Health specialists urged to share information with the people

SHAH ALAM, Aug 27 -- Health specialists including doctors have been urged to share information relating to the health of the people especially patients as an effort to guide them to practise a healthy lifestyle in their daily lives.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the measure is seen as necessary so that the people are aware they can play important roles and responsibilities to look after their own health.

"We can empower and drive the people so that they are actively involved in leading a healthy lifestyle and environment.

“To transform this, it is important to provide tools that promote pro activeness in patients. Such tools include information, creating more opportunities to co-decide, as well as clearly acknowledging that patients have active roles and responsibilities within health care,” he said when speaking at the opening of the ‘13th Ministry of Health-Academy of Medicine of Malaysia’ at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) here today.

Also present were Health director-general Datuk Noor Hisham Abdullah and NIH interim director Dr Goh Pik Pin.

Dr Dzulkefly said the move would also empower the people to look after their own health directly with health specialists.           In this regard, he also reminded health specialists to be prepared to improve the health care services system.

"...with health care services becoming the main focus of the people, it is thus seen as a comprehensive measure capable of raising the health quality of the country,” he said.

-- BERNAMA