04 current news
Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah reveals the current landscape while highlighting Malaysian versions of wearables and embedded devices
The HEALTH | APRIL, 2018
04 current news
How does Malaysia’ s digital health fare?
Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah reveals the current landscape while highlighting Malaysian versions of wearables and embedded devices
by NURUL AIN HUDA ABDULLAH ainhuda @ revonmedia. com
D
IGITAL health or the use of digital technology for health emerged when information and communication technology( ICT) became ubiquitous and pervasive. Empowering individuals to better track, manage and improve ones own and family’ s health, it helps us to live more productive lives while improving the society.
Additionally, it helps reduce inefficiencies in healthcare delivery, improve access, reduce costs, increase quality and make medicine more personalised and precise.
However, the question is: how do we fare when it comes to digital health compared to other developed nations?
Malaysian versions of wearables and embedded device
Ministry of Health( MOH)’ s director general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah through his correspondence with The HEALTH, commented that the current digital healthcare landscape in Malaysia looks promising.
“ The use of social networking platforms and internet applications are not only changing the way we communicate but is also providing innovative ways for us to exchange ideas while giving us greater access to health
information,” he said.
Hisham pointed out to some of the Malaysian versions of wearables and embedded device that are more in-tuned to healthcare such as Hippo, IMEUS Realtime Cloud Connected Health Devices, Onitor and Nypro.
The others are such as Fibod or Fitness Balance Board which allows the users to practice their balance skill with the use of virtual reality games while CR2-haptic is a compact and portable rehabilitation robot suitable for people who need exercise training for hand such as elderly people and stroke patient. Both products are manufactured by Techcare Innovation headquartered in Johor Bharu, Malaysia.
The Hypoband manufactured by Geob International situated at Bukit Mertajam, Penang is a smart wearable device ideally for those suffering from hypoglycaemia. It detects cold sweat and warns family members that the wearer needs help.
Another wearable device is the FavorWatch by Favoriot Sdn Bhd situated in Puchong, Selangor. It is capable of monitoring health information such as pulse rate, number of steps and location through the mobile phone application to aid the aging population.
Hisham indicated that electronic medical equipment or smart wearables and sensors such as these help gather vast information that can measure and monitor physical movements or other bodily physiological activities known as big data analytics.
Health diagnostic devices to improve patient’ s experiences
Elaborating on the use of mobile devices to improve patient’ s experiences, Hisham said
( From left) Revongen Corporation chief executive officer EL Law, Nor Amin Mohd Nor, Dipankar Ghosh and Malaysian Small Business Entrepreneur Chamber of Commerce president Dato’ Sri Abu Hassan Bin Nor at the signing and MOU exchange ceremony.
Global Haltech invest on halal testing
GLOBAL Haltech Sdn Bhd via its subsidiary company Halvec Laboratories Sdn Bhd signed a memorandum of understanding( MOU) with Thermo Fisher Scientific Sdn Bhd recently aiming to deliver an international reference method for gelatin analysis.
As part of this collaboration, the scientists in Halvec Laboratories will use the new Thermo Scientific TSQ Altis Triple Stage Quadrupole mass spectrometer and Thermo Scientific Vanquish Flex Binary UHPLC System. They will be supported by Thermo Fisher Scientific’ s technical experts based in United States and Singapore.
“ Manufacturers around the world face challenges in identifying the animal origins of common proteins used in their products,” said Thermo Fisher Scientific Environmental and Food Safety, Life Sciences Mass Spectrometry director Dipankar Ghosh.
“ We believe that this plan to develop a routine analysis applied as a standard application could be a first in the halal science ecosystem. With the development of routine application, both halal certification bodies and manufacturers of personal care, pharmaceuticals and food will have a standard method for gelatin origin and meat speciation,” said Global Haltech chief executive officer Nor Amin.
Presently, Halvec Laboratories is conducting analysis to determine the origin of gelatin in some food and personal care products, cooperating closely with agencies and manufacturers from Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Europe and the Persian Gulf countries.
Awareness on antibiotic resistance low
by AMIRUL AZREEN ZULKIFLI aazreen @ revonmedia. com
Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam delivering his speech.
T
HE appearance of two ministers should be seen as proof that antimicrobial resistance is a serious issue that needs to be dealt with,” said Ministry of Health( MOH) minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam during his speech at the launch of Malaysian Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2017-2021 recently.
The overall objective of the plan is to underline the strategy and activity that will be carried out by all agencies under the MOH and the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based
Industry( MOA).
MOH and MOA will be working hand in hand in combating antimicrobial resistance due to its nature in affecting the life of humans, animals, food chain and the environment.
“ According to the World Health Organisation( WHO) a total of 700,000 people died due to antimicrobial resistance and the figure is expected to increase to a quarter of a million people by end of 2050.
“ These worldwide statistic is alarming and the number will grow unless immediate action is taken to stop it,” said Subramaniam.
Antimicrobial resistance is a condition whereby bacteria develops resistance to antibiotics that were once commonly used to treat them. There are a lot of factors that may contribute to resistance but the most common is the state Malaysians are currently in – being too dependent on antibiotics.
“ It is important to educate everyone that antibiotics should only be taken if it is prescribed by doctors or certified medical practitioners as it falls under the Poison Act 1952.
Subramaniam also stressed the importance of monitoring the poultry industry.
“ Antibiotics is popularly used to promote growth and as a prevention from diseases.”
“ It is not an issue if antibiotics is used as a treatment but currently it is widely used as a prevention which is very worrying,” he said.
Under the Food Act 2009, only certain medicine is allowed to be used as a growth agent but if there is any farmers found to be using prohibited substances, strict actions will be taken by the authorities.