Southern Healthcare - 7 June 2016

8/15/2019 Southern Healthcare - 7 June 2016

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THE STAR, TUESDAY 7 JUNE 2016

special

SOUTHERN HEALTHCARE

Expertise at your doorstep


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southern healthcareTHE STAR, TUESDAY 7 JUNE 2016

High demand forquality services

THERESA BELLE

E ease of accessibility to theh of Malaysia is largelygnised as one of the mainons for the rapid development

he area in the past decade.ince 2006, the area consisting ofor, Negri Sembilan, Malaccathe southern tip of Pahang has

wn not only in terms ofulation, but infrastructure andices to support this boom.

Many believe this to be the resulthe catalytic Iskandar Malaysia) development. The greatulation growth in thisnomic region has creatednges in terms of income and

mographic shifts, which drivedemand for quality healthcareices.or example, Malaysia isected to reach ageing nationus by 2035 with 15% of itsple aged 60 or older, and thisng population would neede nursing and supportiveices.

The widespread occurrence of-communicable diseasespite increased health awarenessng the middle-income segmenttes a pressing need for

cient, effective, affordable andcialised services that can keepwith fast-paced moderntyles.

According to Columbia Asiapital Iskandar Puteri’s general

nager Rahani Yaacob, thepital is designed to addresse changing healthcare needs ofdents and businesses in theon.With such significant growthstrong demand for healthcareices, there are a lot moreortunities for the healthcareustry in Malaysia.New and existing healthcareice providers will want toure a share of this significanthigh-growth market, resulting

more extensive options for localforeign patients, which willboost health tourism in the

ntry,” she says.As more and more players entermarket and the healthcareronment becomes more

mpetitive, we can expect to see

thcare providers striving tovide high-quality healthcareices to keep ahead of the

mpetition.”

althcare boostsonomyAs one of the top promotedors in IM, the healthcare

ustry has raked in RM2.77bil inl investments from 2006 untilch this year.n view of total investmentsss various sectors, the Iskandarional Development Authorityannounced that the region ison track to achieve its

383bil investment target by

5.The Johor state governmentms dedicated to this cause. Back014, Mentri Besar Datukhamed Khaled Nordin saidor Corporation and itssidiary KPJ Healthcare Berhad,ch are directly linked to thee government, should develop aterplan for turning Johor into athcare hub in Asia.

At the time, he also pointed out

that customers of the hospitals arenot only Johorians but Malaysiansfrom other states and visitors ormedical tourists from overseas.

In a mutually beneficial movefor Malaysian hospitals andSingaporean patients, Singaporeanhealth insurance providerMedisave recently widened itsgeographic coverage to enablepolicyholders to be treated in a listof Malaysian hospitals, includingRegency Specialist Hospital andGleneagles Medini Hospital.

This should increase trafficacross the border for healthcareservices, especially since thecurrent exchange rate is ratherfavourable to Singaporeans.

Revenue from medical tourismcan be pumped back intosustaining and upgrading facilitiesto local private healthcare users’benefit, as pointed out in the 2014paper Medical tourism in Malaysia:

How can we better identify andmanage its advantages anddisadvantages? published in theGlobal Health Action journal.

Besides providing locals with asolid alternative to crowded publichospitals, this also generatesdemand for goods and services inallied sectors such as clinicalresearch and development,pharmaceuticals, and medicalequipment.

Sectors outside the healthcarerealm also stand to benefit fromincreased medical tourism,including transport, retail,commercial care and hospitality.

Although there is a lack of datato clearly gauge the extent of this

multiplier effect, it is widelyaccepted that the growth of thesouthern healthcare sector canpositively impact economicdevelopment of the country.

Brimming with potentialWith the Malaysian Government

including health and wellness as aNational Key Economic Area(NKEA), healthcare is no longer

limited to traditional healthcareservice providers.

The scope of wellness serviceshas widened as evidenced by thedevelopment of urban wellnesscentres such as Medini IntegratedWellness Capital in Iskandar Puteri(formerly known as Nusajaya).

