assessment in Community Mental Health (Reach). It aims to train some 50 GPs and 350 counsellors over the next five years in the early detection of childhood conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), anxiety and depression.

Some 12.5 per cent of children from the ages of 6 to 12 here have some sort of emotional or behavioural problems, said Mr Leong Yew Meng, CEO of the Institute of Mental Health (IMH).

"Studies have also suggested that unresolved mental health problems can lead to greater downstream societal problems, such as crime, in adulthood," he said.

The IMH sees 2,000 new cases annually for childhood mental conditions and ADHD affects about a quarter of these cases, said Dr Daniel Fung, chief and senior consultant of child and adolescent psychiatry at the IMH.

While a 2004 mental health survey showed that mental illness rates here are similar to the rest of the world, Dr Fung said: "The strategy is to be pre-emptive and deal with problems before they arise."

With Reach, he said, community partners can be more empowered to be part of the solution and help draw the load away from outpatient services at hospitals.

For the elderly who cannot access hospital services, home-based clinical services, among other things, will be provided under another new initiative, the Community Psychogeriatric Programme (CPGP). Funded to the tune of S$7m, the programme aims to train 850 eldercare personnel over the next five years, starting next month.

Meanwhile, existing programmes including the Early Psychosis Intervention Programme (EPIP) for Youth and the Adult Community Mental Health Team (Adult CMHT) will also get a funding boost of S$10.5m and S$14.5m respectively.

Over 780 people will also be trained in early detection and intervention.

"We are looking at early detection and prevention because we believe, for a lot of people, early detection and treatment at the community level by GPs is all that is necessary," Ms Yong said. - TODAY/ym

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Cough and cold syrups recalled in the US not sold in S'pore
By Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 12 October 2007 2207 hrs
         

SINGAPORE : The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has said the voluntary recall of cough and cold syrups in the US will not affect Singapore as they are not sold here.

The affected medications were meant for infants and babies.

The US recall was prompted by concerns that if misused, there was the danger of overdosage, especially in children under two years old.

HSA said the risk of overdosage and misuse of such products in young children are known to healthcare professionals.

It said consumers should seek advice from doctors or pharmacists in the selection of appropriate use of cough and cold medications, especially when it is given to children.

Unless advised by a doctor or pharmacist, parents should avoid using more than one such product at any one time.

In August 2005, together with its Pharmacovigilance Advisory Committee, the HSA conducted a safety review of promethazine, an antihistamine commonly present in all cough and cold syrups.

Following the review, HSA advised healthcare professionals on the associated risk of respiratory depression, which results in slow and shallow breathing, and consequently an increased level of carbon dioxide in the blood.

It also gave advice on prescribing the products to children of different age groups, with special caution for those younger than six months.

HSA also worked with companies marketing these preparations to include warnings that infants younger than six months must not be given this class of medicine.

It is already reviewing the labelling of other cough and cold products for use by children and will follow closely the outcome of deliberations by the US FDA and its expert panel. - CNA/ms

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Doctors see increasing demand for cosmetic procedures
By Margaret Perry, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 14 October 2007 2042 hrs
         


SINGAPORE: Doctors in Singapore are seeing a rise in patients seeking both non-invasive cosmetic procedures as well as major cosmetic surgeries.

Spider veins are caused by hormonal changes such as pregnancy, and people who are on their feet all day or have a family history are prone to the problem.

The condition does not usually cause pain or health problems, but laser treatment is available for those who want to maintain their youthful legs.

Dr Sanjay Nalachandran, Consultant, General and Vascular Surgery at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, said: "Laser heats up the blood within the blood vessels and this causes a certain amount of damage to the vessels and over a period of time, these vessels disappear as they are reabsorbed by the body."

Serene Teo has had three sessions to erase the miniature veins.

She said: "You don't feel a thing at all. Just take a little rubber band and snap it on your skin and that's what it feels like

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Local research shows shopping can stave off dementia
By Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 15 October 2007 2118 hrs
         
           

SINGAPORE: A study conducted by the National University of Singapore (NUS) has found that shopping can stave off dementia for those aged 55 years and above.

In fact, shopping is even better than other activities such as sports or mahjong.

This first Asian study that looks at what affects memory, concentration and ability to spread information found that if the elderly engage in productive activities such as shopping, preparing meals, reading and listening to music, they can reduce the risk of getting dementia by as much as 60 percent.

That risk is reduced by half to 30 percent if they socialise by joining activities organised by a senior citizens club, or by playing mahjong.

