MyMedR

Fulltext Utilisation of specialist medical manpower in Malaysia

Wong SL, Mohan AJ, Suleiman AB

Med J Malaysia, 1998 Sep;53(3):245-50.

One hundred and twenty specialists from the Ministry of Health, the Universities and the private sector provided information on 4,802 patients seen over a total of two hundred and forty working days. This information was used to classify the patients into four categories based on a disease complexity classification. Each specialist's perception on the appropriateness of utilisation of his expertise was obtained. Complex cases requiring specialist expertise in management made up 69.8%, 73.5% and 19.1% of the cases of the Ministry of Health, University and private sector specialists respectively. Underutilisation was most marked with paediatricians and obstetricians in the private sector. The Specialist Register, the Programme for Accreditation of Hospitals and a National Health Financing Plan can be used to influence positively the case-mix of specialists.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Manpower*

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cytology practice: An international survey in the Asia-Pacific region

Wang YH, Bychkov A, Chakrabarti I, Jain D, Liu Z, He S, et al.

Cancer Cytopathol, 2020 Dec;128(12):895-904.

PMID: 32931161 DOI: 10.1002/cncy.22354

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the current study was to examine the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on various aspects of cytology practice in the Asia-Pacific region.

METHODS: An online questionnaire was distributed to cytopathology laboratories in 24 Asia-Pacific countries to explore the impact of restrictive measures on access to health care, use of general and personal protective equipment (PPE), and changes in cytology workflow and workload from February to April 2020.

RESULTS: A total of 167 cytopathology laboratories from 24 countries responded to the survey; the majority reported that restrictive measures that limited the accessibility of health care services had been implemented in their cities and/or countries (80.8%) and their hospitals (83.8%). The respondents noted that COVID-19 had an impact on the cytologic workflow as well as the workload. Approximately one-half of the participants reported the implementation of new biosafety protocols (54.5%) as well as improvements in laboratory facilities (47.3%). Rearrangement or redeployment of the workforce was reported in 53.3% and 34.1% of laboratories, respectively. The majority of the respondents reported a significant reduction (>10%) in caseload associated with both gynecological (82.0%) and nongynecological specimens (78.4%). Most laboratories reported no significant change in the malignancy rates of both gynecological (67.7%) and nongynecological specimens (58.7%) compared with the same period in 2019.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of the survey demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a significant reduction in the number of cytology specimens examined along with the need to implement new biosafety protocols. These findings underscore the need for the worldwide standardization of biosafety protocols and cytology practice.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Manpower/organization & administration; Health Manpower/standards; Health Manpower/statistics & numerical data

Brunei Darussalam

United States. Department of State. Bureau of Public Affairs

Backgr Notes Ser, 1985 Apr.

PMID: 12178106

Matched MeSH terms: Health Manpower*

Clandestine labor migration to Taiwan

Tsay C

Asian Pac Migr J, 1992;1(3-4):637-55.

PMID: 12285774

"Illegal migration to Taiwan is a recent phenomenon but with a rapid rate of increase. Most illegal foreign workers enter on visitor's visas and overstay. This paper's detailed analysis of official data reveals that Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand are the major sources, providing a stock of mostly male workers numbering around 40,000. Sociodemographic and attitudinal changes among Taiwanese workers coupled with labor shortages in low-skilled jobs are pressuring the Taiwanese government to formulate plans for a systematic importation of foreign labor."

Matched MeSH terms: Health Manpower

Fulltext Smoking behaviours and attitudes toward tobacco control among assistant environmental health officer trainees

Tee GH, Gurpreet K, Hairi NN, Zarihah Z, Fadzilah K

Int J Tuberc Lung Dis, 2013 Dec;17(12):1652-5.

PMID: 24200284 DOI: 10.5588/ijtld.12.0241

Assistant environmental health officers (AEHO) are health care providers (HCPs) who act as enforcers, educators and trusted role models for the public. This is the first study to explore smoking behaviour and attitudes toward tobacco control among future HCPs. Almost 30% of AEHO trainees did not know the role of AEHOs in counselling smokers to stop smoking, but 91% agreed they should not smoke before advising others not to do so. The majority agreed that tobacco control regulations may be used as a means of reducing the prevalence of smoking. Future AEHOs had positive attitudes toward tobacco regulations but lacked understanding of their responsibility in tobacco control measures.