Together with residential andcommercial fixtures, there is a12.5-acre (5.1ha) wellnesssanctuary bordered by a mangroveforest as well as a complementing4.6-acre (1.9ha) urban wellnesscentre between the Mall of Mediniand Gleneagles Medini Hospital.

The former is designed tomaximise positive energy and

promote the well-being of mind,body and spirit while the lattercomprises wellness-related retailestablishments, an urban wellnessspa, and facilities for corporatetraining retreats.

Projects in the pipeline will serveto enhance the potential of southMalaysia to become the nexthealthcare destination.

One of these projects is theThomson Iskandar medical hub,

which will consist of a tertiarycare hospital and outpatientcentre with 400 clinics when itopens in 2018.

Johor could be for the southwhat Penang has become in the

north – a versatile medical hubthat serves locals and tourists alike

– and it is living up to thatpotential a little more with everyencouraging step by policymakersand healthcare providers.

New and existinghealthcare serviceproviders will wantto capture a shareof this signi cantand high-growthmarket, resultingin more extensiveoptions for local andforeign patients,which will also boosthealth tourism in thecountry.Rahani Yaacob

Malaysiansliving in thesouthernregion standto benefitfrom plans toturn Johor intoa healthcarehub in Asia.

Destination of choiceTHE Iskandar RegionalDevelopment Authority (IRDA)has set its sights on transformingIskandar Malaysia (IM) intoa dynamic, integrated andworld-class healthcare regionthat will be developed into ahealth tourism city.

With IM being primed tobecome a regional healthcarehub, investors can leverage onits development plans asoutlined in the 2011 IRDA guide

Invest healthcare Iskandar Malaysia: Asia’s healthcaredestination of choice.

IM’s vision to become Asia’s healthcare destination of choice

Malaysia’s vision: Seamless and integrated healthcare system

Healthcare priority sub-sectors

Dynamic, integratedworld-class healthcare

system

Foster strategicalliances

Promotehealth tourism

Transform delivery ofhealthcare system

Grow pharmaceuticaldrug industry

Encourage internationalaccreditation

Invest in state-of-the-artmedical technology

• Traditional complementary medicine• Wellness services• Medical equipment manufacturing

IM’s positioningstrategies

Healthtourism city

Strategies

Government high-levelsupport for researchand development/

centres of excellence

Upgrade existinginfrastructure

(physical and ICT)

Enhance health travelcustomer experience,

proactive alliance

Enhance regulationsand policies

Better targeted marketingbranding and multi-agency

Enablers

• Specialist medical services• Diagnostic medical services• Research and development/

centres of excellence forhealthcare

Enhance talent pooland human capital

training and development


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With recent medicaladvancements,patients can nowopt for a gentle lasertreatment knownas the new LaserHaemorrhoidoplastyProcedure to treathaemorrhoids. Asmall punctureis made and the

haemorrhoids areshrunk from theinside.

Dealing with haemorrhoidsHAEMORRHOIDS are a relativelycommon disease among men andwomen. Approximately half totwo-thirds of the populationbetween 45 and 65 years oldmay experience some form ofhaemorrhoid problems at somepoint in their lives.

Haemorrhoids are classified intotwo general categories: internaland external.

Internal haemorrhoids lie insidethe rectum and you cannot see orfeel them.

They do not usually hurt becausethere are few pain-sensing nervesin the rectum. Bleeding may be theonly sign that they are there.

Sometimes, internalhaemorrhoids prolapse orenlarge and protrude outside theanal sphincter. If so, you may beable to see or feel them as moist,pink pads of skin that are pinkerthan the surrounding area.

Prolapsed haemorrhoids mayhurt because they become irritatedby rubbing from clothing andsitting. They usually recede into therectum on their own; if they do not,they can be gently pushed backinto place.

External haemorrhoids liewithin the anus and are oftenuncomfortable. If an external

haemorrhoid prolapses to theoutside (usually in the course ofpassing a stool), you can see andfeel it.

Blood clots sometimes formwithin prolapsed externalhaemorrhoids, causing anextremely painful conditioncalled thrombosis.

If an external haemorrhoidbecomes thrombosed, it can look

rather frightening, turning purpleor blue, and could possibly bleed.