For those who take up physical activities such as swimming or jogging, the risk comes down by 20 percent.

Researchers said productive activities allow the brain to be more stimulated.

Associate Professor Tze-Pin Ng, Gerontological Research Programme, Department of Psychological Medicine at NUS, said: "So the message is, as you grow older and you retire, stay engaged in active living and that includes work."

Professor Kua Ee Heok, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, Department of Psychological Medicine at NUS, said: "This is important because we realise there are many things we can do besides giving medication to help people improve their quality of life and their brain function."

For shedding light on this area, the NUS team won a prestigious international award called the International Psychogeriatric Association Awards.

One of only three winners, they were up against other research groups including those from Harvard University. The other two winning groups are from Pittsburg, USA and Karolinska Institute in Sweden.

To come up with their report, the researchers studied 1,635 elderly persons, up to the age of 92, over a period of two years.

The researchers said they hope to continue studying this group of people and their cognitive state for up to 10 years.

They are also planning another longitudinal study of Singapore's octogenarians, who remain mentally resilient in old age.

The findings are set to take on greater significance as Singapore's population ages.

The number of dementia patients in Singapore is expected to rise from 22,000 in 2006 to 186,000 by 2050.


- CNA/so

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More S'poreans suffering from Age-related Macular Degeneration
By Jessica Yeo, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 21 October 2007 0218 hrs

SINGAPORE : More Singaporeans are suffering from Age-related Macular Degeneration, which affects the vision, and many don't even know about it.

80-year-old Madam Goh Chiow Heng experiences blurred vision, blank spots and distorted images.

These are symptoms of Age-related Macular Degeneration, a chronic disease which affects the tissue near the eye responsible for central vision.

This can result in the loss of sight in that area, but the side vision usually remains intact.

"I can't see clearly; I can walk on my own but I have to be careful," said Madam Goh.

This disease usually affects people aged 55 and older and comes in two forms - the "dry" and a more severe "wet" type.

It tends to affect women more than men, and smokers are three to four times more likely to get the disease.

Age-elated Macular Degeneration is one of the major causes of visual loss in Singapore, but very few are aware of it.

A study by doctors at Alexandra Hospital shows only 7.3% of some 520 households surveyed know about of this disease.

In fact, they found that there were 154 unknown cases for every known case.

Like most patients, Madam Goh came to know of her condition late and by chance.

"She came for the screening in our department and was found to have wet Age-related Macular Degeneration. We have treated her since," said Dr Ajeet Wagle, Registrar, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Alexandra Hospital.

The disease can result in blindness and may also lead to depression.

Doctors are advising the public to test their eyesight and go for regular eye screenings. - CNA /ls

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Overall dengue situation has improved but weekly cases still high
By Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 23 October 2007 1729 hrs
           

SINGAPORE : The overall dengue situation in Singapore has improved in recent weeks, but Parliamentary Secretary for Environment Amy Khor said the current number of weekly cases at just below 200 is still high.

Dr Khor said the cluster of dengue fever outbreak in Bukit Batok, which was for a while the worst affected area, would not have been so prolonged from July to September, if residents had been more vigilant.

She was responding to a question by MP Dr Lim Wee Kiak in Parliament on the dengue situation in Bukit Batok.

She cautioned that dengue is endemic in Singapore, and an outbreak can happen whether or not it is the peak season.

Dr Khor listed some of the "valuable" lessons from the Bukit Batok episode, and she urged residents and all stakeholders to "deny mosquitoes of the opportunity to breed".

She said: "It is critical that Town Councils take every measure to ensure proper maintenance and effective checks of common areas and structures under their charge to prevent creating conditions favourable for mosquito breeding. This is especially important for estates with ongoing dengue transmission.

"For example, at Bukit Batok, water ponding was found in pump rooms due to leaky water pipes and poor gradient of the floor. Breeding was also detected in water tanks as a result of damaged mosquito netting. Such lapses can be prevented by putting in place a robust maintenance and inspection regime.

"Residents and HDB shop owners can play a part by refraining from cluttering common corridors with potted plants and bulky items, placing items over scupper drains or concrete drain slabs outside their premises.

"Bad housekeeping not only gives rise to potential breeding habitats, but also hampers inspection by the NEA (National Environment Agency) or the Town Council." - CNA/ms

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PM Lee suggests hospitals implement means testing to help the poor
By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 29 October 2007 1926 hrs
         
  

SINGAPORE : Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has suggested that hospitals implement means testing to help the lower income.

