Beyond Screening, Invest In Women With Breast Cancer
by Boo Su-Lyn( featuring Dr. Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy)
Beyond just telling women to get early screening, Malaysia needs to invest more in women with breast cancer through substantive structural change. In this article, Dr Nirmala Bhoo Pathy has some empirical evidence to share in order to substantiate this statement. Published in Code Blue
Ramai tidak tahu tentang Movember & Ada ubat pesakit kanser mati pucuk
by Nor Ain Aqilah Hisham, Muhammad Aisar Aznal (featuring Dr Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy)
Cancer and cancer treatments cause impacts on men’s sexual activity. This article highlights this in conjunction with health awareness for men. Besides the side effects of the treatment, emotional distress is also another contributing factor to the impact on sexual activity. The causal factors and the long-term side effects have been discussed in detail in this article. Emphasizes the rights of the patients to know all the side effects of the treatment in long term. Published in Utusan and BebasNews.
https://bebasnews.my/2021/11/19/ramai-tidak-tahu-tentang-movember/
Cut Red Tape Blocking Hospital Spending: Researcher
by Aliffa Zainuddin (featuring Dr. Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy)
A cancer diagnosis results in massive costs that households often struggle to meet. This article highlights the need for financial navigation programs that assist patients and their families in coping with the costs associated with cancer. It also discusses the need to simplify the process by which public hospitals fund their operations by minimizing bureaucracy to ensure timely supply of drugs and equipment.
https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2021/10/29/cut-red-tape-blocking-hospital-spending-researcher/
NCDs Should Get Fair Cut Of 2022 Public Health Budget
by Alifah Zainuddin (Featuring Dr. Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy, et al)
As Malaysia continues to battle COVID-19, the primary focus of health services has shifted from managing non-communicable diseases like cancer to the pandemic. However, with the yearly rise in cancer cases and the existing backlog, this approach is not sustainable. This article highlights the need to allocate a proportion of the 2022 public health budget to cancer as well as the need to embrace public-private partnerships to close the gap in health care delivery. Furthermore, it stresses the need to shift to a digitalized health care system to optimize resources.
https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2021/11/05/ncds-should-get-fair-cut-of-2022-public-health-budget/
Clinical Breast Examination For Breast Cancer Screening
by Dr Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy, et al.
Despite breast cancer being the most common cancer type among Malaysian women, early diagnosis remains low. Here, we highlight the potential of clinical breast examination (CBE) as an inexpensive screening tool to enable early detection, as well as save lives in older women. Given its limited accessibility, this article suggests improving the delivery of CBE by systematically organizing appointments for women within their community. It also emphasizes the need for political support to acquire the funding required to make such a programme possible.
Time To Seriously Address The Expensive And Rising Cost Of Cancer
by Yek-Ching Kong & Dr Nirmala Bhoo Pathy
Cancer is a costly disease this well known to everyone. This article explains on their findings from the ASEAN cost oncology (ACTION) study, where 50 percent of the total participants had a financial crisis while coping with their cancer. The article also emphasizes on the review of the cancer patients who revealed several major unmet financial needs. Therefore from the study, the researchers came up with a some recommendation in terms of ensure affordability of supportive medical items, employment protection properties, and financial navigation program which was discussed in details in the main article.
Decolonising cancer research: why it matters, what can be done
Swagata Yadavar (Featuring Dr Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy)
Dominated by researchers from western countries, the cancer research landscape is largely reflective of their perspectives. While their findings are applicable and feasible to solving problems in high-income countries, they may not be adaptable to the resource-poor countries who have more urgent needs. This article explores the challenges faced by researchers in low- and middle-income countries in obtaining funding, engaging collaborators and publishing their research in high impact journals. It also highlights recent efforts made by journals to be more inclusive but emphasizes the persistent gap that needs to be filled.
Living Well With, Through, And Beyond Cancer — Are We Getting Our Priorities Right?(Code blue)
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Step up post-cancer care for survivors in Malaysia(theSundaily)
by Dr Nur Nadiatul Asyikin, Dr Nithiya Sinarajoo & Dr Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy
The road to recovery for cancer patients extends far beyond the completion of their treatment. In addition to patients having to deal with long-term side effects, they often suffer from long-term psychological, emotional and economic impacts that stem from their experience with cancer. Malaysia was reported to lack in post-cancer support services. This article explores the need for cancer survivorship services in Malaysia that address the overall well-being of cancer survivors, and the need for multi-stakeholder collaborations to make this possible.
