70 Per Cent Deaths In Malaysian Government Hospitals Due To NCDs - Dr Hilmi

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- About 70 per cent of deaths recorded in Malaysian government hospitals each year are due to non communicable diseases (NCDs), according to a study. Malaysian Deputy Health Minister Dr Hilmi Yahaya said the NCDs included diabetes, cancer and high blood pressure. "There are many such cases and the ministry wants each individual to play a role in taking care of their health, as it (responsibility) does not only involve the government or private sector," he told reporters after the launch of the Kinohimitsu Superfood Cookbook at the National Heart Institute (IJN) auditorium here Monday. Dr Hilmi said nearly 50 per cent of the people in this country were found to be obese or overweight with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 25. "This situation will expose an individual to the risk of having the NCDs and therefore the bad eating habits should be changed," he said. On the launch of the Kinohimitsu Superfood Cookbook, Dr Hilmi said the guide book could help the government achieve its healthy lifestyle campaign. IJN Foundation chairman Toh Puan Aishah Ong said the proceeds from the cooking guide book sale would be channeled to the IJN Foundation to help needy patients as well as to fund research by specialists. She said for last year, US$838,625 (RM3.5 million) had been spent to help 124 poor patients nationwide, of whom 71 of them were adults and 53 children. Produced in collaboration with Kino Biotech, the guide book, which contains 18 Kinohimitsu health product based recipes, has been on sale since last month at a price of US$2.39 (RM10) per unit and can be purchased at Watson's outlet or via the online shopping portal Lazada. --BERNAMA