Understanding What Matters: Stakeholder Views on Decision Criteria for Cancer Drug Selection in the Public Sector in Malaysia.

Objective: This study aimed to determine stakeholders' decision criteria preferences for formulary decisions of cancer drugs in the Ministry of Health. The secondary objective was to identify the outcome measures of interest for assessment of clinical benefits for cancer drugs.

Methods: A survey questionnaire was administered online and as hard copy using purposive sampling to 32 healthcare facilities providing cancer services and the Formulary Management Branch in the Ministry of Health.

Perceptions of patients and caregivers toward the management of rare disease in Malaysia: a qualitative research study.

Objective: The management of rare diseases is rarely addressed among policymakers and public communities. It is hindered by the lack of information on its epidemiology and burden, especially from the perspective of patients and families with rare diseases. This study aims to understand the perceptions of rare disease patients and their families in the management of rare diseases in Malaysia.

Patients' insights into unused medications during the COVID-19 outbreak: A qualitative study.

Background: The COVID-19 outbreak had significant global healthcare implications, including the use of medications. This is specifically evident in the surge in use of some medication and a decline in the use of others. As a result, some medications end up unused, which may have subsequent health, economic, and environmental impacts.

Sustainable Dengue Prevention and Management: Integrating Dengue Vaccination Strategies with Population Perspectives.

The GEMKAP study (2023) unveiled consistent knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) levels across Asia-Pacific (APAC) and Latin America (LATAM) countries regarding dengue, with variations in the willingness to vaccinate. Despite an overall KAP parity, the disparities within and between the countries indicated the need for both overarching and tailored strategies. Population-wide gaps in dengue awareness result in suboptimal vaccination priorities and preventive measures.

The effectiveness and safety of palbociclib and ribociclib in stage IV HR+/HER-2 negative breast cancer: a nationwide real world comparative retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Palbociclib and ribociclib are indicated in the first-line treatment of hormonal receptor-positive HER-2 negative (HR+/HER2- negative) advanced breast cancer. Although randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) proved their clinical efficacy, there are no observational studies yet to validate the clinical findings in the real-world. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate and compare the clinical effectiveness and safety profiles of palbociclib and ribociclib in Qatar.

Determining the Willingness to Pay for Innovative Oncology Medicines in Malaysia.

Objectives: Early access to innovative oncology medicine is crucial to provide better treatment alternatives to patients with cancer. However, innovative oncology medicines often come at higher prices, thus limiting the government's ability for its universal coverage. Hence an alternative paying mechanism is needed.

Impact of brief smoking cessation intervention on quitting rate and glycemic control in patients with diabetes: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the impact of a brief smoking cessation intervention among patients with diabetes.

Methods: This randomized interventional clinical trial involved patients with diabetes who smoked tobacco and attended the outpatient diabetes clinic at Penang Hospital, Malaysia. Participants were randomized into a control group that usual care for patients with diabetes, or an intervention group that received a 5-minute physician-delivered brief counseling session on tobacco cessation using the 5A's strategy, in addition to usual care.

Cost-Effectiveness and Cost-Utility of Palbociclib versus Ribociclib in Women with Stage IV Breast Cancer: A Real-World Data Evaluation.

Palbociclib and ribociclib are indicated in the first-line treatment of hormonal-receptor-positive HER-2 negative (HR+/HER-2 negative) advanced breast cancer. Despite their clinical benefit, they can increase healthcare expenditure. Yet, there are no comparative pharmacoeconomic evaluations for them in developing countries, the Middle East, or Gulf countries.

Time-to-Treatment of Oral Cancer and Potentially Malignant Oral Disorders: Findings in Malaysian Public Healthcare.

This study aims to evaluate the time-to-treatment of oral cancer and potentially malignant oral disorders (PMOD) in a Malaysian public healthcare setting while exploring its contributing factors. It consists of (1) a cross-sectional patient survey to quantify time to seek care and barriers faced, and (2) a retrospective medical record abstraction to determine treatment and management intervals. Time intervals were aggregated and analyzed by their primary contributor—patient, professional, or healthcare system.

