MyMedR

BACKGROUND: Malaysia is a multicultural society, predominantly composed of a Muslim majority population, where Islam is influential. Malaysia has a concentrated HIV epidemic amongst high risk groups, such as, Intravenous Drug Users (IVDU), sex workers, transgender women and Men who have sex with Men (MSM). The objective of this study is to understand how Islam shapes HIV prevention strategies in Malaysia by interviewing the three key stakeholder groups identified as being influential, namely the Ministry of Health, Religious leaders and People living with HIV.

METHODS: Thirty-Five in depth semi structured interviews were undertaken with religious leaders, Ministry of Health and People living with HIV in the last half of 2013 using purposive sampling. Interviews adhered to a topic guide, were audiotaped, and transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a framework analysis.

RESULTS: Themes including the importance of Islam to health, stakeholder relationships and opinions on HIV prevention emerged. Islam was seen to play a pivotal role in shaping strategies relating to HIV prevention in Malaysia both directly and indirectly. Stakeholders often held different approaches to HIV prevention, which had to be sensitively considered, with some favouring promotion of Islamic principles, whilst others steering towards a more public health centred approach.

CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that Islam indeed plays an important role in shaping health policies and strategies related to HIV prevention in Malaysia. Certainly, stakeholders do hold differing viewpoints, such as stances of what constitutes the right approach to HIV prevention. However there are also areas of broad consensus, such as the importance in Islamic tradition to prevent harm and disease, which can be crafted into existing and future HIV prevention strategies in Malaysia, as well as the wider Muslim world.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Policy*

Categorizing the telehealth policy response of countries and their implications for complementarity of telehealth policy

Varghese S, Scott RE

Telemed J E Health, 2004;10(1):61-9.

PMID: 15104917

Developing countries are exploring the role of telehealth to overcome the challenges of providing adequate health care services. However, this process faces disparities, and no complementarity in telehealth policy development. Telehealth has the potential to transcend geopolitical boundaries, yet telehealth policy developed in one jurisdiction may hamper applications in another. Understanding such policy complexities is essential for telehealth to realize its full global potential. This study investigated 12 East Asian countries that may represent a microcosm of the world, to determine if the telehealth policy response of countries could be categorized, and whether any implications could be identified for the development of complementary telehealth policy. The countries were Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Three categories of country response were identified in regard to national policy support and development. The first category was "None" (Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam) where international partners, driven by humanitarian concerns, lead telehealth activity. The second category was "Proactive" (China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand) where national policies were designed with the view that telehealth initiatives are a component of larger development objectives. The third was "Reactive" (Hong Kong and Japan), where policies were only proffered after telehealth activities were sustainable. It is concluded that although complementarity of telehealth policy development is not occurring, increased interjurisdictional telehealth activity, regional clusters, and concerted and coordinated effort amongst researchers, practitioners, and policy makers may alter this trend.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Policy*

TPPA should not be adopted without a full, independent health assessment

Keating G, Freeman J, Macmillan A, Neuwelt P, Monasterio E

N Z Med J, 2016 Feb 19;129(1430):7-13.

PMID: 26914417

Matched MeSH terms: Health Policy*

Smoking in Malaysia: promotion and control

Teoh SK

World Smoking Health, 1984;9(2):27-30.

PMID: 12179603

Matched MeSH terms: Public Policy*

Malaysian population and family development

Nor Laily Aziz Binti Abu Bakar

Search Medford N J, 1981 Apr.

PMID: 12222508

Matched MeSH terms: Public Policy*

Internal migration and development transitions in South East Asia

Pryor RJ

Popul Geogr, 1981 Jul-Dec;3(1-2):57-68.

PMID: 12179069

Matched MeSH terms: Public Policy*

Demographic development in ASEAN: a comparative overview

Herrin AN, Pardoko H, Lim LL, Hongladorom C

Philipp Rev Econ Bus, 1981 Sep-Dec;18(3-4):132-53.

PMID: 12178278

Matched MeSH terms: Public Policy*

Planned population redistribution: lessons from Indonesia and Malaysia

Laquian AA

Habitat Int, 1982;6(1-2):39-52.

PMID: 12279451

Matched MeSH terms: Public Policy*

Dynamic disequilibrium: demographic policies and trends in Asia

Hull TH, Larson A

Asia Pac Econ Lit, 1987 May;1(1):25-59.

PMID: 12314890

Matched MeSH terms: Public Policy*

[Population policy in some Asian countries]

Concepcion M

Rev Bras Estud Popul, 1987 Jan-Jul;4(1):61-76.

PMID: 12280935

Matched MeSH terms: Public Policy*

Health services and the legitimation of the colonial state: British Malaya 1786-1941

Manderson L

Int J Health Serv, 1987;17(1):91-112.

PMID: 3549590

This article is concerned with the establishment and extension of health care and medical services in British colonial Malaya. Initially, medical care was provided for the colonial elite and those in their direct employment. With the expansion of colonial control beyond trade centers into the hinterland and with the growth of agriculture and mining. Western medicine was extended both to labor involved in these export industries and to others whose ill health might jeopardize the welfare of the colonists. Public health programs in the twentieth century continued to focus on medical problems that had direct impact on the colonial economy, but programs were extended to ensure the reproduction as well as the maintenance of the labor force. This article develops the notion of a legitimation vacuum, and the role of the state provision of social services, including medical services, in legitimizing colonial presence and control.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Policy/history

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