Health Ministry 'facing shortage of medicines'
Mutual cooperation: Deputy Minister of Health Pehin Dato Paduka Haji Hazair (L), talking with Dr Jane Robertson, World Health Organisation Consultant, during the ceremony at the Royal Brunei Polo and Riding Club, Jerudong.Picture: BT/ Saifulizam
UBAIDILLAH MASLI
BRUNEI-MUARA
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Some imports are of low quality and don't comply with world standards
THE Ministry of Health (MoH) is facing a shortage of medicines, the deputy health minister said yesterday.
"Despite all the efforts made by the MoH through the Department of Pharmaceutical Services to ensure continuous and (sufficient) supply and stock of drugs and medicines, drug supplies are occasionally affected due to multi-faceted reasons," said Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Paduka Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah.
The deputy minister highlighted that among the reasons were problems with acquiring medicines from abroad. He said that pharmaceutical procurement based on open international tenders resulted in a large number of offers, and although they might be reasonably priced, they may be of low quality.
The deputy minister was speaking during the opening ceremony of the "Training Course on the Principles of Pharmacoeconomics and Its more Effective Application — Introductory and Intermediate Level," which was held at the Royal Berkshire restaurant of the Jerudong Polo and Riding Club.
He said that products delivered sometimes did not comply with the international standards of efficacy, quality and safety.
Other factors included delays in deliveries with new and unknown suppliers, manufacturing problems, supply and demand imbalance and problems with raw materials. The improper stock-taking and distribution of medicine were other important reasons which needed to be considered.
Pehin Dato Hj Hazair announced that a total of $60 million, including a supplementary budget of $30 million, has been allocated for the purchase of medicines in the 2008-2009 period, which is an increase of $16 million compared with last year's budget. In 2007, a total of 594 Named Patient Basis Prescriptions cost the government more than $4.2 million, according to records from Ripas Hospital. The newly introduced Named Patient Basis Prescriptions is a scheme which allows doctors to subscribe a drug outside the National Standard Drug List (NSDL), which entails 825 different chemical entities comprising 1,287 different preparations.
The deputy minister suggested that in order to overcome this challenge in public health, a sound strategy needs to be implemented and embedded with all the principles and a framework of ethical and rational use of medicines. He urged health professionals to be "sensitised" to the issue non-patient compliance and the patient's possible lack of understanding of proper medicinal usage, stating that professionals should be trained.
The six-day course is aimed at developing participants' knowledge and enhancing their skills in evidence-based medicine to assist them in formulary and purchasing decisions of medicines. These aspects must be taken care of in a dedicated manner to ensure success of education in promoting good use of medicines.
The Brunei Times
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
Health services need improvement
Health services need improvement
Room for improvement: Despite efforts by the Ministry of Health to boost the quality of services for the people, there are some areas that still need to be improved. Picture: BT file photoAnna Abu Bakar
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Monday, April 7, 2008
SOME Bruneians have called for more improvements in Brunei's health services to reach a high level of standards, as the sultanate joins other countries in observing the World Health Day today.
The Brunei Times spoke to several locals to find out what areas need to be improved on the eve of the celebration.
A 53-year-old housewife commented on the slow services at hospitals and health centres, where patients have to wait for a long time to see the doctor. This, she said has to change.
She also said that she is confused with the medical procedures as there is a contradiction as to when is actually medications are given to diabetic patients.
"According to doctors, my sugar level is on the borderline towards being a diabetic however, when I see a doctor at a private clinic, I am given diabetic medication," she said.
She added that when she went to visit the hospital again, the doctor explained that their policy is to give out diabetic medication only to those that have been diagnosed as having diabetic and well over the borderline.
"So does that mean, I am only given diabetic medication when I am suffering from chronic diabetes as opposed to being given something as a preventive measure?" she asked.
For Dee Dee, a 21-year-old employee at the private sector said that generally everything about the sultanate's health services are slow but when it comes to seeing the doctor, it lasts only for less than five minutes.
"It is understandable to wait but at the same time, waiting for two hours just to see a doctor under five minutes is ridiculous," she said.