The Sun Online : https://www.thesundaily.my/home/step-up-post-cancer-care-for-survivors-in-malaysia-CD8432859
MCO 2.0 and cancer care
by Dr Teoh Soo Peng & Dr Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Malaysia underwent a complete lockdown to curb the spread of the virus. During this period medical resources were re-directed towards fighting the pandemic which inadvertently led to a disruption of cancer diagnostic and treatment services. With the implementation of MCO 2.0 and the uncertainty surrounding future lockdowns, we outlined steps that could be taken by the general public, cancer patients and also healthcare providers to ensure the continuity of cancer care during this pandemic.
Star online : https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2021/01/15/mco-20-and-cancer-care
Making palliative care accessible to the general population
by the star (featuring Dr Malar Velli Segarmurthy)
As the prevalence of non-communicable diseases continues to rise in Malaysia and the country’s population ages, a branch of medicine known as palliative care comes to the forefront. Unlike curative treatments, palliative care focuses on relieving symptoms and improving the overall quality of life of a patient. However, only 21 palliative medicine consultants are currently practicing in Malaysia. Therefore, the country is severely lacking in the capacity to meet future demands. This article highlights the urgent need to expand palliative care services at primary care facilities to address the rising demand.
The Star Online https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2021/05/01/making-palliative-care-accessible-to-the-general-population
Help desperately needed to navigate cancer costs and insurance claims
Revathi Murugappan (featuring Dr Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy)
In battling a grueling disease, cancer patients often face significant financial difficulties. This tends to stem from a lack of insurance literacy, inadequate support when returning to jobs, limited coverage under insurance plans and expenses surrounding daily necessities. The financial strain has the ability to negatively impact patients’ treatment choices. As well as their adherence to treatment, and may also adversely affect the psychological well-being of patients and their families. Here we highlight the need to assist patients in understanding the costs associated with cancer and to aid them in navigating the processes involved in obtaining financial assistance, including filing insurance claims.
The Star Online: https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/health/2020/08/19/help-desperately-needed-to-navigate-cancer-costs-and-insurance-claims
Dying to get a chance at life
by The Star (featuring Dr Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy)
Close to fifty percent of cancer-stricken households in Malaysia exhaust their personal savings to pay for cancer care. The resulting financial strain causes patients to discontinue their treatment and leaves them unable to make other essential payments. Recently, China succeeded at renegotiating more affordable prices with the pharmaceutical industry for several cancer drugs. This article calls upon the Health Ministry to take such actions.
The Star Online: https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2019/04/10/dying-to-get-a-chance-at-life
One year on, cancer patients still anxious and depressed
by Tan Shiow Chin (Featuring Dr Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy)
A cancer diagnosis tends to have physical, psychological, emotional and financial consequences. This article highlights a lower quality of life among patients in the long-run. In addition, a substantial proportion of Malaysians experience financial distress. Here we emphasize the urgent need for comprehensive supportive care that extends beyond physical needs.
The Star Online: https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/family/2018/09/26/cancer-patients-anxious-depressed
Cancer makes patients poor
by Tan Shiow Chin (featuring Dr Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy)
In addition to the negative impacts that cancer has on health, patients experience enormous financial strains. In 2015, a study reported about fifty percent of South-East Asian patients faced financial catastrophe while almost half of the Malaysian patients exhausted their personal savings. This article highlights the urgent need for policies in ASEAN to provide financial protection for cancer patients.
The Star Online: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2015/11/21/cancer-makes-patients-poor-study-looks-at-the-economic-implications-of-a-new-cancer-diagnosis
Using laughter to empower cancer survivors
by Revathi Murgappan (Featuring Dr Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy)
A cancer diagnosis can result in significant physical, financial, and emotional stress. This article highlights the benefits of laughter and exercise in improving both cancer outcomes and the mental well-being of cancer patients.
The Star Online: https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/health/2016/07/31/using-laughter-to-empower-cancer-survivors
The economic impact of cancer on families in Asia
by Tan Shiow Chin (featuring Dr Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy)
The financial toll following a cancer diagnosis has the power to impact entire families. Here we discuss the findings from the Action study that found three-quarters of South-East Asian patients to be either financially poorer or not alive a year after their cancer diagnosis. Furthermore, we emphasize the national economic loss resulting from cancer. The article concludes by highlighting the need to increase early diagnosis as well as provide universal health coverage to tackle these issues.
The Star Online: https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/health/2015/11/22/the-economic-impact-of-cancer-on-families-in-asia