Despite their appearance,thrombosed haemorrhoids areusually not serious and will resolvethemselves in about a week. If thepain is unbearable, the thrombosedhaemorrhoid can be removed withsurgery.

Anal bleeding and pain of anysort is alarming and should beevaluated; it can indicate alife-threatening conditionsuch as colorectal cancer.

Haemorrhoids are the maincause of anal bleeding and arerarely dangerous, but a definitediagnosis from your doctor isessential.

As increased abdominal pressurecan cause your haemorrhoids tobecome chronically inflamed.The risk factors for piles includepregnancy, chronic constipation,lifting heavy weights, strainingwhen passing stool, obesity andageing.

Haemorrhoids areuncomfortable as they can be itchy,painful and cause a burningsensation. In most cases, patientsprefer self-treatment with creams,which do not resolve the problembut merely treat the symptoms thatwill return after a short time.

Treatment optionsThe treatment for your piles

depends on the stage andseverity of the disease. Minorhaemorrhoids (first stage), may betreated with laxatives, painmedication and anti-itch creams.

You are also advised to not strainwhile on the toilet and to usesimple pads to help with irritation.

Micronised flavonoid tabletsmay also be given for earlyhaemorrhoids as they can alleviate

symptoms and bleeding.However, if your piles have

reached advanced stages (third orfourth stage), your doctor mayrecommend various methods toremove or reduce the piles.

Banding involves placing anelastic band around the base,cutting off blood flow to the pile.After a few days, it will simply falloff. A special solution can beinjected into the pile to cause it toshrink, known as sclerotherapy.

Another option is to undergosurgery to remove the piles mass(haemorrhoidectomy) or stapleshut the blood flow to the piles.

With recent medicaladvancements, patients can nowopt for a gentle laser treatmentknown as the new LHP (LaserHaemorrhoidoplasty Procedure).

In LHP, a small puncture (lessthan 2mm) is made with a thinlaser fibre. Then, the haemorrhoidsare shrunk from the inside in acontrolled manner by means oflaser energy without injuring thesphincter muscle. – By DrZulkarnain Hasan, consultantgeneral surgeon at ColumbiaAsia-Iskandar Puteri.

n For more information,call 07-233 9999.


southern healthcare 3

Dr Zulkarnain Hasan.


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ACCORDING to the National StrokeAssociation of Malaysia (Nasam), stroke isthe third most common cause of death inMalaysia. Fortunately, 80% of stroke diseasesare preventable.

The key is to control the risk factors thatlead to stroke – blood pressure, cholesterol,diabetesand smoking habits, among others.

Stroke can be categorised into two groups – haemorrhagic and ischaemic stroke.Haemorrhagic stroke is caused by burstblood vessels in the brain while ischaemicstroke is due to blockage of brain bloodvessels, which disrupts blood circulation.

When blood supply in our body isdisrupted, brain cells will die due to alack of oxygen and nutrients. Hence, earlyprotection of brain cells is essential.

According to a 2011 study led by DrCameron Rink of Ohio State UniversityMedical Center, brain damage during astroke can be prevented by triggering thesurrounding blood vessels to dilate andredirect the blood flow around a blockage.

The redirection is the result of 10 weeks’worth of supplementation with a type ofvitamin E called palm tocotrienols.

Palm tocotrienols were collaborativelystudied in 2012 by Ohio State University andthe Malaysian Palm Oil Board for its mainfunction in protecting brain cells.

The 2011 study discovered that palmtocotrienol could stimulate arteriogenesis(remodelling of existing blood vessels) thatcan immediately expand in response to ademand for oxygen-rich blood. Thiscollateral blood supply could provide amajor difference in stroke outcomes.

“Tocotrienol improves the function ofcollaterals, better protecting someone froman initial or secondary stroke,” says Dr Rink.

Unfortunately, palm tocotrienols areknown to be poorly absorbed into thehuman body. Hence, Hovid Berhad, amanufacturer in palm tocotrienols,successfully developed a self-emulsifyingdelivery system called Suprabio, whichincreases absorption of tocotrienols by 300%.

