04/04/2025

FRIDAY | APR 4, 2025

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Dumping free medicines sheer waste of public funds

“In addition, an unstable family environment, including parental conflicts, divorce, emotional neglect and early childhood trauma from abuse or accidents, are also factors contributing to mental health issues. “If these factors are not properly addressed, they can have long-term effects on a child’s emotions and behaviour.” Intan Farahana said early detection is crucial in addressing children’s mental health issues, and urged parents to be attentive to any changes in their children’s behaviour, emotions and daily habits. “For example, changes in sleeping patterns, loss of interest in favourite activities, frequent crying or increased irritability could be early warning signs.” She added that screenings for emotional development can be conducted through the National Child Data Centre under the NCDRC which collects data provided by educators on children under the age of four. – Bernama Rottweilers that attacked five people euthanised BALING: The two Rottweilers that attacked and bit five individuals in Taman Desa Bidara, Kuala Ketil near here on Tuesday have been euthanised. Kedah Veterinary Services Department director Dr Shaharul Amar Talib said as soon as they received information on the incident, they inspected the owner’s home. “We found two adult male Rottweiler dogs that had not been neutered. It was difficult to approach them. However, the dog owner cooperated, voluntarily surrendering the dogs to department staff and agreed to have them euthanised. “Samples have also been collected from the dogs and sent to the Bukit Tengah Veterinary Laboratory in Penang for analysis to detect rabies.” Baling district officer Yazlan Sunardie Che Yahya said the decision was made following a meeting with state Housing, Local Government and Health Committee chairman Mansor Zakaria, representatives from the Kedah Health Department, the Baling District Council, the Veterinary Department and the dogs’ owner on Wednesday. The Baling District Council has also issued two fines to the owner for keeping the dogs without licences. It was reported that five individuals suffered injuries to various parts of their bodies after being bitten by the two dogs. – Bernama MCMC acts against Facebook group KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has recorded the statements of two main administrators of a Facebook group being used to spread information and comments believed to incite racial and religious discord that can potentially cause public unrest. MCMC said in a statement that the statements were taken at its headquarters in Cyberjaya at 9am on March 27 following public complaints. “A mobile phone and SIM card were confiscated for case evidence.” The case is being investigated under Section 233 (1) (a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, and the individuals involved could face a fine of up to RM500,000, a prison sentence of up to two years, or both, if convicted. MCMC also said it had submitted 110 requests to Meta to remove racially provocative content from the Facebook group. “Of the 110 requests, Facebook found that 106 contents breached its community standards and were discarded.”– Bernama

off (return) boxes placed at pharmacy counters. According to the National Security Council website, it is estimated that the value of medicines supplied for acute or mild diseases is between RM5 and RM40 per week, while for specialist clinic treatment or chronic diseases, the cost of medicines can reach RM400 per month, depending on the level of care and type of medication given.

o Unused medications from govt health facilities should be returned via drop-off boxes in designated places

KUALA LUMPUR: Public awareness about returning unused medicines obtained from public health clinics or government hospitals remains low. When no longer needed, many opt for the easier albeit improper option of discarding it in the trash can. Perhaps because the medicines are given for free, patients feel no obligation to return them to a health facility, when in fact, even used inhalers or cardboard packaging can be recycled. According to a Pharmacy Services Programme Statistics Report the government spent RM23.25 billion to purchase medicines from 2015 to 2023, and throwing unused ones away is sheer wastage. Occupational health and general medicine specialist Dr Hanafiah Bashirun said any patient who receives medication from a government clinic or hospital but does not use it, should return the medicines to the health facility (via drop-off boxes). “However, currently awareness about the need to return medicines is still low, to the point that some choose to just throw medicines in the bin, sink, or flush them down the toilet.” Hanafiah said Malaysia is among the countries with a high rate of non communicable diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity, with patients being supplied medicines for a period of three to six months, depending on their health status. “However, when patients do not comply with taking their medicines or are prescribed a new type of medicine, most of them just keep the old supply until the expiry date and dispose of it indiscriminately, which is very detrimental since the medicines involve significant costs.” He said in the event of death, the patient’s next of kin must also be responsible for returning the medication not yet expired to enable the clinic or hospital to supply them to other patients to address the national medication shortage crisis. Hanafiah said returning medicines could also prevent them from being misused, Bernama reported. According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023: Non-Communicable Diseases and Healthcare Demand technical report, children from urban areas have a higher prevalence of mental health problems compared with those from rural areas. The report by the Institute for Public Health, published last year, highlighted that the most common mental health issues among children were peer-related, followed by conduct and emotional problems. It also noted that mental health issues were more prevalent among females than males. The study utilised a mental health module involving 2,400 children aged between five and 15, with information collected from their parents or guardians. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Faculty of

He urged the Health Ministry to increase awareness campaigns on returning prescribed medications for safe disposal, by publicising the provision of medicine drop

The Health Ministry has been urged to increase awareness campaigns on returning prescribed medications for safe disposal, by publicising the provision of medicine drop-off (return) boxes placed at pharmacy counters. – BERNAMAPIC

Mental health issues plague one in six Malaysian children KUALA LUMPUR: One in six children in Malaysia has mental health issues, with its prevalence having doubled since 2019.

enjoy playing and engaging in outdoor physical activities, but when they were confined indoors, spending time on online games and social media, it became a factor that made them emotionally fragile and less resilient.” Hilwa said social media has a significant impact on children, subjecting them to social comparisons, the fear of missing out and obsessive or compulsive scrolling. Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris National Child Development Research Centre (NCDRC) deputy director (Research and Innovation) Dr Intan Farahana Abdul Rani identified excessive gadget use as one of the main causes of mental health issues among children. She said this leads to reduced social and physical interaction, which is compounded by other factors such as a competitive educational environment and overly high expectations from guardians, particularly when children are not given the space to play or rest.

Social Sciences and Humanities Centre for Research in Psychology and Human Well-Being senior lecturer and clinical psychologist Dr Hilwa Abdullah @ Mohd Nor said the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced society into lockdown, had contributed to the current mental health issues among children. She said children are particularly vulnerable emotionally, especially when faced with lifestyle changes, as they are still young and have limited ability to regulate their emotions and cope with stress. “Looking back at the pandemic, we experienced drastic lifestyle changes, including movement restrictions and having to carry out activities online, including schooling. These children had to navigate the challenges of the digital world. “Such limitations prevented them from expressing their emotions, leading to depression and a tendency for self-harm. Children naturally