This is to determine how much patients should be subsidised, based on their means.

Mr Lee said this is a sensitive issue and the Health Ministry (MOH) will be consulting unions on this.

He was addressing over 1,000 unionists at the NTUC Delegates conference on Monday.

Good and affordable healthcare has been one important issue facing Singaporeans.

While many initiatives are being rolled out to address this, PM Lee told unionists that subsidies will still be needed to help the lower income.

To ensure that subsidies are given only to those who need them most, hospitals may need to implement means testing.

"It's not easy to do; it's a very sensitive (issue) and the Ministry of Health is studying this carefully. The idea is there but how do we implement it fairly and simply without making hospital care unaffordable for the middle income group. Once MOH has some firmer ideas, (Health Minister) Khaw Boon Wan and his team will consult the unions on what to do and how to go about doing this," said PM Lee.

Mr Lee assured the labour movement that the government will always keep in close touch with the unions on all major issues.

Going forward, he said the government must now make sure that workers benefit from the growth and vitality of the economy. But the government cannot assume this would come about automatically. And in some cases, some special attention or action would be required.

Special attention to the economy has helped it grow 7.6 percent in the first half of the year, according to Mr Lee.

For the whole year, growth could possibly hit the top end of the government's forecast of 7-8 percent. But the current turbulence in global financial markets remains a risk factor.

Turning to the booming property market in Singapore, both in the prime office space and residential segments, Mr Lee noted that the Urban Redevelopment Authority has withdrawn the Deferred Payment Scheme for property purchases last Friday.

"This step will help to dampen excessive speculation and to inject some reality into the market. But more fundamental than the ups and downs of the property cycle, the government is committed to keeping housing affordable for Singaporeans," said the Prime Minister.

Mr Lee assured that the government will continue to monitor trends closely and take further action if necessary. The aim is to make sure that the property market stays in balance over the long term.

Mr Lee also stressed that Singapore is successful only after difficult adjustments over the years.

He said: "Because we have taken these steps, each one difficult but each one necessary, we have moved forward together. We have stayed competitive, stayed ahead of other countries, our neighbours and we have prospered.

"Why have we been able to make these changes? It's not that other countries don't know they are necessary, but we have moved one step faster than others. And one major reason we have been able to do this is because of the strong support of the labour movement."

With the government, workers and employers working together as a winning formula, Mr Lee stressed that Singapore must keep on adjusting and adapting in order to stay ahead. - CNA /ls

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Singapura : 9 November 2007         
         
HARAPAN BARU BAGI PESAKIT BARAH KOLON

Oleh
Farid Hamzah

PARA pesakit barah kolon boleh menjangkakan satu terapi baru yang sejauh ini telah menunjukkan kesan yang memberangsangkan semasa satu kajian klinikal dijalankan tahun lalu.

Dijalankan sekumpulan pakar barah dan saintis penyelidik di Pusat Barah Nasional Singapura (NCCS) dengan kerjsama sebuah syarikat bioteknologi dari Denmark, dapatan penyelidikan itu menunjukkan kebanyakan pesakit boleh menjangkakan tempoh hidup yang lebih lama.

Kajian yang dijalankan selama setahun sejak Februari tahun lalu itu menunjukkan sekitar 35 peratus atau tujuh daripada 20 pesakit barah kolon tersebut menunjukkan kadar respons yang baik dengan tahap barah mereka mengecut atau penyakit itu menjadi lebih stabil.

Kajian itu juga menunjukkan sel ketahanan pesakit boleh menjadi lebih responsif terhadap sasaran vaksin ke atas sel barah.

Mendedahkan dapatan itu semalam, Konsultan Kanan dan Timbalan Ketua Jabatan Onkologi Perubatan di NCCS, Dr Toh Han Choung, berkata pihaknya kini sedang berusaha membawa kajian itu ke fasa kedua - tahap ia akan terus diuji di luar negara.

'Rawatan ini merupakan satu harapan tambahan bagi penyakit yang tiada penawarnya, iaitu barah kolon di peringkat keempat.

'Tujuan rawatan vaksin barah itu ialah 'menghidupkan' sistem perlindungan ketahanan pesakit itu sendiri bagi melawan barah.

'Dalam erti kata lain memberi stimulasi kepada sel putihnya sendiri mengenali dan melawan protein yang disasarkan dalam sel barah.