The Suprabio system has been provento effectively reach human brain cellsin a clinical study in 2017 published inVitamins & Hormones .

You can get a Nasam booklet on strokeinformation by emailing to www.hovid.com/ brainhealth by August 2016.

Consult your doctor before embarking onstroke treatment.

This article is brought to you byHovid Berhad.

n For more information, call 03-7831 2738.

Beautifulsound

HAT is the most beautiful sound to you?r child’s laughter? Or the voice of a loved? We as humans need to hear the fullctrum of sound to fully enjoy it.fortunately, hearing loss can disrupt thisoyment.ensen Hearing brings full hearing back

ough its complete range of audiologyvices.

Hearing test – Jensen Hearing providesiological tests for all ages. Its diagnosticipment provides accurate diagnosis,ports ear, nose and throat surgeonsore and after ear surgeries with reports,well as aids in medico-legal investigations.

Hearing aid selection – Properluation and consultation is provided to

d your hearing needs and recommend thet solutions from the variety of hearings and technologies that suit differentstyles and needs.

Hearing aid fitting – A good hearingrequires a fitting plan to ensure usershear well. The brain also needs time to

ust to the new input. At Jensen Hearing,real ear measurement (REM) systemsure that the hearing aids that are fittede clients the best possible sounds.

Hearing rehabilitation – Auralabilitation is offered to clients with

specific hearing needs. These are hearingexercises that help the brain get the bestaccess to speech and language, which allowsusers to hear comfortably.

l Audiology consultation – Consultationservices are offered for hearing difficultiessuch as tinnitus (ringing sounds in the ear).

Jensen Hearing provides audiologyservices to improve the lives of its clientswho seek better hearing and who want tohear the sweet sounds of life again.

n For more information, call 06-288 1407or e-mail [email protected] orvisit www.jensenhearing.com.

Francis Tan, triple gold winner at the 2014Malaysia Deaf Games (Sopma), is a satisfied Jensen Hearing customer.

Protect

yourbrainWhen supplemented with palmtocotrienols, arteriogenesis is enhancedand neighbouring blood vessels dilated tosupply blood for the affected area.

In the eventof ischaemicstroke.


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Preparing for hospital staysBy DELIA AHMAD

A GOOD doctor-patient relationshipinvolves in-depth discussion aboutthe patient’s condition, treatmentoptions and disease management.But most of the time, people donot talk about what it is really liketo be a patient or be admitted tohospital.

Though you may anticipate astay in hospital, preparing for itand choosing a hospital where youcan feel comfortable are importantfactors that contribute to recovery.

Your hospital experience willdepend on the questions you askyour doctor and hospital staff andthe discussions you have with yourfamily members or friends whoare supporting you.

Many people think thathealthcare is provided in a linearfashion and there is only one waythat everything is done, but just asthere are always options to take tomake your treatment more suitedto you, there are different things toknow and do to make a hospitalstay more comfortable.

In Malaysia, reticence makesmost people reluctant to ask theirdoctors questions or share all theirconcerns.

However, you should take an

active part in your healthcare. Donot be afraid to find out everythingyou can about your treatment andhospital stay.

Here are some things that willhelp you feel calm, comfortableand in control when you are inhospital.

Find out what it is reallylike

Before you get admitted, try toget an idea what it will be like tobe an inpatient at the hospital youhave chosen.

Talk to your doctor at thehospital about what the care and

facilities are like and be frankabout your expectations. Thedoctor will be able to tell you whatyou should and should not expectto get out of your stay.

More importantly, this chat withyour doctor will remove yourfeelings of uncertainty and allayany fears of the unknown.

If your doctor does not volunteerinformation, do not be afraid toask. You are the best advocate foryour health and you should feelcomfortable talking abouteverything – from who you will bedealing with during your stay towhat to do when you get home.

You should ensure that you get a

complete understanding of thewhole experience.

Plan before you arriveEven if you do not have a

scheduled hospital stay – such as asurgery – you should still preparefor a hospital stay, just in case anemergency occurs.

Arrange with your primary carephysician to have your medicalrecords up-to-date and readilyaccessible.