She suggested more doctors should be employed at the Ripas hospital as "more often I always see only two doctors on duty and lots of people waiting for hours at end".
Communication with patients is another problem that was highlighted with suggestions that the doctors need to be more understanding and explain to the patient if she or he is not suffering from the common flu.
An individual working in the private sector who preferred to maintain anonymity said that she heard that a doctor in the capital who misdiagnosed a patient and was transferred to another hospital in another district. "The mistake would have been fatal to the person as he had misdiagnosed and carelessly tossed aside the person's sickness as normal or something," said the individual.
Despite the $1 fee for local Bruneians to see a doctor, the amount is not what we would expect in terms of service, said Mohamed, father of five children. "But for me, I like the idea that the Ministry of Health has taken up more and more local doctors," he said.
He said that this could be seen from local clinics, with more younger doctors and the local doctor was helpful and provided sufficient explanation, the last time he went to see the doctor at a clinic. "I felt like I was really being taken care of as opposed to the "What's wrong?" question the moment I walk in," he said.
World Health Day, is celebrated today to mark the founding of the World Health Organisation and an opportunity to draw worldwide attention to global health each year. In 2008, World Health Day will focus on the need to protect health from the adverse effects of climate change.
WHO selected this theme in recognition that climate change is posing ever growing threats to global public health security.
The Brunei Times
Room for improvement: Despite efforts by the Ministry of Health to boost the quality of services for the people, there are some areas that still need to be improved. Picture: BT file photoAnna Abu Bakar
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Monday, April 7, 2008
SOME Bruneians have called for more improvements in Brunei's health services to reach a high level of standards, as the sultanate joins other countries in observing the World Health Day today.
The Brunei Times spoke to several locals to find out what areas need to be improved on the eve of the celebration.
A 53-year-old housewife commented on the slow services at hospitals and health centres, where patients have to wait for a long time to see the doctor. This, she said has to change.
She also said that she is confused with the medical procedures as there is a contradiction as to when is actually medications are given to diabetic patients.
"According to doctors, my sugar level is on the borderline towards being a diabetic however, when I see a doctor at a private clinic, I am given diabetic medication," she said.
She added that when she went to visit the hospital again, the doctor explained that their policy is to give out diabetic medication only to those that have been diagnosed as having diabetic and well over the borderline.
"So does that mean, I am only given diabetic medication when I am suffering from chronic diabetes as opposed to being given something as a preventive measure?" she asked.
For Dee Dee, a 21-year-old employee at the private sector said that generally everything about the sultanate's health services are slow but when it comes to seeing the doctor, it lasts only for less than five minutes.
"It is understandable to wait but at the same time, waiting for two hours just to see a doctor under five minutes is ridiculous," she said.
She suggested more doctors should be employed at the Ripas hospital as "more often I always see only two doctors on duty and lots of people waiting for hours at end".
Communication with patients is another problem that was highlighted with suggestions that the doctors need to be more understanding and explain to the patient if she or he is not suffering from the common flu.
An individual working in the private sector who preferred to maintain anonymity said that she heard that a doctor in the capital who misdiagnosed a patient and was transferred to another hospital in another district. "The mistake would have been fatal to the person as he had misdiagnosed and carelessly tossed aside the person's sickness as normal or something," said the individual.
Despite the $1 fee for local Bruneians to see a doctor, the amount is not what we would expect in terms of service, said Mohamed, father of five children. "But for me, I like the idea that the Ministry of Health has taken up more and more local doctors," he said.
He said that this could be seen from local clinics, with more younger doctors and the local doctor was helpful and provided sufficient explanation, the last time he went to see the doctor at a clinic. "I felt like I was really being taken care of as opposed to the "What's wrong?" question the moment I walk in," he said.
World Health Day, is celebrated today to mark the founding of the World Health Organisation and an opportunity to draw worldwide attention to global health each year. In 2008, World Health Day will focus on the need to protect health from the adverse effects of climate change.
WHO selected this theme in recognition that climate change is posing ever growing threats to global public health security.