'Tiada seorang pesakit pun mengalami sebarang kesan sampingan selepas menjalani kajian tersebut,' katanya lagi.

Salah seorang pesakit yang diuji itu, Cik Phua Ah Moey, 64 tahun, berkata sebelum diberi 10 suntikan vaksin yang diuji itu, beliau sering berasa lemah dan menggigil kerana sejuk.

Barah kolonnya mengecut selepas beliau menerima suntikan tersebut.

'Bagaimanapun, selepas itu tubuh saya lebih sihat dan tiada kesan sampingan yang saya rasakan,' kata beliau, yang dikesan menghidap barah 10 tahun lalu.

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All cancer patients to be listed on National Registry of Diseases
By Margaret Perry, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 12 November 2007 2103 hrs
         


SINGAPORE: Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan has announced that all cancer patients will soon be listed on a National Registry of Diseases.

This is to improve disease monitoring and to guide doctors on which information is confidential and which can be made public.

All this comes under the National Registry of Diseases Bill, which was passed in Parliament on Monday.

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Singapore.

The trends have been recorded in the current cancer registry for the past 40 years.

But Mr Khaw said more accurate information is needed to monitor the disease so that appropriate health policies can be developed.

He said: "Our current disease registries suffer a major limitation as it is based on voluntary reporting. While public hospitals have been forthcoming in reporting, many private hospitals have largely not taken part. As a result, our registries are incomplete."

Researchers and policy-makers will have access to the data, but Mr Khaw stressed that it will not be made available to insurance companies and employers.

The new legislation will also provide clear guidelines on patient confidentiality. This was the main issue raised during the debate in Parliament.

One key concern is the release of information that identifies patients for national health programmes.

Halimah Yacob, MP of Jurong GRC, said: "Surely if under Section 11, it is necessary to get the consent of the patient before his records are revealed to his own doctor for treatment, then I don't see why his consent is not required under Section 10 for national health programmes."

Mr Khaw said: "Let me assure the House that the data the registry collects will be treated with the strictest of confidence. Firstly, any unauthorised use of identifiable data will be a criminal offence. Secondly, we will only collect data which is absolutely essential for healthcare policy making."

Patients with heart disease, stroke and kidney failure are currently listed on voluntary registries.

Mr Khaw said these illnesses may also come under the new laws, which would make it mandatory for healthcare professionals to report the diseases.


- CNA/so

fatz

Singapore News         
        
Not practical to load congenital illnesses on Medishield for kids:MOH
By Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 12 November 2007 1830 hrs
         
                                

SINGAPORE: Loading congenital illnesses onto the Medishield coverage for children could increase the premiums by sevenfold.

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan explained that the premiums could jump from the current amount of about S$30 to S$200 a year, and it was not practical.

He said there were other safety nets, such as MediFund and targeted charities, to help parents of children with congenital or pre-existing illnesses.

Mr Khaw: "Not all babies born with special needs are not insurable... Let's say an autistic child - why shouldn't an autistic child be insurable by MediShield?

"I asked CPF yesterday and they confirmed that that's our policy... Insurers will not cover treatment related to a congenital condition. But if you buy the insurance, it can cover treatment for other illnesses that may crop up - cough and cold...

"So my advice remains - please immediately go out to insure your child. Insure your child! Insure your child now! Don't wait for him to actually fall sick. Then you may find... insurers not willing to take your case." - CNA/ac

fatz

Nov 16, 2007         

800 patients caught superbug in hospitals last year

But this is better than in the US says Ministry of Health
ABOUT 800 patients caught a drug-resistant superbug in public hospitals last year, resulting in longer hospitalisations.

The bacteria, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA, is found in all hospitals here as it is in most countries, including the United States and Britain.

The Ministry of Health, which issued a paper on this on Friday, said the rate of hospital infection in Singapore, at 2.5 cases per 1,000 patients, compares well against the US, where nearly four per 1,000 patients in 1999-2000 caught the bug in hospital.

Many healthy people carry MRSA on their skin or in their noses. It becomes a problem only if it enters the body through a wound in the skin. Aside from causing skin infections, it can attack bones, joints, the blood and vital organs like the lungs.

It is easily spread through dirty hands, as well as dirty bedding, towels and equipment.

The ministry said the rate of hospital infection here has improved in recent years. It stood at 3 per 1,000 patients in 2002.

The improvement is due to more stringent care at public hospitals, for example, enforcing measures to keep hands clean.

