Chairman's Hotline:

012-2884662 or e-mail

Secretary's Hotline:

012-3291216 or e-mail

Treasurer's Hotline:

019-3605972 or e-mail

A delegation from MMA Selangor had a very fruitful dialogue session with the State Health Director of Selangor, Dato' Dr Hj Azman bin Abu Bakar and his team from the Pharmaceutical Enforcement Division. The MMA delegation comprised Dr Edwin Leo (Chairman), Dr Muhammad Gowdh (Vice-Chairman), Dr D K Bhanot (Honorary Secretary), Dr Krishna Kumaran (PPS Chairman), Dr Ranjit Singh (Schomos Chairman) and Dr Kerpal Singh (member).

Dato' Dr Azman got the ball rolling by emphasising the importance of a good working relationship between medical practitioners and the Health Department. He looked forward to cooperation, friendly engagement and voluntary compliance in the implementation of the various Acts and Regulations. Due attention should be given by MMA, not only to the well-being of the doctors, but also to the welfare and safety of patients. Dato' Dr Azman hoped that there could be self-regulation by doctors based on mutual respect and trust.

The Health Director touched on some of the problems faced by the Enforcement Division, the problem of methadone abuse and the high rate of maternal mortality in the State. He also informed those present that a seminar-cum-workshop on H7N9 would be held in collaboration with MMA on 30 June 2013. The main issues discussed thereafter were as follows:

1. SOP for inspection visits to clinics by officers from the Pharmaceutical Division: At present, the national MMA is informed of impending inspection visits in a particular area. The SOP for such inspections is decided at the Health Ministry level. The MMA team emphasised the need for individual clinics to be informed of the date and time by mail or phone before such inspection visits. The Health Department needs to have an updated contact list of clinics and doctors in Selangor. The Health Department also promised to put up a check-list of requirements on their official website.

2. Daily print-out of clinic's computerised drug records: A daily print-out of a clinic's computerised records is at present a requirement by law, and the State Health Department tries to implement it with maximum leniency, compassion and understanding.

It was pointed out that any clinic wishing to computerise its drug records must have prior approval for the software to be used. It was suggested that the Health Department should specify the parameters required for such software, and it was also suggested that MMA could produce a standard software for this purpose.

3. Disposal of expired DDA and psychotropic drugs: Such expired drug disposal has to be carried out through the services of Kualiti Alam Sdn Bhd under the supervision of officers from the Pharmaceutical Division. The services of Kualiti Alam are payable by the clinic based on the weight of the drugs disposed.

4. Tablet blister-packs and syrup prepacks: It was pointed out that doctors are not penalised for tablets that are dispensed loose or for syrups that are dispensed in customised bottle-size, but such repacked medications must have the full information as per the original pack.

5. Shortage of typhoid vaccine: The Health Department was informed of the acute shortage of typhoid vaccine and the Health Director promised to look into the situation.

6. Pharmacists acting as doctors: The Health Department needs to be notified, even informally by phone or e-mail, for any action to be taken against such errant pharmacists. It was revealed that in the past three years there were substantially more prosecutions of pharmacists than of doctors.

7. Proposal for reverse inspection scheme: The Pharmaceutical Division proposed a pilot project of such a scheme where doctors would inspect their own clinics and complete a form with the help of guidelines provided. The Health Department would collaborate with MMA Selangor in conducting the pilot project in a suitable area of Selangor.

8. Bogus doctors and house officers doing locum: The Heath Department plans to carry out surprise raids to weed out such bogus doctors and house officers doing locum. Clinics should verify the APCs of their locum doctors and have a copy available for inspection.

9. Control of pseudoephedrine: Pseudoephedrine is the best nasal decongestant, and runny nose is one of the most common symptoms encountered in GP practice. But many genuine patients are denied access to this excellent drug because of controls imposed to curb misuse and abuse. It was suggested that the present system of control through clinic or pharmacy quotas was not effective and unfair to patients. The unscrupulous manufacturer of methamphetamine can easily accumulate large supplies by hopping from pharmacy to pharmacy where pseudoephedrine-containing medications are easily available without prescription. A better method of control would be through the monitoring of individual patient consumption and strict enforcement of the requirement for a doctor's prescription. The Health Director promised to bring up the matter at the Health Ministry level.

The meeting ended with a re-emphasis on the importance of constructive communication, based on mutual respect and trust, between MMA and the State Health Department.

The MMA Selangor Annual Installation Dinner will be held on 14 September 2013 at the Holiday Inn Glenmarie, Shah Alam. This dinner is the highlight of our activities for the year. Tickets will be available at the subsidised price of RM1000 per table. Please mark your diary and keep yourselves free to enjoy the good food, entertainment and company.

It has been brought to our notice by Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri Selangor that there have been 34 cases of methanol poisoning to date, with a number of deaths.

The majority of cases involve Myanmars, and most of them had been treated by GPs who were probably not aware of the underlying problem. The patients had a history of having consumed cheap alcohol a few days prior to onset of symptoms which included severe headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, delirium, convulsions and loss of consciousness.

Doctors, especially GPs, in Selangor are advised to be aware of this and to be alert to the possibility of methanol poisoning in patients manifesting such symptoms.

One of the activities organised by MMA Selangor every year is the Family Day. Previously, members and their families have got together in places like Port Dickson , Kuala Selangor, Genting Highlands and Fraser's Hill.

Last year the participants enjoyed a 3-day-2-night stay in Pulau Pangkor, and in April this year we had a similar trip to Pulau Redang.

The committee is now in the midst of planning the next Family Day, to be held in February or March 2014, and suggestions are invited from members on the venue and activities for the event.

You can contact Dr D K Bhanot (012-3291216) to provide your feedback.