The Health | august, 2019
04
Current News
Briefs
Six Malaysian
Cardiologists on
Malaysia-Germany study
The SCB DE-NOVO STUDY, a two-
country study between Malaysia and
Germany, was officially announced.
The study is aimed at improving the
future treatment strategies for coronary
artery disease and allow healthcare
professionals to better decide on the
best treatment options for patients.
The announcement was made in
conjunction with the 16th Interventional
Cardiovascular Society of Malaysia’s
annual scientific conference (MyLIVE).
The SCB DE-NOVO STUDY will
compare two devices – paclitaxel coated
balloon and sirolimus coated balloon -
under the same conditions to learn more
about their efficacy and safety for patients
with coronary artery disease. It will be
conducted over a period of 1.5 years.
In Malaysia, the study will be conducted
across six hospitals involving 70 Malaysian
patients. 35 will be randomly assigned
to the paclitaxel-coated balloon catheter
group while another 35 assigned to the
sirolimus-coated balloon catheter group.
Top Malaysian cardiologists from 6
hospitals will be involved as Principal
Investigators, namely:
• Datuk Dr Rosli Mohd Ali, Senior
Consultant Cardiologist, Cardiac
Vascular Sentral Kuala Lumpur
• Prof Dato Dr Wan Azman Wan Ahmad,
Head of Cardiac Catherization Lab
and Senior Consultant Cardiologist,
University Malaya Medical Center
• Dato Dr Amin Ariff Nuruddin, Head
of Cardiology Department and Senior
Consultant Cardiologist, Institut Jantung
Negara
• Dr Muhamad Ali Sheikh Abdul Kader,
Head of Cardiology Department and
Consultant Cardiologist, Hospital Pulau
Pinang
• Dr Liew Houng Bang, Head of
Cardiology Department and Consultant
Cardiologist Hospital Queen Elizabeth II,
Sabah
• Dr Ong Tiong Kiam, Head of Cardiology
Department and Senior Consultant
Cardiologist Sarawak Heart Center
Allianz Malaysia
launches Allianz
Cancer Protect plan
Allianz Malaysia Berhad launched
Allianz Cancer Protect to offer Malaysians
flexibility in managing cancer diagnosis.
Underwritten by Allianz General
Insurance Company (Malaysia) Berhad,
the general insurance arm of Allianz
Malaysia, Allianz Cancer Protect offers four
plans – Plan 125 (for an Insured Amount
of (RM125, 000); Plan 250 (RM250, 000);
Plan 375 (RM375, 000); and Plan 500
(RM500, 000) – and a choice of Lump
Sum Insured Amount (Coverage A and
Coverage B) or Overseas
Medical Treatment Benefit (with Coverage
B only).
“With Allianz Cancer Protect, it is all
about affording the policyholder with viable
options for treatment. Having options
when seeking medical treatment is like a
lifeline. And when you are staring down
cancer, it can be a game-changer. Allianz
Cancer Protect gives policyholders the
option to choose the type of plan and
coverage, ultimately giving them the power
to choose what suits them the best,” said
Allianz Malaysia Berhad’s Chief Executive
Officer Zakri Khir. — The Health
My missing millions
Malaysia commemorates World Hepatitis Day with awareness on screening
T
he world celebrates World Hepatitis Day on
28 July every year. The international theme
is dubbed ‘Finding the missing millions’,
whereas in Malaysia, the theme is ‘MY missing
millions’. It is to highlight the importance of
finding as much of Malaysians who may be
infected with Viral Hepatitis through screening and getting
treatment as soon as possible.
The local setting
In Malaysia, the hepatitis B notification rate has shown
a rise in cases recorded in the last five years, from 12.94
person per 100,000 Malaysians in 2014 to 14.52 person per
100,000 Malaysians in 2018. For hepatitis C, it is estimated
that about 3,000 new infection cases were reported to
the Ministry of Health every year. In 2018 alone, around
2,842 new hepatitis C cases were reported with the rate of
notification of 8.77 person per 100,000 Malaysians.
