HEALTH Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday that one in three Malaysian adults suffer from high blood pressure, while 2.6 million Malaysian adults suffer from diabetes.
Admitting that the rising numbers were worrying, he said high blood pressure affected 5.8 million Malaysians.
"For every two high blood pressure patients, maybe three goes unreported," he said during the question and answer session.
Liow said diabetes cases have also risen by 31 per cent in the last five years.
In reply to a supplementary question by Sim Tong Him (DAP-Kota Melaka), he said the blueprint for the controversial 1Care healthcare system would only be done in two years' time.
He said the ministry had not decided on which model to use and added that it was too early to criticize the plan.
"(What there is now) is a concept paper, not the ministry's blueprint," he added.
Liow also hit out at the opposition whom he claimed were trying to confuse the public by spreading false stories and facts about 1Care.
"This is worrying the people even though the government has not decided anything and all discussions on the 1Care system are still in the early stages."
In the lobby of Parliament later, Liow said the ministry would be conducting a roadshow to consult the public on healthcare reforms.
He said the ministry was in the midst of deciding on a workable healthcare module that would benefit the public
"The ministry will start the tour by the end of this month and it will end this year. We will then start to draft a blueprint on healthcare reform based on the feedback we receive.
"We expect to come up with the blueprint in 2014 after various engagements with the public and stakeholders."
Liow stressed that the roadshow would help to find the best way to strengthen the Malaysian healthcare system.
Liow assured critics that the 1Care scheme would not burden the public with undue costs, saying that the final arrangements would be made known.
"We are very open to suggestions and feedback from the public," he said, adding that 1Care has been "totally taken out of context by irresponsible parties".
Read more: 1 in 3 has high blood pressure - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/1-in-3-has-high-blood-pressure-1.61383#ixzz1pJ1zQ0nT
Vocabulary Quest:
1. Blueprint (n) synonym: plan, prototype, design, model
v meaning:
i. A photographic print of a plan for a building or a machine, with white lines on a blue background.
ii. An early plan or design which explains how something might be achieved.
iii. The pattern in every living cell, which decides how the plant, animal, or person will develop and what it will look like.
2. Consult (v) synonym: talk over, seek advice, argue, discuss
v meaning:
i. To go to someone for information or advice.
ii. To discuss something with someone to get their permission for something, or to help you make a decision.
iii. To look in or at something to get information.
3. Midst (n) synonym: middle, midpoint, centre, between
· meaning:
i. The middle of a group of people or things.
ii. In the middle of an event, situation or activity.
Reading Quest:
One in three Malaysian adults suffers from high blood pressure, while 2.6 million Malaysian adults suffer from diabetes. The ministry had come up with a blueprint of some initiative to overcome this issue. Therefore, citizens must aware of this problem and make actions to prevent this problem from becoming worse.
Posted by: Group 3 – Nabilah, Humaira, Adilah, Hamiza, Hana
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