Displaying publications 121 - 140 of 324 in total

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  1. A Comparative Study on the Constitutional Right to Health in the Western Pacific Region Countries
    Choi S, Park S, Kim SY
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2018 07;30(5):458-469.
    PMID: 30051720 DOI: 10.1177/1010539518789351
    We examined the constitutional provisions on the right to health in the Western Pacific region countries and compared universal health coverage (UHC) achievement. In 9 of the 11 countries, the constitution had provisions related to health rights, of which 7 countries also included details related to the health care system. Additionally, 5 countries also had provisions for the vulnerable. The countries with weak state obligation and no clear provisions on health rights (China and Laos) all recorded low UHC achievement scores. Australia and Malaysia, which do not have constitutional provisions regarding health, have achieved high UHC achievement scores. Constitution is the supreme law of a country and the basis for developing and implementing health and medical laws and policies. In addition, laws or constitutions that regulate the rights to health can help gain access to health care. Follow-up research related to the constitutional right to health will be needed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Delivery of Health Care/legislation & jurisprudence*
  2. Barcelona 2002: law, ethics, and human rights. Global battle cry: health is a right, not a commodity
    Fernandez I
    Can HIV AIDS Policy Law Rev, 2002 Dec;7(2-3):80-4.
    PMID: 14743815
    Health is a fundamental right, not a commodity to be sold at a profit, argues Irene Fernandez in the second Jonathan Mann Memorial Lecture delivered on 8 July 2002 to the XIV International AIDS Conference in Barcelona. Ms Fernandez had to obtain a special permit from the Malaysian government to attend the Conference because she is on trial for having publicly released information about abuse, torture, illness, corruption, and death in Malaysian detention camps for migrants. This article, based on Ms Fernandez' presentation, describes how the policies of the rich world have failed the poor world. According to Ms Fernandez, the policies of globalization and privatization of health care have hindered the ability of developing countries to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The article decries the hypocrisy of the industrialized nations in increasing subsidies to farmers while demanding that the developing world open its doors to Western goods. It points out that the rich nations have failed to live up their foreign aid commitments. The article concludes that these commitments--and the other promises made in the last few years, such as those in the United Nations' Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS--can only become a reality if they are translated into action.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Services Accessibility/legislation & jurisprudence*
  3. Final journeys: exploring the realities of suicide tourism
    Zhi GYJ, Flaherty GT, Hallahan B
    J Travel Med, 2019 May 10;26(3).
    PMID: 30860264 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taz016
    Matched MeSH terms: Suicide, Assisted/legislation & jurisprudence
  4. Tapered US carbon emissions during good times: what's old, what's new?
    Eng YK, Wong CY
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2017 Nov;24(32):25047-25060.
    PMID: 28920161 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-0144-6
    In light of a slow buildup in CO2 emissions since the recovery, this paper revisits the relationship between CO2 emissions and the US economy using a nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag model, in which the determinants are identified through an expanded real business cycle model. We find convincing evidence that CO2 emissions decline more rapidly during recessions than increase during expansions over the long run. Of all determinants considered, long-run asymmetry is fostered once vehicle miles traveled is controlled. This calls for a greater attention to public transportation development and vehicle miles traveled tax for slowing down stock buildup of CO2 emissions during good times.
    Matched MeSH terms: Transportation/legislation & jurisprudence
  5. Landscape-scale benefits of protected areas for tropical biodiversity
    Brodie JF, Mohd-Azlan J, Chen C, Wearn OR, Deith MCM, Ball JGC, et al.
    Nature, 2023 Aug;620(7975):807-812.
    PMID: 37612395 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06410-z
    The United Nations recently agreed to major expansions of global protected areas (PAs) to slow biodiversity declines1. However, although reserves often reduce habitat loss, their efficacy at preserving animal diversity and their influence on biodiversity in surrounding unprotected areas remain unclear2-5. Unregulated hunting can empty PAs of large animals6, illegal tree felling can degrade habitat quality7, and parks can simply displace disturbances such as logging and hunting to unprotected areas of the landscape8 (a phenomenon called leakage). Alternatively, well-functioning PAs could enhance animal diversity within reserves as well as in nearby unprotected sites9 (an effect called spillover). Here we test whether PAs across mega-diverse Southeast Asia contribute to vertebrate conservation inside and outside their boundaries. Reserves increased all facets of bird diversity. Large reserves were also associated with substantially enhanced mammal diversity in the adjacent unprotected landscape. Rather than PAs generating leakage that deteriorated ecological conditions elsewhere, our results are consistent with PAs inducing spillover that benefits biodiversity in surrounding areas. These findings support the United Nations goal of achieving 30% PA coverage by 2030 by demonstrating that PAs are associated with higher vertebrate diversity both inside their boundaries and in the broader landscape.
