UK & Malaysia: Healthcare News Summary (3rd July)
- Topic: Healthcare
- Jul 3, 2020
- 4 min read
Note: A hyperlink is attached in each headlines for further reading of the original news.
Table of Contents:
1. United Kingdom News
2. Malaysia News
1. United Kingdom News
Date: 2nd July 2020
Source: Health Europa
Monthly Visitors: 222,570

Summary:
Cannabis field experts published a white paper explaining how to maximise clinical research and improve British patient's access to medical cannabis.
The White Paper is entitled: "Medical Cannabis in the UK: From Principle to Practice".
The White Paper suggests solutions for healthcare workers to prescribe medical cannabis and for regulators to respond to the demand for access of cannabis.
The White Paper also highlights the current barriers when prescribing medical cannabis in the UK.
Currently, cannabis remains inaccessible to patients who are proven that will benefit from the drug.
The NHS' access to cannabis prescriptions remains limited - only 400 prescriptions have been given.
The main barrier of access to medical cannabis is education - doctors are not trained in cannabis and the endocannabinoid system.
This education issue is currently addressed by conducting Drug Science teaching sessions at the Academy of Medical Cannabis and the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society.
Another barrier is the negative guidelines produced by NICE, which results allowing doctors to prescribe cannabis only in exceptional circumstances.
Using cannabis helps to save money on expensive medicines such as opioids and decrease the number of people admitted to hospitals for health conditions.
Visit to read the SageJournal of Psychopharmacology to read the White Paper.
Date: 1st June 2020
Source: The National
Monthly Visitors: 263,910

Summary:
The UK must prepare for the winter instead of developing a successful COVID-19 vaccine, experts say.
Sir John Bell (Professor of Medicine, Oxford University) stated that the UK has relied too much on false assumptions throughout the COVID-19 outbreak.
There might be chaos in hospitals if the UK sees an increase in COVID-19 outbreak this winter, alongside a serious flu season.
Clinical staff in hospitals should worry because there will be a significant flu season.
There will be people with severe pneumonias and fever and the usual things.
Bell explains the best action is to encourage more people to get flu vaccines, and then push to make sure people compliantly participate in flu vaccine programmes.
Kate Bingham (Chairwoman, UK's Vaccine Taskforce) is optimistic that a vaccine can be developed in the short-term.
However, Bingham elaborates that the earliest vaccine available will only be due towards the beginning of next year if clinical trials are successful.
Sarah Gilbert (Professor of Vaccinology, University of Oxford) who leads the vaccine trial states that she is unable to tell when the vaccine will be ready.
Date: 1st June 2020
Source: Insider Media
Monthly Visitors: 79,740

Summary:
Optimum Medical (OM) secured a 6-figure funding package from HSBC UK to provide millions of infection control items to NHS key workers.
OM designs and manufactures healthcare lubricant gels, urology products, and infection control products such as OptiPro antibacterial wipes.
OM's products are supplied to 300 health trusts nationwide and used in British healthcare hospitals.
The funding enabled OM to produce more orders for its infection control range and increase its investment across key products.
Date: 30th June
Source: Punchline Gloucester
Monthly Visitors: 8,370

Summary:
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) urges the government to support charity research in the wake of Coronavirus outbreak.
The COVID-19 pandemic will cause the investment in new research to drop up to 50% this year.
This fall will drastically impact the UK's cardiovascular research and research careers of young scientists and advances in treatments for people with heart and circulatory diseases.
The government is urged to establish a Life Sciences-Charity Partnership Fund to help research charity funding and protect world class research in the UK.
2. Malaysia News
Date: 2nd July 2020
Source: World of Buzz
Monthly Visitors: 329,070

Summary:
1,500 junior doctors who started their housemanship in May 2017 are offered a 2 year contract as medical officers on the UD41 grade.
This is to allow these junior doctors to complete their compulsory service without any extension.
However, if these medical officers are not absorbed into MOH after their contract ends, their future will be scare.
Moreover, these junior doctors on contract are paid less than housemen as they lose RM600 as monthly flexi allowance.
Whereas permanent doctors earn RM 4,000 more than them in a year. This creates a disparity in terms of their income.
Contract Medical Officers (UD41) in Psychiatry and Radiology Departments are also not entitled to "hazard leaves".
Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) reported that 3,500 junior doctors from the cohorts of 25th May 2017 & 17th July 2017, might not get permanent positions in government healthcare facilities at the end of their compulsory service.
This results in the UD41 doctors continuing to remain in UD41 for 3 years, and cannot progress to UD44.
Headline: Medical tourism’s SOPs get full approval
Date: 2nd July 2020
Source: The Malaysian Reserve
Monthly Visitors: 179,700

Summary:
Malaysia Healthcare Tourism Council (MHTC) confirmed that Malaysia will receive medical tourists who require critical treatment.
Patients coming into Malaysia for medical tourism will undergo isolation and tests.
MHTC's initial revenue earnings target was RM 2 billion.
However, MHTC is expecting a 70% drop in revenue as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
MHTC has begun to open its inbox for medical tourism enquiries as of 1st July.
Phase 1A and 1B will allow for patients requiring critical care and medical evacuation while having access to charter flights.
Phase 1A and 1B will not allow patients coming from red or black zones.
Phase 2 will allow medical tourists to travel commercially on flights from green zone countries.
A doctor from Pantai Hospital (KL) reported that the current challenges faced by medical tourism is the inability to provide more telemedicine.
This inability is shown where many Malaysians themselves cannot receive medication in their own country due to customs and travel limitations.
Headline: COVID-19: Malaysia records 2 new cases today, no new deaths for 16 days Date: 30th June 2020 Source: Soya Cincau Monthly Visitors: 370,740

Summary:
There are a total of 20 new recoveries on 30th June, and 8,354 patients who are recovered and discharged.
On 30th June, there are 164 active cases remaining.
It was reported on 30th June (12PM) that there are no red zone areas in the country.
Rembau (28 cases), Lembah Pantai (9 cases), and Sepang (6 cases).
Pulau Pinang, Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang are fully green.
The above figures exclude the number of imported cases from other countries.
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