The Brunei Times
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Brief history of Brunei's health services
Brief history of Brunei's health services
Then and now: Brunei's first hospital in 1925 (above) and today's Ripas hospital (bottom).Rozan Yunos
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Sunday, November 4, 2007
AT THE turn of the 20th century, Brunei suffered two major epidemics. The first was cholera, which took many lives. Peter Blundell in his book, City of Many Waters, described it as "a dreadful time for Brunei, and most of the huts had to mourn the loss of one or two of their inhabitants".
The next epidemic was smallpox and, like cholera, "the disease spread with great rapidity". The death toll was said to be as great as during the cholera epidemic. In the palace itself, those who died included Sultan Hashim's two elder sons, his grandson and the Bendahara's daughter. During both epidemics, Brunei had no doctors and had to rely on medical services from Labuan.
By the time the British Residency was established in Brunei in 1906, there were still no medical institutions established in the country. There was also little in the way of sanitary measures in the country.
Peter Blundell decried the main inhabited area of Brunei, Kampong Ayer, for the "cramped conditions under which the inhabitants lived. The damp, the lack of exercise, and the germs in the filth and mud under the huts could not but affect unfavourably the health of all the inhabitants. The infant mortality was great, the constitutions of many of the adults extremely weak."
As a result, one of the earliest policies indicated under the British Residency was to advocate a move from Kampong Ayer towards Brunei Town on dry land.
But by the first decade of the 20th century, medical and health services in Brunei were still rudimentary. Any required medical aid was provided in Labuan by the Colonial Surgeon. The British Assistant Resident, among other duties, also provided simple medical care and treated minor ailments.
The British Assistant Resident kept a stock of simple medicaments. Blundell also described his role as providing medical and health care.
It was in 1911 that a government dresser was appointed. Leong Ah Ng, the Government Dresser, was also the Government Postmaster running the postal services. Part of the postal office was even used as a health centre.
Two problems faced Brunei then. One was the cost of upkeeping a medical service and the other was to convince Bruneians of the need for a modern medical service. The former was almost unimaginable in today's country of free medical and health care services. Back then, Brunei's government had too little funding to even provide for a medical doctor.
The government met with some success in the latter endeavour. In 1914, another smallpox epidemic broke out but it was contained with the existence of that health centre. Vaccination was also widely accepted by then.
In 1918, a second dresser was appointed to provide services to the outlying areas. It was then a vaccination program started in Brunei with satisfactory results. A doctor from Labuan was also assigned to visit Brunei from time to time.
In 1921, a Sanitary Board (the forerunner to the Municipal Council) was formed for Brunei Town. Despite those efforts, in 1922, a cholera epidemic hit Brunei and a number of children died.
The first Brunei hospital was built in 1925 by the British Malayan Petroleum Company (BMPC), the company that was prospecting for oil in the Belait District. That hospital was built in Kuala Belait. It was a very small hospital but, at the time, it was considered the best in Brunei.
It was not until 1929 that Brunei Town had its own hospital. It too was a small hospital with an 18-bed ward, an operating room, a laboratory and a pharmacy. Brunei's first medical doctor with the grand title of Residential Medical Officer was also appointed in February of that year.
In 1932, the Government and BMPC collaborated to build a second hospital with better facilities in Kuala Belait. BMPC also embarked on an anti-malaria spraying campaign throughout Kuala Belait.
Infant mortality rate in Brunei was still high. By June 1933, a government bidan (midwife) was also appointed. A Maternity and Children's Clinic was also started to help lower the mortality rate.
Hospitals in Tutong and Temburong were built in 1933 and 1934. The rubber estates in Brunei then also provided medical services in their estates. In 1934, the Gadong Estate had its own dispensary and the Labu Estate in Temburong also had a small hospital. By 1937, the Brunei Town Hospital was also enlarged with the addition of several second class wards.
By the outbreak of the Second World War, Brunei's medical and health conditions had improved tremendously compared to the 40 years prior to that. All the districts had hospitals, mobile clinics operated throughout the country, the large rubber estates had their own medical services and on top of that regular anti-malaria sprayings were done in all the major towns in Brunei.
