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Singapore ex-detainees call for abolition of ISA

Posted: 08 Oct 2011 07:57 PM PDT

SINGAPORE: Two former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees have said that Singapore should abolish the law, just as Malaysia has proposed to do away with its own ISA.

Francis Seow and Tang Fong Har spoke via teleconference Saturday at a public
forum on the ISA organised by the Singapore Democratic Party and attended by
about 150 people, reported local television "Channel NewsAsia".

It was the first time that dissidents in exile were communicating with
Singaporeans in public.

Seow, 83, who lives in the United States, was detained in 1988 after being
accused of receiving funds from the United States to establish a more effective

opposition in Parliament.

Tang, who was accused of being a member of an alleged Marxist conspiracy and
was detained in 1987, said the law should be repealed but not replaced with
something even worse.

Both Tang and Seow want to return to Singapore. It is believed that Seow is
still a Singapore citizen while Tang renounced her citizenship in 2003.

Malaysia has announced that the ISA, a preventive detention law, will be
repealed in March next year after two replacement laws have been drafted. - Bernama

Public accolade for medicines via postal service

Posted: 08 Oct 2011 07:07 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: Simply commendable. This was the public accolade heaped upon the government when it launched the 1Malaysia Medicine By Post (UMP) on Jan 24.

Executed in line with the Government Transformation Programme (GTP), it was
welcomed by a majority of the public who see it as proof of the government's
concern for the welfare of the low-income group and the poor.

"This is the kind of service I want. I no longer need to rush to the hospital and take a number to queue for medicines.

"I totally support this move, not because I am lazy, but if a service is
offered to make our life easier, then we should make full use of it," police
retiree Sidek Salleh, 52, told Bernama.

He said the service not only helped patients save petrol and time, but chronic patients also no longer needed to worry about their supply shortage as it could be ordered through 1Malaysia UMP and sent to their doorstep.

For Salmina Sulaiman, 39, although the service was useful, she stressed that
individuals with high blood pressure and diabetes must be checked by their
doctors.

"Despite this facility, some patients still need to visit their doctor in
order to control medicine intake," she said, adding that the 1Malaysia UMP
service was beneficial to those living in rural areas or far from a hospital or
clinic.

Meanwhile, the health ministry, in a bid to promote healthcare among the
community, has upgraded and improved the efficiency of several services offered
to patients at hospitals and health clinics.

As a pioneer for the 1Malaysia UMP service, the Putrajaya Hospital registered 296 patients taking advantage of the facility, as of July.

This number is expected to rise as the service has been extended to 26 pharmacy units at main hospitals in each state, including the Selayang Hospital, Putrajaya Health Clinic and the Luyang Health Clinic in Sabah.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin told Bernama here,
since it began in July, a total of 1,901 prescriptions were sent to patients.

"Patients with prescriptions for over a month have the option of receiving
their medicines at home or the office," she said.

For repeated deliveries, she said various methods were available to make it
easier for patients to order, should they run out of stock.

"Should the patient inform us that they want supply to be sent until the
prescription ends, then the hospital or clinic will send the medicines
continuously.

"Patients can call, SMS, or use the PosOnline system to contact the hospital
or clinic offering these services," she added.

Rosnah said pharmaceutical officers at the hospital or clinic would also
remind patients to see their doctor when the prescription ended.

Through the 1Malaysia UMP, patients can also choose a suitable date to pick
up their follow-up medication through the Integrated Medicine Dispensary System
(SPUB), 'SMS and Take', 'Phone and Take', and the Drive-Thru Pharmacy service.

The SPUB service was implemented at pharmacy units in 136 hospitals and 532
health clinics nationwide, 'SMS and Take' at 66 hospitals and 44 health clinics
while the 'Phone and Take' service was implemented at three hospitals and 14
health clinics.

On the cost of posting medicine using Pos Laju borne by the patient, Rosnah
said RM3.50 was charged within Putrajaya, RM5 for Peninsular Malaysia and RM8
for Sabah and Sarawak. - Bernama

Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Sabtu, 8 Oktober 2011

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