17/02/2026

TUESDAY | FEB 17, 2026

4 Still no specific treatment for dengue despite global risk

Illegal clinics with immigrants posing as doctors exposed

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has sounded the alarm over the discovery of illegal clinics in Kuala Lumpur where foreign nationals allegedly posed as doctors, offered medical advice and dispensed controlled medicines without proper qualifications or registration. MMA president Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo described the revelations “alarming” and “unacceptable” and said such operations pose serious threats to patient safety and expose gaps in regulatory enforcement. “Patients who seek treatment at such facilities risk misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment, complications from unsafe procedures and exposure to counterfeit or improperly dispensed medicines.” Medical practice in Malaysia is strictly regulated to protect public health – only doctors registered with the Malaysian Medical Council and hold a valid annual practising certificate are allowed to practise. The MMA said the safeguards ensure practitioners meet rigorous standards of training, ethics and competency. It urged authorities to intensify surveillance and enforcement to swiftly detect and shut down illegal healthcare operations, noting that the recurrence of such clinics – despite previous raids – points to the need for sustained and robust action. Thirunavukarasu said enforcement should be strategically strengthened in areas with large migrant populations, as vulnerable communities are often targeted by illegal operators who exploit barriers such as cost, language and limited awareness of the healthcare system. “This is not about any particular group. It is about protecting individuals who may be taken advantage of due to circumstances beyond their control.” The MMA called for stronger interagency collaboration, regular inspections and decisive penalties. It also urged the public to remain vigilant, advising patients to seek treatment only from registered practitioners and licensed facilities. On Feb 14, the Immigration Department raided nine illegal clinics along Jalan Tun Tan Siew Sin in KL. It was reported that the clinics ran illicitly from concealed rooms behind retail shops and allegedly catered to foreign nationals. Officers seized controlled medicines including antibiotics and drugs for chronic conditions, believed to have been smuggled from Bangladesh. Eighteen men were detained, including individuals suspected of posing as doctors and charging between RM50 and RM100 per consultation. The suspects are being investigated under immigration laws while the Health Ministry is probing offences under the Sale of Drugs Act.

o Group says vaccines not suitable for children under nine and pregnant women, urges broader strategy beyond vector control

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Despite putting nearly half of the world’s population at risk, dengue still has no specific antiviral treatment, leaving health systems largely reliant on prevention and supportive care, according to Geneva-based, not-for-profit research and development organisation Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi). It said current medical options remain limited, with existing vaccines unsuitable for certain high-risk groups. “We must address the fact that, despite putting half of the world’s population at risk, dengue still has no treatment,” said DNDi Southeast Asia regional director Vanessa Daniel. “Yes, there are vaccines, but these are contraindicated in children under nine and in pregnant women – both groups most at risk of developing severe dengue when infected.” Daniel added that relying solely on mosquito control will not be sufficient to curb the disease in the long term. “Vector control initiatives are essential, but they are not the silver bullet for this health crisis. What is needed is an integrated approach where vaccines, vector control and treatments all work together to tackle dengue.” The World Health Organisation (WHO) has listed dengue as among the top 10 global public health threats. Daniel, however, explained that WHO’s classification does not measure how dangerous dengue is, but highlights its position within the global health ecosystem. “Dengue, a tropical disease, is classified as neglected. According to WHO, a disease is identified as ‘neglected’ when it is absent from the global health agenda. Diseases are labeled as such when they disproportionately afflict poor, underserved populations, especially in tropical and subtropical regions, yet receive limited attention, funding and innovation compared to more high-profile diseases.” Daniel said dengue also exacts a heavy economic toll, noting that outbreaks can overwhelm health systems and generate wide ranging social and financial impacts. “According to the National Institutes of

Daniel said relying solely on vector control measures is not sufficient to curb dengue in the long term. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

artificial intelligence (AI) tools to detect hotspots and expanding the Wolbachia mosquito initiative. The initiative involves releasing specially treated mosquitoes to reduce the dengue spreading Aedes aegypti population. In a parliamentary written reply on Jan 27, the ministry said the initiative had expanded to 51 localities nationwide. Of the 28 sites meeting assessment criteria, 25 reported dengue reductions. The remaining localities remain under a two-year monitoring period, with authorities maintaining weekly case and entomological surveillance to assess the initiative’s long-term effectiveness and safety.

Health, dengue’s global economic impact is substantial, with estimated annual costs of around US$39 billion (RM183.3 billion). “For additional context, a 2025 paper by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia reported that as of 2020 the direct medical cost per dengue case averaged US$1,369 (around RM6,434) for hospitalised patients and US$352 (RM1,654) for ambulatory cases,” she added. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad revealed on Dec 15 last year that the country recorded 51,046 dengue cases as of Dec 6 – a 56.5% drop from the 118,291 cases in 2024, while deaths fell 61.3% to 43 from 111. He said the ministry has since intensified dengue control measures, including deploying

Drug development for mosquito-borne disease ‘severely underfunded’ PETALING JAYA: Dengue infects nearly 400 million people worldwide each year, yet research into treatments remains severely underfunded, leaving millions at risk while high-profile diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis dominate global health investment, said DNDi. It said the stark funding imbalance reflects how diseases are prioritised within the global health ecosystem, rather than the severity of the virus itself. become ‘neglected’ because the traditional pharmaceutical system prioritises markets with purchasing power, leaving diseases of low income populations with too little R&D investment and few effective, accessible treatments. The disparity is particularly glaring when compared with other major global health priorities. malaria and tuberculosis received 65% of the total funding allocated.” Analyses over the years have shown that research investment remains heavily forms of dengue. “The primary goal is to collaborate on developing treatments. This includes monoclonal antibodies and antiviral repurposing efforts.” The two efforts are complementary strategies in modern medicine for managing infectious diseases.

concentrated on a small set of high-profile infectious diseases. A multi-pathogen study published by The Lancet Global Health in 2020 found that HIV/AIDS research received about US$42.1 billion (RM197.9 billion) in global funding between 2000 and 2017. In comparison, tuberculosis received US$7.0 billion (RM32.9 billion) and malaria US$5.6 billion (RM26.3 billion). Daniel said DNDi is actively involved in the Dengue Alliance, a multi-country collaboration including Malaysia, Brazil, Thailand and India, focused on preventing progression to severe

Daniel added that research is ongoing with work on biomarkers, AI-guided drug discovery and pre-clinical studies. DNDi has also recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Serum Institute of India to advance a phase-three clinical trial of monoclonal antibodies in Malaysia, Thailand and Brazil. – By Faiz Ruzman

“According to WHO, neglected tropical diseases collectively receive only 15% (US$4.17 billion, roughly RM19.6 billion) of global R&D investment. “While we do not have exact figures for dengue, this shows why a disease affecting approximately 390 million people annually remains low on the priority list. “Even among neglected diseases, HIV/AIDS,

DNDi Southeast Asia regional director Vanessa Daniel told theSun that current pharmaceutical innovation models favour markets with strong purchasing power, leaving diseases that mainly affect low-income populations. “DNDi’s work highlights that diseases