Minister: Prevention better than cure

The Star Wednesday, 11/12/2013 Minister: Prevention better than cure BY LOH FOON FONG KUALA LUMPUR: There is no replacement for health and quality of life even though modern science enables one to have heart and lung transplants when these organs fail, said Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam. For this reason, the Health Minister said, his ministry would focus on the promotion of health rather than on treatment of diseases. “You may have the best advances in medicine but that will not give you back the same quality of life if you had remained healthy,” he said at the Fulbright International Conference 2013 here yesterday. The conference was one of several activities held to mark the 50th anniversary of the Malaysian-American Commission on Educa­tional Exchange as a Fulbright Commission in Malaysia. It brought together international and local experts who discussed innovations in health and wellness in mainstream as well as complementary and alternative medicines. Dr Subramaniam said the Government spends 66% of the Budget on hospitals and 5% on preventive medicine, which the ministry hoped to increase so that the people remained in good health.