    Matched MeSH terms: Forestry/legislation & jurisprudence
  6. Fulltext Opportunity for marine fisheries reform in China
    Cao L, Chen Y, Dong S, Hanson A, Huang B, Leadbitter D, et al.
    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2017 01 17;114(3):435-442.
    PMID: 28096504 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1616583114
    China's 13th Five-Year Plan, launched in March 2016, provides a sound policy platform for the protection of marine ecosystems and the restoration of capture fisheries within China's exclusive economic zone. What distinguishes China among many other countries striving for marine fisheries reform is its size-accounting for almost one-fifth of global catch volume-and the unique cultural context of its economic and resource management. In this paper, we trace the history of Chinese government priorities, policies, and outcomes related to marine fisheries since the 1978 Economic Reform, and examine how the current leadership's agenda for "ecological civilization" could successfully transform marine resource management in the coming years. We show how China, like many other countries, has experienced a decline in the average trophic level of its capture fisheries during the past few decades, and how its policy design, implementation, and enforcement have influenced the status of its wild fish stocks. To reverse the trend in declining fish stocks, the government is introducing a series of new programs for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, with greater traceability and accountability in marine resource management and area controls on coastal development. As impressive as these new plans are on paper, we conclude that serious institutional reforms will be needed to achieve a true paradigm shift in marine fisheries management in China. In particular, we recommend new institutions for science-based fisheries management, secure fishing access, policy consistency across provinces, educational programs for fisheries managers, and increasing public access to scientific data.
    Matched MeSH terms: Conservation of Natural Resources/legislation & jurisprudence
  7. Legislation--Impact and Trends in Nutrition Labeling: A Global Overview
    Kasapila W, Shaarani SM
    Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2016;56(1):56-64.
    PMID: 24987986 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2012.710277
    The need for accurate nutrition labeling on food products has never been greater. Obesity has assumed near-epidemic levels in both industrialized and emerging nations in recent years, and governments and consumer groups around the world are looking for ways to improve the nutritional choices for their citizenry while simultaneously balancing their freedom of choice through the use of nutrition labeling. Despite increasingly aggressive efforts by government and industry organizations to raise consumer awareness, though, many consumers either do not consult nutrition labels or they are not in a position to interpret the information on these labels accurately. To gain some fresh insights into nutrition labeling practices worldwide, this paper provides a review of the relevant peer-reviewed, scholarly, and government literature to describe regulations enacted to date, evolving and future trends, and the likely impact of food product labels. In this regard, the paper highlights similarities and discrepancies that exist, identifies gaps, and gives directions for the future.
    Matched MeSH terms: Legislation, Food
  8. Infanticide and illegal infant abandonment in Malaysia
    Razali S, Kirkman M, Ahmad SH, Fisher J
    Child Abuse Negl, 2014 Oct;38(10):1715-24.
    PMID: 25048164 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.06.008
    Infant abandonment and infanticide are poorly understood in Malaysia. The information available in the public arena comes predominantly from anecdotal sources. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and characteristics of infanticide and illegal infant abandonment in Malaysia and to estimate annual rates for the most recent decade. Summaries of data about infanticide and illegal infant abandonment were gathered from police records; the annual number of live births was ascertained from the national registry. The estimated inferred infanticide rates for Malaysia were compared with the infanticide rates among countries of very high, high, medium, and low rankings on the Human Development, Gender Inequality, and Gini indices. From 1999 to 2011, 1,069 cases of illegal infant abandonment were recorded and 1,147 people were arrested as suspected perpetrators. The estimated inferred infanticide rate fluctuated between 4.82 and 9.11 per 100,000 live births, a moderate rate relative to the infanticide rates of other countries. There are substantial missing data, with details undocumented for about 78-87% of cases and suspected perpetrators. Of the documented cases, it appeared that more boys than girls were victims and that suspected perpetrators were predominantly Malays who were women, usually mothers of the victim; the possibility of arrest bias must be acknowledged. Economic and social inequality, particularly gender inequality, might contribute to the phenomena of infanticide and abandonment. Strategies to reduce rates of infanticide and illegal infant abandonment in Malaysia will require strengthening of the surveillance system and attention to the gender-based inequalities that underpin human development.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child, Abandoned/legislation & jurisprudence; Infanticide/legislation & jurisprudence; Sexism/legislation & jurisprudence
  9. Second-hand smoke in public spaces: how effective has partial smoke-free legislation been in Malaysia?
    Abidin EZ, Hashim Z, Semple S
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2013;14(11):6845-50.