Malaysians have been protected from hepatitis B since
1989 with the introduction of the hepatitis B vaccine, given
at three doses to babies under the National Immunisation
Program. Additionally, there is treatment for hepatitis B
made available in most health facilities nationwide.
The same can’t be said about hepatitis C, as no vaccine
has yet to be made available. Having said that, treatment is
available through Direct Acting Antiviral (DAAs).
Small wins lead to bigger ones
For this year’s celebration, the Ministry of Health have
Director General of Health, Datuk Dr Noor Hisham
Abdullah also warned Malaysians about the danger of
sharing toiletries such as toothbrushes and razors as it
can also lead to the spread of Viral Hepatitis.
succeeded in organising a hepatitis C screening campaign
in 112 public health facilities (49 hospitals and 63 clinics)
in partnership with the Drugs Neglected Diseases Initia-
tive (DNDi), Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics
(FIND), and Pharmaniaga.
The campiagn was done between 15 to 21 July 2019,
where around 11,000 Hepatitis C Virus Rapid Diagnostic
Test Kits from FIND was used. — The Health
The home
to care
Pizza Hut Malaysia collaborates
with Mutiara Johor Corporation
and Hospital Sultanah Aminah,
Johor Bahru to launch ‘The Caring
Home’ at Tunku Laksamana Johor
Haematology Ward as part of its
corporate social responsibility (CSR)
initiative known as ‘Hut to Heart’ that
champions a cancer-free life.
Palliative care improved
Officiated by Duli Yang Maha Mulia
Raja Zarith Sofiah Binti Almarhum
Sultan Idris Shah, the Permaisuri of
Johor, ‘The Caring Home’ is a place
equipped with welfare facilities, aimed
at improving the palliative care of
patients – a crucial aspect to assist
recovery, as well as providing better
rest and relaxation facilities for their
caretakers and medical staff.
Commenting on the opening
ceremony of ‘The Caring Home’, Yang
Dihormati Datin Noor Laila Yahaya,
Chairman of Mutiara Johor Corporation
expressed, “As an organisation that
focuses on people’s welfare and public
development, we believe that it takes
concerted and continued efforts to
bring about positive change to our
community. We are overwhelmed with
the support that Pizza Hut Malaysia
has received so far, and we look
forward to sustaining this meaningful
partnership between the public sector,
private corporations and consumers
for even bigger projects ahead.”
“We are grateful and humbled
by our customers who have come
forward to contribute in support of
our cause. Big or small, every penny
counts. Giving back to society is more
than just donations – it’s about making
The Permaisuri of Johor, Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Zarith Sofiah Binti
Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah accompanied by Yang Dihormati Datin Noor
Laila Yahaya (most left) and Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah (most right).
a difference,” said Datin Noor Laila
Yahaya.
“I commend Pizza Hut Malaysia for
taking the initiative to rally support from
Malaysians in improving the quality
of life of our patients and provide
support to their caretakers as well as
the medical staff in Hospital Sultanah
Aminah. We hope that this would be a
model to demonstrate how strides can
be made through partnership between
corporation and public sector to better
meet the necessities of the people,”
said Yang Berbahagia Dr. Selahuddeen
Bin Abd Aziz, Johor Health Director.
‘Hut to Heart’ is a Pizza Hut’s long-
term initiative that champions social
good with focus on fighting against
Malaysia’s fourth leading cause of
premature fatality: cancer. It aims to
empower Malaysians to live a healthier
and happier cancer-free life. Since
its inception in 2017, ‘Hut to Heart’
has rolled out two projects, namely
‘SayangiMu’ in partnership with the
National Cancer Society Malaysia and
‘The Caring Home’ in collaboration
with Mutiara Johor Corporation and
Hospital Sultanah Aminah.
In support of ‘Hut to Heart’ initiative,
Pizza Hut customers may donate
20sen with every total bill either via
Dine In or via Pizza Hut Delivery.
Donation boxes are also placed at all
Pizza Hut restaurants nationwide. —
The Health