Correction: Rare disease in Malaysia: Challenges and solutions.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

What Can We Learn From Others to Develop a Regional Centre for Infectious Diseases in ASEAN? Comment on "Operationalising Regional Cooperation for Infectious Disease Control: A Scoping Review of Regional Disease Control Bodies and Networks".

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought the need for regional collaboration on disease prevention and control to the fore. The review by Durrance-Bagale et al offers insights on the enablers, barriers and lessons learned from the experience of various regional initiatives. Translating these lessons into action, however, remains a challenge.

A Comparison of Self-evaluated Survey and Work Sampling Approach for Estimating Patient-care Unit Cost Multiplier in Genetic Nursing Activities.

Purpose: To compare patient care multipliers estimated from subjective evaluation against work sampling (WS) techniques in genetic nursing activities.

Methods: An observational WS technique was conducted from November to December 2019 with nine genetic nurses in a tertiary referral center in Malaysia. The WS activity instrument was devised, validated, and pilot tested.

Household Catastrophic Health Expenditure from Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders and Oral Cancer in Public Healthcare of Malaysia.

Objective: Oral cancer causes a significant disease burden and financial distress, especially among disadvantaged groups. While Malaysia has achieved universal health coverage via its highly subsidized public healthcare, patient and family expenditure for treatment of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) and oral cancer remains a concern in the equitability of care. This study thus aims to estimate household out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures and the extent of catastrophic healthcare expenditure (CHE) while identifying its predictors.

Factors associated with the opposition to COVID-19 vaccination certificates: A multi-country observational study from Asia.

Background: There are ongoing calls to harmonise and increase the use of COVID-19 vaccination certificates (CVCs) in Asia. Identifying groups in Asian societies who oppose CVCs and understanding their reasons can help formulate an effective CVCs policy in the region. However, no formal studies have explored this issue in Asia.

Health-related quality of life of Malaysian patients with chronic non-malignant pain and its associated factors: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Chronic pain has a major impact on a patient's quality of life, affecting physical and psychological functioning. It has debilitating consequences on social and economic aspects too. This study aimed to explore the status of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of Malaysian patients suffering from chronic non-malignant pain.

Do health preferences differ among Asian populations? A comparison of EQ-5D-5L discrete choice experiments data from 11 Asian studies.

Introduction: Many countries have established their own EQ-5D value sets proceeding on the basis that health preferences differ among countries/populations. So far, published studies focused on comparing value set using TTO data. This study aims to compare the health preferences among 11 Asian populations using the DCE data collected in their EQ-5D-5L valuation studies.

Efficiency and management factors: finding the balance in Thalassaemia care centres.

Background: Optimizing efficiency has become increasingly critical with the growing demand for finite healthcare resources driven by population growth and an ageing society. Hence, policymakers are urgently finding more efficient ways to deliver health services. Thalassemia is a complex inherited blood disorder with significant prevalence in Malaysia.

Provider cost of treating oral potentially malignant disorders and oral cancer in Malaysian public hospitals.

Oral cancer has been recognized as a significant challenge to healthcare. In Malaysia, numerous patients frequently present with later stages of cancers to the highly subsidized public healthcare facilities. Such a trend contributes to a substantial social and economic burden.

Public KAP towards COVID-19 and Antibiotics Resistance: A Malaysian Survey of Knowledge and Awareness.

This study aimed to assess the knowledge of the Malaysian public on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and antibiotics, the practice of preventive measures and attitude towards the new norms. The web-based questionnaire was disseminated online from 1 to 31 October 2020. Out of 2117 respondents, 1405 (66.

Mapping PedsQL™ Generic Core Scales to EQ-5D-3L utility scores in transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients.

Purpose: To develop a mapping algorithm for generating EQ-5D-3L utility scores from the PedsQL Generic Core Scales (PedsQL GCS) in patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT).

Methods: The algorithm was developed using data from 345 TDT patients. Spearman's rank correlation was used to evaluate the conceptual overlap between the instruments.