International Women’s Day is a global day. Celebrated around the world on the 8th March this day is one of the many ways to show, acknowledge women’s journey and recognise their achievements and their invaluable contributions to the world. It is a day about women but it is not just for women – it is a day that unites everyone in challenging gender inequality.

In conjunction with the International Women’s Day, our SPM website will feature and highlight some of the research work done by our Women of SPM. We also asked some of our SPM women for their advice on this International Women’s Day.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) costing study – Conducting research that matters

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in Malaysia. Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) is one of the many procedures used to treat CAD. Prof Maznah and Assoc Prof Dr Mas Ayu from SPM Department together with Dr Lee Kun Yun looked into the costing of PCI in Malaysia. Based on the results of findings, the Institute Jantung Negara (IJN), Malaysia is currently reviewing their Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) cost. In addition to that, Malaysia’s Ministry of Health has decided to open up more cardiac centres for PCI as it would be cost-effective.

Dr Maznah is a professor at the SPM Department and is now our Deputy Dean (Development) of Faculty of Medicine. She takes great pride in balancing life as a passionate public health physician, a leader, mother and a great friend. She will be giving her inaugural lecture on Economic Evaluation for Health Advocacy and Informed Policy”

Assoc Prof Dr Mas Ayu wears many-many hats in the SPM Department. She is currently our SPM Department’s Undergraduate MBBS-UMMP Coordinator, she teaches Epidemiology and Public Health to both undergraduate and postgraduate candidates as well as supervising many doctorate candidates. Her other research interest is in mental health – addiction and substance abuse.

The details of their study can be found here doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2016-014307 and doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0184410.

Written by Assoc Prof Dr Noran Hairi.