It may be difficult for you toremember everything about yourcondition or disease when you arereally sick, so your medical recordsare an important go-to for thedoctors treating you at that pointin time.

Have your identification cardand insurance card ready to takewith you. Also have ready anyrelevant insurance informationand another form of payment incase there are things that are notcovered by insurance.

Make sure that someone reliable – the family member or friend whowill support you during yourhospital stay – knows where andhow to access these.

If you have a surgery scheduled,talk to your doctor about what you

should do to prepare beforesurgery.

Know the layout ofthe hospital

Hospitals can be confusing, withnumerous wards, centres andclinics that are seeminglyrandomly spread over severalbuildings and floors. Even findingthe most convenient place to parkcan be a challenge.

It is a good idea for you and thepeople who will be accompanyingyou to or visiting you at hospital tolearn the layout of the hospital.

If you are scheduling a check-upor surgery, ask where the nearestparking is. If you are a regularvisitor to the hospital to see yourdoctor or go for check-ups, try tolearn the fastest routes to and fromthe various places you need to go.

Most hospitals have signs, mapsand route markers to help peoplefind their way around

For example, floors or specialistcentres may be marked withdifferent colours on the walls orthere may be specific colouredlines that lead you to the variousdepartments.

> SEE PAGE 8

When preparing for a hospital stay or treatment, do not hesitate to ask yourdoctor questions.


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Ensuring bone health

TEOPOROSIS is a silent diseasehout any symptoms untiltures occur. According to

Mohd Zaidi Yaakub,sultant orthopaedic surgeonantai Hospital Ayer Keroh,men and the elderly are then groups affected by thisdition.

Dr Zaidi explains thatoporosis can be caused by

eral factors. The risk to womeneases after menopause as they stops producing a protectivemone and bones become morele faster.n the case of the elderly, thedition can occur because ofr oral intake of calcium, ortiple secondary medicalblems or psychosocialblems.To a lesser extent, some peopleelop osteoporosis as a

complication ofother medicalproblems.

“The mostcommoncomplaints I see

in my practice arelower back pain

and fracturesthat aresecondaryto trivial

injuries,” reveals Dr Zaidi,explaining that treatments forthese complaints differ for eachpatient but are all initiated bytaking a thorough medical historyand ruling out other medicalproblems that may be contributingto the symptoms.

“After that, the patient is usuallyprescribed a painkiller and thefracture (if there is one) is fixed.Only after that does treatment ofosteoporosis begin, by hormonaltherapy, vitamin D or appropriatedrugs such as biphosphonate,calcitonin or strontium ranelate,”he says.

There are various risk factors fororthopaedic injuries or conditions.One of the major risk factors ispathological fractures that mayoccur in the event of a trivialinjury. This is basically when afracture occurs because the bone isweakened by osteoperosis.

Dr Zaidi explains that the mostcommon of this type of injury aredistal radius fractures (near thewrist joint), hip fractures andfractures at the lumbar vertebrae(spinal region).

“Furthermore, osteoporosiscan speed up the occurrence ofosteoarthritis, especially iffractures occur in the joint,”

he adds.Many people believe that

orthopaedic complications onlyaffect older people but youngpeople are also susceptible,especially if they have othermedical conditions such asconnective tissue disease (whichmay require long-term steroidtherapy) or a poor diet that lacksnutrition and calcium such as onethat contains a lot of fast food.

Osteoporosis is preventable to acertain degree through goodlifestyle choices.

In terms of diet, you shouldmake sure that your food isnutritious and high in calcium,and reduce your caffeine intake.

Stop smoking, as it increasesbone resorption (where the bodynaturally breaks down bone).Exercise regularly, especiallyweight-bearing exercises such astai chi, brisk walking, dancing,yoga, racquet sports, hiking, golfand strength training.

You should also go for regularcheck-ups after the age of 40 tocheck your bone density (such as

with a bone DEXA machine). Thesetests are available at mosthospitals.

Check-ups should not just be forbone health but also for any othermedical problems. This isespecially important if there is ahistory of osteoporosis andosteoarthritis in your family.

Ask your doctor for anevaluation and assessment offracture risk and devise amanagement plan together.