Matched MeSH terms: Environmental Health/manpower*

Neurology in Asia

Tan CT

Neurology, 2015 Feb 10;84(6):623-5.

PMID: 25666629 DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000001224

Asia is important as it accounts for more than half of the world population. The majority of Asian countries fall into the middle income category. As for cultural traditions, Asia is highly varied, with many languages spoken. The pattern of neurologic diseases in Asia is largely similar to the West, with some disease features being specific to Asia. Whereas Asia constitutes 60% of the world's population, it contains only 20% of the world's neurologists. This disparity is particularly evident in South and South East Asia. As for neurologic care, it is highly variable depending on whether it is an urban or rural setting, the level of economic development, and the system of health care financing. To help remedy the shortage of neurologists, most counties with larger populations have established training programs in neurology. These programs are diverse, with many areas of concern. There are regional organizations serving as a vehicle for networking in neurology and various subspecialties, as well as an official journal (Neurology Asia). The Asian Epilepsy Academy, with its emphasis on workshops in various locations, EEG certification examination, and fellowships, may provide a template of effective regional networking for improving neurology care in the region.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Manpower/statistics & numerical data*

Fulltext An Online Survey of the Perceptions of Clinical and Non-Clinical Professionals on Healthcare for Non-Communicable Diseases and COVID-19 Measures During the Pandemic in Malaysia

Sureshkumar S, Mustapha F, Yusoff H, Mwangi KJ, Marcus K, Kohlbrenner B, et al.

Int J Public Health, 2023;68:1605861.

PMID: 37304500 DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2023.1605861

Objectives: This study assesses the opinions of health professionals in Malaysia on the disruption of non-communicable disease (NCD) services during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 to January 2022. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey with 191 non-clinical public health workers and clinical health service workers in Malaysia from November 2021 to January 2022. Participants were recruited by the Malaysian Ministry of Health using major networks including key experts and practitioners. Secondary respondents were subsequently enrolled through snowballing. Results: The most notable issues raised by the survey participants relate to NCD service disruption, the redirection of NCD care resources, and NCD care being overburdened post-pandemic. Respondents also reported accounts of resilience and prompt reaction from the healthcare system, as well as calls for innovation. Conclusion: Most respondents perceived that the challenges arising from COVID-19 were mostly managed well by the healthcare system, which was able to provide the necessary services to NCD patients during this health emergency. However, the study identifies gaps in the health system response and preparedness capacity, and highlights solutions for strengthening NCD services.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Manpower

Singapore's foreign workforce: some reflections on its benefits and costs

Stahl CW

Int Migr Rev, 1984;18(1):37-49.

PMID: 12312927

"This article provides some empirical information pertaining to the benefits and costs of foreign labor to Singapore and subjects to critical analysis some of Pang and Lim's hypotheses concerning the costs of labor importation presented in a previous article.... The article concludes with a discussion of the real cost to Malaysia of Singapore's labor importation policies and its potential for disruption of Malaysia's development plans."

Matched MeSH terms: Health Manpower

Taikongs and Calos: the role of middlemen and brokers in Javanese international migration

Spaan E

Int Migr Rev, 1994;28(1):93-113.

PMID: 12287280

"This article discusses international migration from Java in the past and present and the role brokers have played in stimulating this movement. It describes legal and clandestine labor migration to Singapore, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia, the influence of employment brokers on the process, and the organization of the recruitment networks. The involvement of brokers is crucial but not always beneficial for the migrants. Migrants are dependent on the brokers and risk exploitation. In the case of movement to Saudi Arabia, there is a linkage with religious institutions and the Islamic pilgrimage."

Matched MeSH terms: Health Manpower

Labor markets and economic development in Malaysia

Smith JP

Res Popul Econ, 1991;7:131-56.

PMID: 12317026

Matched MeSH terms: Health Manpower

Workforce Considerations, Training, and Diseases of the Asia-Pacific Region

Smith JD, Tan KL

Otolaryngol. Clin. North Am., 2018 Jun;51(3):659-665.

PMID: 29482921 DOI: 10.1016/j.otc.2018.01.010

The Asia-Pacific region has 60% of the world's population. There is a huge variability in ethnic groups, geography, diseases, and income. The otolaryngology workforce depends on the number of medical graduates, training programs, scope of practice, and available employment. Training has been influenced by the British, Russian, and US training systems, and by local influences and experience. Otolaryngologic diseases are similar to those seen in the United States but with ethnic and regional differences. There are opportunities for humanitarian service but the most sustainable projects will include repetitive visits with transfer of knowledge.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Manpower/organization & administration; Health Manpower/statistics & numerical data*

A global perspective on foreign contract labor

Smart JE, Casco RR

Asian Migr, 1998 Jan-Feb;1(1):8-12.

