MALAYSIA’s first-ever Doctor’s Day will kick off on Oct 10 with a blood and organ donation drive at a community service project at Kinta City shopping centre in Ipoh.
The inaugural day is organised by Federation of Private Medical Practitioner’s Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM), the Perak Medical Practitioner’s Society (PMPS) and the Malaysian Medical Association Perak branch in collaboration with the state Health Department.
Its organising chairman Dr R. Kamalanathan said the day was especially dedicated to the medical community and the public to reflect on their present doctor-patient relationship.
“They can also step up and share their views of what the future of Malaysian healthcare would likely be as the year 2020 approaches,” he said.
FPMPAM president Dr Steven Chow said Doctor’s Day has been celebrated in many other countries like the United States and India, and the time has now come for Malaysians to celebrate it as well.
“The date Oct 10 was chosen as it represents precision - ten out of ten. Doctors are expected to give their best each and every time they see a patient.
“It is the professional duty that they owe to their patients,” he said.
Dr Chow also said healthcare in Malaysia has come a long way, now that the country has a good cost-effective system that has won praises from healthcare experts at home and abroad.
“The doctors, nurses, pharmacists and all the other healthcare professionals are the backbone of this system, and due effort must be made to appreciate their contribution and sacrifices,” he said, adding that those interested to show their gratitude to doctors on this day can send a simple card or a note of appreciation.
Apart from the community service project, a whole host of other activities have been organised by the committee on Doctor’s Day, including a full-day free medical screening health camp manned by volunteer doctors.
The public are also invited to a public forum focused on stress and drugs at KPJ Ipoh Specialist Hospital conducted by two experts, certified addiction therapist Chris Sekar and consultant psychiatrist Dr Esther G. Ebenezer.
Source: The Borneo Post