ID :
200881
Fri, 08/12/2011 - 13:00
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/200881
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THALASSEMIA SOCIETY APPEALS TO GOVT FOR PILL MEDICATION
ALOR SETAR (Malaysia), Aug 12 (Bernama) -- The Federation of Malaysian
Thalassemia Societies (FMTS) is appealing to the government to approve their
application for funds so that Thalassemia patients can use medication in the
form of pills.
Its president, Ramli Mohd Yunus said the government currently funded machine
and injection treatment to remove excess iron in patients with Thalassemia, a
type of inherited blood disease that involves abnormalities in haemoglobin, the
oxygen-carrying part of red blood cells.
He said the pill medication has been around since 2006, but patients remain
loyal to painful infusion pump treatments as the pills were costly.
"Thalassemia patients in Malaysia are more fortunate because the government
has been fully bearing the cost of their treatment since 2004. However, we hope
to benefit from treatments without needles or machines.
"We are aware that these pills are double the cost of normal treatments.
However, to provide a better life to patients we hope to get these pills for
patients nationwide," said Ramli here.
Ramli, who is also a Thalassemia International Federation board member,
urged the Health Ministry to inspect the current pumps used for treatment as
many were easily damaged.
"The ministry should review the contract of purchase. Now there are two or
three companies supplying pumps used by patients daily, but they are easily
damaged unlike those in the past," he said.
Ramli said there are about 4,000 Thalassemia patients registered with them
nationwide.
Meanwhile, he said the federation will help the Health Ministry in a
Thalassemia Control and Prevention programme in efforts to reduce the number of
disease carriers.
He said the best way was through blood screening tests to determine carriers
and non-carriers, as data from the Health Ministry showed that one out of 20
people were carriers.
"We have screened over 300,000 people. For those who have been ascertained
as carriers, they will be given counseling on steps they can take to avoid
passing on the disease to their future children," he added.
Thalassemia Societies (FMTS) is appealing to the government to approve their
application for funds so that Thalassemia patients can use medication in the
form of pills.
Its president, Ramli Mohd Yunus said the government currently funded machine
and injection treatment to remove excess iron in patients with Thalassemia, a
type of inherited blood disease that involves abnormalities in haemoglobin, the
oxygen-carrying part of red blood cells.
He said the pill medication has been around since 2006, but patients remain
loyal to painful infusion pump treatments as the pills were costly.
"Thalassemia patients in Malaysia are more fortunate because the government
has been fully bearing the cost of their treatment since 2004. However, we hope
to benefit from treatments without needles or machines.
"We are aware that these pills are double the cost of normal treatments.
However, to provide a better life to patients we hope to get these pills for
patients nationwide," said Ramli here.
Ramli, who is also a Thalassemia International Federation board member,
urged the Health Ministry to inspect the current pumps used for treatment as
many were easily damaged.
"The ministry should review the contract of purchase. Now there are two or
three companies supplying pumps used by patients daily, but they are easily
damaged unlike those in the past," he said.
Ramli said there are about 4,000 Thalassemia patients registered with them
nationwide.
Meanwhile, he said the federation will help the Health Ministry in a
Thalassemia Control and Prevention programme in efforts to reduce the number of
disease carriers.
He said the best way was through blood screening tests to determine carriers
and non-carriers, as data from the Health Ministry showed that one out of 20
people were carriers.
"We have screened over 300,000 people. For those who have been ascertained
as carriers, they will be given counseling on steps they can take to avoid
passing on the disease to their future children," he added.