    PMID: 24377615
    BACKGROUND: This study was performed to gather data on second-hand smoke (SHS) concentrations in a range of public venues following the implementation of partial Smoke-Free Legislation in Malaysia in 2004.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: PM2.5 was measured as a marker of SHS levels in a total of 61 restaurants, entertainment centres, internet cafes and pubs in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

    RESULTS: Under the current smoke-free laws smoking was prohibited in 42 of the 61 premises. Active smoking was observed in nearly one-third (n=12) of these. For premises where smoking was prohibited and no active smoking observed, the mean (standard deviation) indoor PM2.5 concentration was 33.4 (23.8) μg/m3 compared to 187.1 (135.1) μg/m3 in premises where smoking was observed The highest mean PM2.5 was observed in pubs [361.5 (199.3) μg/m3].

    CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence of high levels of SHS across a range of hospitality venues, including about one-third of those where smoking is prohibited, despite 8 years of smoke-free legislation. Compliance with the legislation appeared to be particularly poor in entertainment centres and internet cafes. Workers and non-smoking patrons continue to be exposed to high concentrations of SHS within the hospitality industry in Malaysia and there is an urgent need for increased enforcement of existing legislation and consideration of more comprehensive laws to protect health.

    Matched MeSH terms: Tobacco Smoke Pollution/legislation & jurisprudence*; Air Pollution, Indoor/legislation & jurisprudence; Inhalation Exposure/legislation & jurisprudence
  10. Fatigue-related crashes involving express buses in Malaysia: will the proposed policy of banning the early-hour operation reduce fatigue-related crashes and benefit overall road safety?
    Mohamed N, Mohd-Yusoff MF, Othman I, Zulkipli ZH, Osman MR, Voon WS
    Accid Anal Prev, 2012 Mar;45 Suppl:45-9.
    PMID: 22239931 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2011.09.025
    Fatigue-related crashes have long been the topic of discussion and study worldwide. The relationship between fatigue-related crashes and time of day is well documented. In Malaysia, the possibility of banning express buses from operating during the early-hours of the morning has emerged as an important consideration for passenger safety. This paper highlights the findings of an impact assessment study. The study was conducted to determine all possible impacts prior to the government making any decision on the proposed banning. This study is an example of a simple and inexpensive approach that may influence future policy-making process. The impact assessment comprised two major steps. The first step involved profiling existing operation scenarios, gathering information on crashes involving public express buses and stakeholders' views. The second step involved a qualitative impact assessment analysis using all information gathered during the profiling stage to describe the possible impacts. Based on the assessment, the move to ban early-hour operations could possibly result in further negative impacts on the overall road safety agenda. These negative impacts may occur if the fundamental issues, such as driving and working hours, and the need for rest and sleep facilities for drivers, are not addressed. In addition, a safer and more accessible public transportation system as an alternative for those who choose to travel at night would be required. The proposed banning of early-hour operations is also not a feasible solution for sustainability of express bus operations in Malaysia, especially for those operating long journeys. The paper concludes by highlighting the need to design a more holistic approach for preventing fatigue-related crashes involving express buses in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Accidents, Traffic/legislation & jurisprudence; Automobile Driving/legislation & jurisprudence*; Safety Management/legislation & jurisprudence
  11. Fulltext Evidence-based decision on medical technologies in Asia Pacific: experiences from India, Malaysia, Philippines, and Pakistan
    Thatte U, Hussain S, de Rosas-Valera M, Malik MA
    Value Health, 2009 Nov-Dec;12 Suppl 3:S18-25.
    PMID: 20586975 DOI: 10.1111/j.1524-4733.2009.00622.x
    This paper discusses national programs implemented in India, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Philippines to generate and apply evidence in making informed policy decisions on the approval, pricing, reimbursement and financing of medicines, diagnostics, and medical devices.
    Matched MeSH terms: Prospective Payment System/legislation & jurisprudence; Drug Approval/legislation & jurisprudence; Device Approval/legislation & jurisprudence
  12. Sweat or no sweat: foreign workers in the garment industry in Malaysia
    Crinis V
    J Contemp Asia, 2010;40(4):589-611.
