The Health March/April 2024 | Page 6

Local News

06 The HEALTH | March-April . 2024

Top Glove slams govt on inconsistent policies

LEADING rubber glove producer Top Glove Corporation Berhad wants the government to be more consistent with its policies following the Home Ministry ’ s decision to bring forward the last day for foreign workers to enter the country by four months .

They have until May 31 to enter the country instead of Sept 30 . Top Glove chairman Tan Sri Dr Lim Wee Chai said the government should consult with industry players before making policy changes to eliminate potential impact on industries .
“ We hope the government has more stable policies . Don ’ t change things too fast . Whatever [ government ] policies you want to change , please discuss [ with the industry players ] so that we can find a win-win solution ,” he said when asked to comment on the change in foreign worker intake policy after Top Glove ’ s results briefing for the second quarter ended Feb 29 , 2024 ( 2QFY2024 ).
Lim said the cost of doing business in Malaysia has been on the rise , making it very difficult for businesses to compete in the international market . As such , decisions related to government policies should not be made based on one-sided considerations , he cautioned , as what might be perceived as good for the government could affect others instead .
On Mar 1 , 2024 , Home Minister Datuk Seri

MSQH celebrates a significant milestone

THE Malaysian Society for Quality in Health ( MSQH ) celebrated a significant milestone , commemorating 25 years of steadfast commitment to enhancing healthcare quality and safety .
The commemorative event took place during the MSQH 25th Silver Jubilee Anniversary Book Launch and Award ceremony held on Feb 22 at The Everly Putrajaya . It shed light on MSQH ’ s transformative journey and its profound impact on healthcare standards nationwide .
A key highlight of the occasion was unveiling the publication titled ‘ MSQH 25 Years – A Journey of Continuous Improvement ’. This book is a tribute to MSQH ’ s evolution since its inception in 1997 , documenting the society ’ s progress , recognising milestones , and expressing gratitude to stakeholders who have contributed to shaping MSQH ’ s trajectory .
MSQH traces its roots to visionary leaders like Tun Ahmad Sarji and Tan Sri Dr Abdul Khalid Sahan , who pioneered healthcare quality enhancement initiatives in Malaysia . Under the guidance of Tan Sri Dr Abu Bakar Suleiman and Tan Sri Siti Sa ’ diah Sheikh Bakir , MSQH was formally established in 1997 , marking the beginning of a transformative era in Malaysian healthcare .
Over the past 25 years , MSQH has emerged as a beacon of excellence , spearheading accreditation pro-
grammes that have raised healthcare standards nationwide . Through collaborations with governmental bodies , healthcare organisations , and international partners , MSQH has championed quality and safety in the healthcare sector .
MSQH ’ s achievements reflect its pivotal role as Malaysia ’ s national healthcare facility and service accreditation body . From its humble beginnings , MSQH has evolved to establish the Sixth Edition of Hospital Accreditation Standards , along with editions for Chronic Dialysis Treatment , Dental Clinic , and Medical Clinic Accreditation Standards . Today , nearly 200 public and private hospitals nationwide proudly bear the MSQH Accreditation .
MSQG Advisor Dr Abu Bakar said : “ It
Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced that employers who have been granted quotas to bring in foreign workers must make sure that their foreign workers are granted visas with references ( VDRs ) by Mar 31 . They need to enter the country by May 31 .
Top Glove ’ s Managing Director Lim Cheong Guan said the company would take in foreign workers over the next few months as it still has a balance quota . “ Our sales volume has also increased so that we will be taking in workers and hopefully , the government will not have short-notice policy changes ,” he said .
“ What we hope for is that - for the benefit of everyone , for the benefit of the country - a clearer policy in terms of the changes required , and ( to ) give a longer timeline , so that the industry can prepare for it ,” he remarked .
Top Glove Corp Bhd reported a net loss for the second quarter ended Feb 29 , 2024 narrowed to RM51.19 million from RM164.67 million a year earlier . This improvement was attributed to increased sales volume growth , as customers initiated new orders following the depletion of excess inventory .
Revenue for the quarter decreased to RM550.33 million from RM618.01 million in the corresponding period last year . Loss per share decreased to 0.64 sen from 2.06 sen previously . The company did not declare any dividends .
is heartening to note that the MSQH Accreditation Programme , a 100 per cent locally owned peer-review process , stands as a beacon of Malaysian pride in our healthcare system .”
Recognising the importance of stakeholders , MSQH has expanded its accreditation programme to include standalone linen and laundry , centralised sterile services , and ambulatory care .
MSQH President Norhaizam Mohammad affirmed that MSQH remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering a culture of quality and patient safety . MSQH aims to engage future healthcare professionals through educational initiatives , inviting medical , nursing , and allied health students to participate in its mission as associate members .

Easing the financial burden of needy families

MANY families with members relying on tube feeding face significant financial strain , with monthly costs ranging from RM2,500 to RM3,000 for sustaining a patient .
The expense of nutritional support alone can be as high as RM1,000 to RM1,600 , posing challenges for lowerincome households . Consequently , some resort to using conventional milk powder as a substitute , unaware of its nutritional gaps , ultimately leading to malnutrition and other health complications .
In response , Alpro Foundation introduced the Metabolic Basic Sponsorship Programme in 2019 . This initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden on affected families by offering a sponsorship or subsidy programme , making sustainable nutrition more accessible .
Funded by sales of an oral nutritional support product formulated to meet the needs of tube-feeding patients , the programme operates on a simple premise : for every packet purchased at Alpro Pharmacy , one packet is donated to the Alpro Foundation to aid patients in need .
Alpro Foundation Chief Executive Officer Ostwin Paw said : “ Since we started this programme , we have supported over 250 patients , and more than 65 per cent of the patients have been with us for more than three years .
“ We distributed more than 15,000 packets collectively since the programme ’ s inception . We have helped patients ’ families save about RM6.13 million on oral nutritional support .”
Alpro Foundation invites members of the community who need assistance to apply for assistance through the Sponsorship Programme . Interested parties can apply at any Alpro Pharmacy outlet , and all submitted documents , including the patient ’ s recent medical report , identification , expense records , and income declaration , will be reviewed within seven working days .