ISSUES BEING ADDRESSED BY THIS COMMISSION :

1) National Health Council and National Health Policy :

NCWO has recommended the establishment of a National Health Council with representation from professional organizations. A National Health Policy (covering public and private health care), and options for Malaysia in improving the health of the nation including formulation of Patient's Charter, Quality Critieria and Standards, Appropriate legislation, Health Sector Reform, Health Financing Plan, etc.

The National Health Council should also review the salary and incentives ( including training, housing and promotion prospects) given to medical professionals to provide a more attractive public sector service package to decrease the outflow of doctors to the private sector.

2) National Women's Hospital and Research and Training in Women's Health :

The NCWO congratulates the MOH for its plans to set up a National
Women's Hospital.
NCWO has recommended that representatives of women's groups be invited in the planning and development stages of the hospital. NCWO has recommended that the National Women's Hospital be developed as a practice base for the development of a research Insitute of Women's Health and spearhead the development of services and training of gender-sensitive professionals in this field. Regional women's hospitals can be developed at a later date.

3) Adolescent Sexuality and Reproductive Health :

The NCWO recommends that MOH be more proactive in advocating for a comprehensive multisectoral adolescent programme as adolescent are associated with long term and health implications.

4) Creating an enabling environment for breastfeeding mothers :

The NCWO recommends that the Ministry of Health take the leadership role in providing an enabling environment for breast feeding mothers. The MOH should have a policy to provide breast feeding breaks and crèches near the vicinity of the work place to enable their staff to breastfeed their babies. Through this example other Ministries and private organizations can then be encourages to implement a more effective social support system to enable and encourage mothers to fully breast feed for 6 months as recommended by the MOH.

ISSUES BEING ADDRESSED BY THIS COMMISSION :

1) National Health Council and National Health Policy :

NCWO has recommended the establishment of a National Health Council with representation from professional organizations. A National Health Policy (covering public and private health care), and options for Malaysia in improving the health of the nation including formulation of Patient's Charter, Quality Critieria and Standards, Appropriate legislation, Health Sector Reform, Health Financing Plan, etc.

The National Health Council should also review the salary and incentives ( including training, housing and promotion prospects) given to medical professionals to provide a more attractive public sector service package to decrease the outflow of doctors to the private sector.

2) National Women's Hospital and Research and Training in Women's Health :

The NCWO congratulates the MOH for its plans to set up a National
Women's Hospital.
NCWO has recommended that representatives of women's groups be invited in the planning and development stages of the hospital. NCWO has recommended that the National Women's Hospital be developed as a practice base for the development of a research Insitute of Women's Health and spearhead the development of services and training of gender-sensitive professionals in this field. Regional women's hospitals can be developed at a later date.

3) Adolescent Sexuality and Reproductive Health :

The NCWO recommends that MOH be more proactive in advocating for a comprehensive multisectoral adolescent programme as adolescent are associated with long term and health implications.

4) Creating an enabling environment for breastfeeding mothers :

The NCWO recommends that the Ministry of Health take the leadership role in providing an enabling environment for breast feeding mothers. The MOH should have a policy to provide breast feeding breaks and crèches near the vicinity of the work place to enable their staff to breastfeed their babies. Through this example other Ministries and private organizations can then be encourages to implement a more effective social support system to enable and encourage mothers to fully breast feed for 6 months as recommended by the MOH.