All that, however, was undone during the Japanese occupation. On top of it, massive Allied Forces bombings, all the hospitals in all the districts were destroyed. Of particular concern was the one at Kuala Belait which, before the war, was equipped with an X-Ray machine.
Immediately after the war, medical services were provided by the Australian Army through a temporary hospital. The government report at that time indicated that in 1946 it was a struggle to provide basic medical services, with shortages of almost all medical supplies.
The 1950s was a revival period. A new hospital said to be the best in Borneo was built in 1952 with 150 beds. Several clinics in Kampong Ayer and the outlying areas were also built. Local nurses were trained by a World Health Organisation nurse brought in to help.
By 1954, there were as many as five doctors in the country and 18 operational clinics. An anti-tuberculosis vaccination program was also introduced.
One major policy was the introduction of the feeding scheme. This scheme, organised by the Health Department together with the Education Department, provided food to about 11 schools, feeding around 800 students by 1953. The feeding scheme introduced better and healthier eating habits to Bruneians.
The first school to provide midwifery and nursing education was opened in 1957. At the same time, many were also sent abroad for training. However, it was 1958 before the first Brunei Malay was appointed as a nurse and midwife.
Since then, Brunei has not looked back. Its medical and health services are probably among the best of the region today. Through the National Health Care Plan 2000-2010, launched in June 2000, the directions, vision, mission and priorities in the strategic and instrumental goals were made more transparent and clear.
The Health Ministry is now able to implement well-coordinated programmes and projects appropriately to achieve a common goal that is to enhance and improve the quality of health and well-being in Brunei Darussalam.
With a current annual health budget of half a billion dollars a year for a population of less than 400,000 people, no expense has been spared by the Government in providing the country with a medical and health service that is second to none. Currently there are around 400 doctors and 1,800 nurses in the country with about 1,200 hospital beds. It is indeed a far cry from just 100 years ago when Brunei had no doctor and no hospital.
The writer runs a website on Brunei at bruneiresources.com
The Brunei Times
Then and now: Brunei's first hospital in 1925 (above) and today's Ripas hospital (bottom).Rozan Yunos
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Sunday, November 4, 2007
AT THE turn of the 20th century, Brunei suffered two major epidemics. The first was cholera, which took many lives. Peter Blundell in his book, City of Many Waters, described it as "a dreadful time for Brunei, and most of the huts had to mourn the loss of one or two of their inhabitants".
The next epidemic was smallpox and, like cholera, "the disease spread with great rapidity". The death toll was said to be as great as during the cholera epidemic. In the palace itself, those who died included Sultan Hashim's two elder sons, his grandson and the Bendahara's daughter. During both epidemics, Brunei had no doctors and had to rely on medical services from Labuan.
By the time the British Residency was established in Brunei in 1906, there were still no medical institutions established in the country. There was also little in the way of sanitary measures in the country.
Peter Blundell decried the main inhabited area of Brunei, Kampong Ayer, for the "cramped conditions under which the inhabitants lived. The damp, the lack of exercise, and the germs in the filth and mud under the huts could not but affect unfavourably the health of all the inhabitants. The infant mortality was great, the constitutions of many of the adults extremely weak."
As a result, one of the earliest policies indicated under the British Residency was to advocate a move from Kampong Ayer towards Brunei Town on dry land.
But by the first decade of the 20th century, medical and health services in Brunei were still rudimentary. Any required medical aid was provided in Labuan by the Colonial Surgeon. The British Assistant Resident, among other duties, also provided simple medical care and treated minor ailments.
The British Assistant Resident kept a stock of simple medicaments. Blundell also described his role as providing medical and health care.
It was in 1911 that a government dresser was appointed. Leong Ah Ng, the Government Dresser, was also the Government Postmaster running the postal services. Part of the postal office was even used as a health centre.
Two problems faced Brunei then. One was the cost of upkeeping a medical service and the other was to convince Bruneians of the need for a modern medical service. The former was almost unimaginable in today's country of free medical and health care services. Back then, Brunei's government had too little funding to even provide for a medical doctor.