But the better figures are no consolation for patients who do get infected as the bacteria is resistant to most medicines, and difficult to treat.

A recent paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that close to 19,000 patients in the US died of MRSA in 2005 - more than the number who died from Aids.

Britain reported more than 1,600 MRSA deaths in the same year.

There are no figures for Singapore, and the ministry said it does not track deaths from MRSA.

The spokesman was also unable to say how much longer infected patients would have to stay in hospital, but she admitted that their 'recovery could be affected.'

It is also not known whether patients from all ward classes are equally at risk.

But the ministry said that the elderly with chronic problems, patients in intensive care or burns units, diabetics, patients with respiratory infection or who are in hospital for long periods are more at risk.

The MOH study found that patients at Singapore General Hospital were most at risk, with four out of 1,000 in-patients picking up the bug while there.

Following closely are Tan Tock Seng Hospital (3.7 patients per 1,000) and the National University Hospital (3.2 per 1,000).

At the other end are KK Women and Children's Hospital, with only 0.3 cases per 1,000 patients and Changi General Hospital with 0.7. Alexandra Hospital had 1.6 cases per 1,000 patients.

The paper concluded that while infection rates here 'have remained relatively stable', there is always room for improvement.

fatz

Singapura : 17 November 2007         
         
MOH KINI FAHAM AKAN KEPRIHATINAN MUSLIM

PROSES rundingan awam untuk mendapatkan maklum balas mengenai usul menyertakan warga Muslim dalam Akta Pemindahan Organ Manusia (Hota) bukan hanya memanfaatkan masyarakat Muslim, tetapi juga meningkatkan kefahaman pihak Kementerian Kesihatan (MOH) mengenai keprihatinan masyarakat.

Demikian dinyatakan seorang jurucakap MOH dalam satu jawapan e-mel kepada Berita Harian mengenai proses rundingan awam yang berlangsung antara Ogos dengan September lalu.

'Rundingan awam itu membolehkan kami memahami beberapa keprihatian masyarakat Muslim mengenai pemindahan organ dan Hota.

'Ini termasuk pandangan Islam mengenai pemindahan organ, perlunya diadakan pendidikan awam yang berterusan mengenai Hota dan ciri-ciri teknikal melibatkan pengesahan mati otak dan pemindahan organ,' ujarnya.

Menurut jurucakap itu lagi, MOH telah menerima banyak maklum balas, termasuk melalui sesi-sesi dialog, secara online, menerusi telefon dan juga surat.

'Kami terangsang dengan maklum balas positif yang kami terima untuk penyertaan Muslim dalam Hota kerana ia amat berguna dan bernilai,' katanya.

fatz

Ekstra! : 21 November 2007         
         
RINGKAS

PENGGUNAAN VAKSIN BARAH SERVIKS DILUAS

VAKSIN untuk mencegah wanita daripada terkena barah pangkal rahim, Gardasil, sebelum ini didapati berkesan bagi mereka yang berusia antara sembilan tahun dengan 26 tahun.

Tetapi kini, vaksin itu didapati sesuai dan turut berkesan untuk wanita yang lebih dewasa berusia sehingga 45 tahun.

Ini bererti wanita lebih lanjut usia boleh terlindung daripada terkena barah pangkal rahim jika mereka diberikan suntikan vaksin itu.

Barah pangkal rahim atau cervical cancer berpunca daripada virus Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

Data mengenai dapatan baru mengenai keberkesanan vaksin itu untuk wanita berusia sehingga 45 tahun dibentangkan dalam Persidangan Papillomavirus Antarabangsa di Beijing baru-baru ini.

Menurut syarikat ubat-ubatan MSD yang menghasilkan vaksin itu, data mengenai dapatan tersebut akan diserahkan kepada Pentadbiran Makanan dan Ubat-Ubatan (FDA) Amerika Syarikat sebelum akhir tahun ini untuk pengetahuannya.

Dapatan itu diperolehi daripada kajian melibatkan 3,800 wanita.

Ia bagi menguji sama ada Gardasil boleh mencegah virus HPV jenis 6, 11, 16 dan 18 daripada mengakibatkan barah pangkal rahim.

Terdapat lebih 100 jenis virus HPV yang kebanyakannya tidak memberikan gejala penyakit dan akan hilang dengan sendirinya.

Di Singapura, barah pangkal rahim adalah barah kedua paling lazim dihidapi wanita di bahagian tempat peranakan mereka.