“It is important that you tellyour doctor about all your medicalconditions and take propermedications to relieve yoursymptoms. Avoid unregulatedmedications as these drugs oftencontain large doses of steroids,”stresses Dr Zaidi.

“Awareness of the importance ofbone and joint health is still notcomprehensive in Malaysia; peopleneed to understand their bones, gofor regular health check-ups andconsult their doctors for medicalissues.”

He advises Malaysians topractise a healthy and activelifestyle to ensure their bonehealth.

n For more information,call 06-231 9999.

Dr MohdZaidiYaakub.

You can have your bone density checked with a bone DEXA machine.


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World of goodnessWITHIN Carotino’s red oils lies aworld of nutrients derived fromyears of research and commitmentto meet the needs of customers.

Carotino red palm fruit oil isconsidered the world’s richestplant source of natural carotenes(pro-vitamin A) and naturaltocotrienols.

As a global leader and innovatorin value-added oil and fatderivatives, Carotino is committedto the research, development andmanufacturing of palm oil productsusing the latest environmentallyfriendly, state-of-the-art technology.

Each bottle of Carotino oil is acustom blend of vegetable oilsdesigned for customers’ health.

The vegetable oils arecholesterol-free and do not containharmful trans-fatty acid. Mostimportantly, the Carotino oils are arich source of natural carotenes,tocotrienols and tocopherols(vitamin E) and co-enzyme Q10.

The body converts carotene intovitamin A, which is needed forhealthy skin and mucousmembrane, immune system andgood vision.

Carotenes, vitamin E andco-enzyme Q10 also protect thebody from free radicals thatdamage cells and cause severalchronic diseases.

These essential nutrients alsoprotect the body against ageingand atherosclerosis.

Carotino oil is high inmono-unsaturated fatty acids



and low in saturated fatty acids,thus helping to lower LDL-cholesterol in the blood stream.

It is also a rich source ofomega-3 and omega-6 fatty acidsto promote healthy skin and,combined with diet and exercise,can help lower certain blood fatand raise levels of “good”cholesterol (HDL).

Carotino is endorsed by theSingapore Health PromotionBoard and Swiss Vitamin institutefor its contents of naturalcarotenes, vitamin E andco-enzyme Q10.

In developing countries,nutritional deficiencies are a dailypart of life and create many healthproblems affecting the population,especially children.

Vitamin A deficiency isparticularly an issue that impactsmany areas of health such asvision, immunity, growth andfoetal development.

As part of its dedication tonutrition, Carotino hasspearheaded projects to mitigatevitamin A deficiency in childrenand adults.

Carotino partnered with theNutritional Intervention ResearchUnit of the South African MedicalResearch Council to conduct a

Carotino oil is a blend of thehighly regarded red palm oil andcanola oil. Like other red- andvermillion-tinged foods, Carotinoreceives its red colouring fromhaving high carotenoid content.

Carotenoids, such as beta-carotene, are examples of pro-vitamin A, which can evolve toform vitamin A when needed.

Carotenoids are known tobe good for the eyes, growthand immunity as well asreproduction.

It also prevents bacteria andviruses from latching onto therespiratory, urinary and intestinaltracts and keeps the body healthyas a whole.

It is a powerful antioxidant andis packed with essential nutrientssuch as tocotrienols, a member ofthe vitamin E family, which isknown to improveHDL levels to benefit hair and skin.

Carotino oil can be easilyincorporated into cooking. Itsbright red hue gives dishes adistinct and appetising colour andultimately gives everyonea wealth of good health.

n For more information, call07-252 2888 or visit www.carotino.com.

Carotino isrich in naturalcarotenes,vitamin E andco-enzymeQ10.

study to prove the efficacy ofCarotino red palm fruit oil bakedbiscuits. This study is documentedin the UN Food and Nutrition

Bulletin .Carotino also combined forces

with Malaysian Palm Oil Council

in a community developmentproject in South Africa to develop abakery model to produce and sellcost-effective carotene-rich muffinsto local school children, providinga self-sustaining model to addresshealth and social issues.


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Southern Healthcare - 7 June 2016

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