PMID: 12281042

Matched MeSH terms: Health Manpower*

On mobility and fertility transitions in east and southeast Asia

Skeldon R

Asian Pac Migr J, 1992;1(2):220-49.

PMID: 12343909

The relationship between fertility and mobility is examined with reference to Zelinsky's [1971] mobility transition hypothesis. Five Asian countries (Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, China) at different stages of development and mobility transition are compared with respect to shifting sectoral patterns of migration and changing levels of fertility. National trends suggest that the development sequence proposed by Zelinsky on the basis of the European experience does not generally apply to Asia. In four out of five cases examined, fertility declined before substantial urbanization took place. Zelinsky's sequence of mobility change should be modified to fit the experience of developing countries, but the importance of the interrelations hip between fertility decline and mobility change remains

Matched MeSH terms: Health Manpower

The relationship between migration and development in the ESCAP region

Skeldon R

Popul Res Leads, 1991.

PMID: 12317488

Matched MeSH terms: Health Manpower

Environmental sanitation and pollution in Malaysia

Sekaran AS

Med J Malaysia, 1974 Dec;29(2):97-102.

PMID: 4282408

Matched MeSH terms: Health Manpower

Medical manpower in a rapidly expanding population

Sandosham AA

Med J Malaya, 1968 Dec;23(2):146-51.

PMID: 4241012

Matched MeSH terms: Health Manpower*

Breaking barriers and building bridges: reimagining a feminist health workforce

Orth Z, Meyer Z, Singh S, Riha J

BMJ, 2023 Jun 02;381:1268.

PMID: 37268315 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.p1268

Matched MeSH terms: Health Manpower*

Discouraging rural to urban migration of the youths in Malaysia

Nor Bin Abdul-ghani M

Dev Forum, 1979 Dec;9(2):61-70.

PMID: 12336534

Matched MeSH terms: Health Manpower

Fulltext COVID-19 among Health Workers in Germany and Malaysia

Nienhaus A, Hod R

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2020 Jul 07;17(13).

PMID: 32645826 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17134881

We report on the suspected case reports filed for SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 illnesses among health and social welfare workers in Germany. In addition, we report about COVID-19 in health workers in Malaysia. Claims for occupational diseases caused by SARS-CoV-2 are recorded separately in a database of the Statutory Accident Insurance and Prevention in the Health and Welfare Services (BGW). This database is analyzed according to its content as of May 22, 2020. In addition, the notifiable cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections from personnel in medical institutions (e.g., clinics and doctor's office) and social welfare institutions (e.g., nursing homes, shelters and refugee camps) following the German Infection Protection Act are analyzed. The report from Malaysia is based on personal experience and publications of the government. In Germany at present, 4398 suspected case reports for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infections among health and social workers have been filed. This figure is four times the number of all reported infections normally received per year. The majority of claims, regardless of being a confirmed infection, concerned nurses (n = 6927, 63.9%). The mortality rate for workers infected with SARS-CoV-2 is 0.2% to 0.5%. Doctors are affected by severe illness more frequently than other occupational groups (8.1% vs. 4.1%). In Malaysia, work-related infection of health workers (HW) occurred mainly when COVID-19 was not suspected in patients and no adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) was worn. Although knowledge on the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infections among workers remains limited, the impact appears to be substantial. This is supported by the mortality rate among infected workers. Occupational health check-ups carried out at the present time should be systematically analyzed in order to gain more information on the epidemiology of COVID-19 among HW. Since the supply and use of PPE improved, the infection risk of HW in Malaysia seems to have decreased.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Manpower

Migrant labor absorption in Malaysia

Nayagam J

Asian Pac Migr J, 1992;1(3-4):477-94.

PMID: 12285766

The use of migrant workers to ease labor shortages caused by rapid industrialization in Malaysia during the twentieth century is examined. "This paper will focus on: (1) the extent, composition and distribution of migrant workers; (2) the labor shortage and absorption of migrant workers; and (3) the role of migrant workers in the government's economic restructuring process."

Matched MeSH terms: Health Manpower

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