The government met with some success in the latter endeavour. In 1914, another smallpox epidemic broke out but it was contained with the existence of that health centre. Vaccination was also widely accepted by then.
In 1918, a second dresser was appointed to provide services to the outlying areas. It was then a vaccination program started in Brunei with satisfactory results. A doctor from Labuan was also assigned to visit Brunei from time to time.
In 1921, a Sanitary Board (the forerunner to the Municipal Council) was formed for Brunei Town. Despite those efforts, in 1922, a cholera epidemic hit Brunei and a number of children died.
The first Brunei hospital was built in 1925 by the British Malayan Petroleum Company (BMPC), the company that was prospecting for oil in the Belait District. That hospital was built in Kuala Belait. It was a very small hospital but, at the time, it was considered the best in Brunei.
It was not until 1929 that Brunei Town had its own hospital. It too was a small hospital with an 18-bed ward, an operating room, a laboratory and a pharmacy. Brunei's first medical doctor with the grand title of Residential Medical Officer was also appointed in February of that year.
In 1932, the Government and BMPC collaborated to build a second hospital with better facilities in Kuala Belait. BMPC also embarked on an anti-malaria spraying campaign throughout Kuala Belait.
Infant mortality rate in Brunei was still high. By June 1933, a government bidan (midwife) was also appointed. A Maternity and Children's Clinic was also started to help lower the mortality rate.
Hospitals in Tutong and Temburong were built in 1933 and 1934. The rubber estates in Brunei then also provided medical services in their estates. In 1934, the Gadong Estate had its own dispensary and the Labu Estate in Temburong also had a small hospital. By 1937, the Brunei Town Hospital was also enlarged with the addition of several second class wards.
By the outbreak of the Second World War, Brunei's medical and health conditions had improved tremendously compared to the 40 years prior to that. All the districts had hospitals, mobile clinics operated throughout the country, the large rubber estates had their own medical services and on top of that regular anti-malaria sprayings were done in all the major towns in Brunei.
All that, however, was undone during the Japanese occupation. On top of it, massive Allied Forces bombings, all the hospitals in all the districts were destroyed. Of particular concern was the one at Kuala Belait which, before the war, was equipped with an X-Ray machine.
Immediately after the war, medical services were provided by the Australian Army through a temporary hospital. The government report at that time indicated that in 1946 it was a struggle to provide basic medical services, with shortages of almost all medical supplies.
The 1950s was a revival period. A new hospital said to be the best in Borneo was built in 1952 with 150 beds. Several clinics in Kampong Ayer and the outlying areas were also built. Local nurses were trained by a World Health Organisation nurse brought in to help.
By 1954, there were as many as five doctors in the country and 18 operational clinics. An anti-tuberculosis vaccination program was also introduced.
One major policy was the introduction of the feeding scheme. This scheme, organised by the Health Department together with the Education Department, provided food to about 11 schools, feeding around 800 students by 1953. The feeding scheme introduced better and healthier eating habits to Bruneians.
The first school to provide midwifery and nursing education was opened in 1957. At the same time, many were also sent abroad for training. However, it was 1958 before the first Brunei Malay was appointed as a nurse and midwife.
Since then, Brunei has not looked back. Its medical and health services are probably among the best of the region today. Through the National Health Care Plan 2000-2010, launched in June 2000, the directions, vision, mission and priorities in the strategic and instrumental goals were made more transparent and clear.
The Health Ministry is now able to implement well-coordinated programmes and projects appropriately to achieve a common goal that is to enhance and improve the quality of health and well-being in Brunei Darussalam.
With a current annual health budget of half a billion dollars a year for a population of less than 400,000 people, no expense has been spared by the Government in providing the country with a medical and health service that is second to none. Currently there are around 400 doctors and 1,800 nurses in the country with about 1,200 hospital beds. It is indeed a far cry from just 100 years ago when Brunei had no doctor and no hospital.
The writer runs a website on Brunei at bruneiresources.com
The Brunei Times
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