    PMID: 20845568 DOI: 10.1080/00472336.2010.507046
    In the last decade factory owners, in response to brand-name Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) parameters, have joined associations that verify (through a monitoring and audit system) that management does not exploit labour. There have been no reports of violations of codes of conduct concerning Malaysian workers but for foreign workers on contract there are certain areas that have been reported. These areas, including trade union membership, the withholding of workers' passports and unsuitable accommodation, generally escape notice because auditors who monitor factory compliance do not question the terms of contracts as long as they comply with national labour standards. This paper is based on research with foreign workers in Malaysia and argues that despite the success of the anti-sweatshop movement in a global context, the neo-liberal state in Malaysia continues to place certain restrictions on transnational labour migrants which breach garment industry codes of conduct. Available evidence does not support the assumption that CSR practices provide sufficient protection for both citizen and foreign workers on contract in the garment industry.
    Matched MeSH terms: Public Health/legislation & jurisprudence; Public Policy/legislation & jurisprudence; Emigrants and Immigrants/legislation & jurisprudence
  13. Government public health policy: three cautionary tales from Malaysia, South Africa and the United States
    Blum J, Carstens P, Talib N
    Med Law, 2007 Dec;26(4):615-42.
    PMID: 18284107
    Three authors describe problematic scenarios of health policy in their respective countries. These examples illustrate the role of government influences in determining resource allocation, legislation, health provision and health outcomes in very different situations. These outcomes are affected not only by attitudes to public health, but also by the legal systems in the countries which are the subjects of this study. The authors draw conclusions about the use and abuse of public health regulation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Consumer Participation/legislation & jurisprudence; Delivery of Health Care/legislation & jurisprudence; Public Health/legislation & jurisprudence*
  14. Fulltext Clinical pathways--the new paradigm in healthcare?
    Cheah TS
    Med J Malaysia, 1998 Mar;53(1):87-96.
    PMID: 10968144
    A clinical pathway defines the optimal care process, sequencing and timing of interventions by doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals for a particular diagnosis or procedure. It is a relatively new clinical process improvement tool that has been gaining popularity across hospitals in the USA, Australia and United Kingdom. Clinical pathways are developed through collaborative efforts of clinicians, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists and other allied healthcare professionals with the aim towards improving the quality of patient care. Clinical pathways have been shown to reduce unnecessary variation in patient care, reduce delays in discharge through more efficient discharge planning, and improve the cost-effectiveness of clinical services. The approach and objectives of clinical pathways are consistent with those of total quality management (TQM) and continuous quality improvement (CQI) and is essentially the application of these principles to the patient's bedside. This article examines the proliferation in the use of clinical pathways, its benefits to the healthcare organisation, its application as a tool for CQI activities in direct relation to patient care and the medico-legal implications involved.
    Matched MeSH terms: Legislation, Medical
  15. Third molars in the establishment of adult status--a case report
    Nambiar P, Yaacob H, Menon R
    J Forensic Odontostomatol, 1996 Dec;14(2):30-3.
    PMID: 9227080
    Teeth are the most durable structures in the human body. The timing and sequence of their development, as contained in dental development charts, have been used as valid criteria for age determination. The third molars however are the last teeth to erupt and are regarded as the most variable in the dentition. Age estimation in a legal context, using developing third molars must be carefully applied otherwise justice may miscarry. A case of wrongful use of the technique is presented here.
    Matched MeSH terms: Drug and Narcotic Control/legislation & jurisprudence; Expert Testimony/legislation & jurisprudence*; Forensic Dentistry/legislation & jurisprudence
  16. Seat belt use in a developing country: covert noncompliance with a primary enforcement law in Malaysia
    Hauswald M
    Accid Anal Prev, 1997 Sep;29(5):695-7.
    PMID: 9316717
    Malaysia has strict laws requiring seat belt use by all vehicle occupants. However, neither passive devices nor inertial reel belts are mandated. Seat belt usage was investigated among 60 taxicab drivers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 1993. Although all drivers appeared to be restrained during an initial curb-side inspection, 60% did not fasten the latch. There was no statistical difference between ethnic groups. Curb-side estimates of restraint use may overestimate actual usage, resulting in falsely low estimates of effectiveness. Requiring inertial reel belts, which would retract if not latched, could greatly increase actual restraint use. This may be cost effective for developing nations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Accidents, Occupational/legislation & jurisprudence; Accidents, Traffic/legislation & jurisprudence*; Seat Belts/legislation & jurisprudence*
  17. Drug policies in Malaysia
    James PF
    Lancet, 1984 Feb 25;1(8374):453.
