MARCH-APRIL , 2022 | THE HEALTH

P20

The pandemic and adolescent emotional health It is worrying that depression and anxiety symptoms during Covid-19 have doubled , compared with pre-pandemic figures

P22

Navigating the Omicron wave Public healthcare capacity and readiness , minimisation of transmission , proper selfmanagement , new technologies and personal interventions are key in navigating the surge in Omicron cases

P23

The booster conundrum We should not mandate boosters to all groups irrespective of evidence as the significant issue of side effects is not acknowledged

P24

Omicron : Pushing towards the endemic phase The endemic phase planning in Malaysia is important for economic and social activities and opening international borders without restrictions , and boosting the tourism economy

25

P25

The all-natural healing journey We don ’ t always have to opt for chemotherapy to fight cancer as there are other alternatives such as naturopathic treatment

P26

Dance like no one ’ s watching ‘ Dancing molecules ’ can successfully repair severe spinal cord injuries after a single injection , and paralysed animals regain the ability to walk within four weeks

P27

Treating your baby ’ s cold The do ’ s and don ’ ts when your baby catches a cold

P28

Covid and integrative healthcare Look at healthcare practices that had existed before western medication became the dominant practice

P29 People

• Dedicated to finding a cure for cancer

• UK honours two Malaysians with honorary awards

• Oxford duo put Malaysia on the map

• Malaysian wins prestigious JK Williams Medal

P30-31

Preventing lung cancer Johnson & Johnson researchers share progress to thwart the # 1 cancer killer

| The Health says ... |

All this while we had boasted one of the best healthcare facilities in the region . But as Khairy revealed , we had been spending a mere 2.58 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product ( GDP ) on public healthcare while other nations with similar development levels had been spending at least four per cent . The World Health Organisation ( WHO ) suggested seven per cent .

The Auditor-General ’ s 2018 report highlighted a lack of staff in government hospitals ’ accident and emergency ( A & E ) departments , high patient traffic , and a lack of funding and medical equipment . Last year , this was evident when the healthcare system could not cope with the sharp rise in Covid-19 cases .

The government had allocated RM32.4 billion for the Health Ministry in the 2022 Budget . Clearly , this is not enough . So why are we lagging ? It ’ s because we are not getting our priorities right .

Why are we spending so much on defence , a bloated civil service , an oversized Cabinet , and mega infrastructure projects when we need more government hospitals , clinics , medical staff , training facilities and higher salaries to prevent a brain drain ?

Khairy now wants to table a White Paper in Parliament to address this underinvestment in public healthcare . Last year , he mentioned a blueprint for Malaysia ’ s Healthcare System Reform .

In the meantime , will we see more immediate changes ? Will the government re-examine how it is spending taxpayer ’ s funds ? With its coffers seeing a significant drop in revenue , it simply means we need to prioritise our spending immediately .

Was there a need to spend hundreds of millions of ringgit on the elections in Sabah and Malacca last year and Johore this year when the people had already made their choice in 2018 ?

Each State election costs not less than RM100 million , while a GE costs RM850 million . Is that the way to waste away taxpayers ’ funds when there is gross underinvestment in public healthcare ?

So , let ’ s stop all this nonsensical talk about holding more State elections or a GE and instead concentrate on the critical bread and butter issues affecting the people . They need jobs . Businesses need to be revived or assisted .

Public funds should be put to good use and not feed the ego of power-crazy politicians .