    PMID: 6142178
    Matched MeSH terms: Legislation, Pharmacy
  18. Fulltext Expediting the sampling, decalcification, and forensic DNA analysis of large elephant ivory seizures to aid investigations and prosecutions
    Ewart KM, Lightson AL, Sitam FT, Rovie-Ryan JJ, Mather N, McEwing R
    Forensic Sci Int Genet, 2020 01;44:102187.
    PMID: 31670244 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2019.102187
    The illegal ivory trade continues to drive elephant poaching. Large ivory seizures in Africa and Asia are still commonplace. Wildlife forensics is recognised as a key enforcement tool to combat this trade. However, the time and resources required to effectively test large ivory seizures is often prohibitive. This limits or delays testing, which may impede investigations and/or prosecutions. Typically, DNA analysis of an ivory seizure involves pairing and sorting the tusks, sampling the tusks, powdering the sample, decalcification, then DNA extraction. Here, we optimize the most time-consuming components of this process: sampling and decalcification. Firstly, using simulations, we demonstrate that tusks do not need to be paired to ensure an adequate number of unique elephants are sampled in a large seizure. Secondly, we determined that directly powdering the ivory using a Dremel drill with a high-speed cutter bit, instead of cutting the ivory with a circular saw and subsequently powdering the sample in liquid nitrogen with a freezer mill, produces comparable results. Finally, we optimized a rapid 2 -h decalcification protocol that produces comparable results to a standard 3-day protocol. We tested/optimised the protocols on 33 raw and worked ivory samples, and demonstrated their utility on a case study, successfully identifying 94% of samples taken from 123 tusks. Using these new rapid protocols, the entire sampling and DNA extraction process takes less than one day and requires less-expensive equipment. We expect that the implementation of these rapid protocols will promote more consistent and timely testing of ivory seizures suitable for enforcement action.
    Matched MeSH terms: Commerce/legislation & jurisprudence; Conservation of Natural Resources/legislation & jurisprudence; Crime/legislation & jurisprudence
  19. Fulltext Compulsory drug detention centers in East and Southeast Asia
    Kamarulzaman A, McBrayer JL
    Int J Drug Policy, 2015 Feb;26 Suppl 1:S33-7.
    PMID: 25727259 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2014.11.011
    Over the last three decades in response to a rise in substance use in the region, many countries in East and Southeast Asia responded by establishing laws and policies that allowed for compulsory detention in the name of treatment for people who use drugs. These centers have recently come under international scrutiny with a call for their closure in a Joint Statement from United Nations entities in March 2012. The UN's response was a result of concern for human rights violations, including the lack of consent for treatment and due process protections for compulsory detention, the lack of general healthcare and evidence based drug dependency treatment and in some centers, of forced labor and physical and sexual abuse (United Nations, 2012). A few countries have responded to this call with evidence of an evolving response for community-based voluntary treatment; however progress is likely going to be hampered by existing laws and policies, the lack of skilled human resource and infrastructure to rapidly establish evidence based community treatment centers in place of these detention centers, pervasive stigmatization of people who use drugs and the ongoing tensions between the abstinence-based model of treatment as compared to harm reduction approaches in many of these affected countries.
    Matched MeSH terms: Human Rights/legislation & jurisprudence; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers/legislation & jurisprudence*; Mandatory Programs/legislation & jurisprudence*
  20. Fulltext A vision of the environmental and occupational noise pollution in Malaysia
    Yuen FK
    Noise Health, 2014 Nov-Dec;16(73):427-36.
    PMID: 25387540 DOI: 10.4103/1463-1741.144429
    Environmental noise remains a complex and fragmented interplay between industrialization, population growth, technological developments, and the living environment. Next to the circulatory diseases and cancer, noise pollution has been cited as the third epidemic cause of psychological and physiological disorders internationally. A reliable and firm relationship between the cumulative health implications with the traffic annoyance and occupational noise has been established. This agenda has called for an integrated, coordinated, and participatory approach to the reliable protection of noise interference. Despite several fragmented policies, legislation and global efforts have been addressed; the noise pollution complaints have been traditionally neglected in developing countries, especially in Malaysia. This paper was undertaken to postulate an initial platform to address the dynamic pressures, gigantic challenges, and tremendous impacts of noise pollution scenario in Malaysia. The emphasis is speculated on the traffic interference and assessment of industrial and occupational noise. The fundamental importance of noise monitoring and modeling is proposed. Additionally, the confronting conservation program and control measure for noise pollution control are laconically elucidated.
    Matched MeSH terms: Noise/legislation & jurisprudence; Noise, Occupational/legislation & jurisprudence; Noise, Transportation/legislation & jurisprudence
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