Halal Treatment in Malaysia

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Thanks to strong cultural affinity, Muslim tourists have long chosen Malaysia, its pristine beaches, broad sidewalks and vast malls as a holiday destination. However today, this Southeast Asian country, where Muslims make up about 60 per cent of the population, is gaining recognition in yet another field in sustaining its ‘visitor dividend’.

The country is taking giant strides in coming into the radar of overseas patients on the basis of four pillars: lower costs, shorter recovery time and high quality healthcare. However, what is the fourth?
Halal medical treatment solutions!

What exactly is halal?

According to icv.org.au, halal is an Arabic word that broadly translates to ‘lawful’ or ‘permitted’.

In reference to food, it is the dietary standards, as prescribed in the Qur’an (the Muslim scripture). The opposite of halal is haram, which means ‘unlawful’ or ‘prohibited’. Halal and haram are universal terms that apply to all facets of life. These terms are commonly used in relation to food products, meat products, cosmetics, personal care products, pharmaceuticals and food ingredients, etc.

In general, all foods are considered halal except the following (which are haram): alcoholic drinks and intoxicants, non-halal animal fat, enzymes (expect microbial enzymes), gelatine (fish gelatine is halal) and pork, bacon/ham (and anything from pigs), etc. Importantly, the preparation of fish or seafood or any meat products, etc., should not include alcohol (i.e. batter or wine, or anything considered haram).

Islam is not only a religion but a way of life with protocols, rules and manners governing every facet of life. In this context, halal is a guided approach that could enable anyone, including non-Muslims, to live a life based on time-tested codes and rules.

Malaysia: At the forefront of the halal revolution 
Malaysia is strategically pursuing a larger share of the Muslim market through providing halal treatment solutions, which exclude products forbidden under Islamic law, such as those derived from pork.

Malaysian hospitals are gaining ground in implementing Shariah-compliant medical tourism that has been designed to provide Muslim patients and their families not only with halal foods and facilities such as prayer rooms, but comprehensive medical treatment solutions that abides by Islamic law and care and accommodations that uphold Muslim values.

Though Islam permits the consumption of non-halal ingredients in matters of life and death, in the true spirit of providing halal treatment, hospital pharmacies in Malaysia inform patients of products that are gelatin- and porcine-free. This includes offering the drug Dhamotil as a halal option for diarrhoea, instead of the commonly used Imodium.Hospitals are also using sutures manufactured by a local firm made from lambs slaughtered under Islamic law.

It is no surprise then that Malaysia’s concerted efforts in adhering to the tenets of the halal framework were recognised when the country ranked as the top destination in the world within the Muslim tourism market, when it received the prestigious ‘IMTJ Medical Travel Destination of the Year Award’ for 2015, awarded by GMTI.

Furthermore, GMTIestimates that by 2020, there will be 150 million Muslim travellers spending USD 200 billion. In 2014, research indicated that 108 million Muslim travellers spent close to USD 145 billion. It is no surprise then that the Muslim tourism market is currently considered to be the fastest-growing in the world and Malaysia is at the forefront of capturing a larger slice of this emerging market.

Malaysia: Advanced halal for responsible healing 

Malaysia is relentlessly driving the halal revolution and is more firmly positioning itself in responsible healing.

Consider the fact that work is underway in the country to produce the world’s first halal vaccines for meningitis and hepatitis. The target would be Muslim pilgrims going for Hajj in Saudi Arabia, which requires visitors to be vaccinated for meningitis.

Moreover, Malaysia recently developed globally-recognised guidelines for the development of pharmaceuticals that are not prohibited by Islamic law and that meet the most demanding quality standards. These guidelines are known as the MS 2424. The Malaysian Department of Standards, in collaboration with the Technical Committee of Halal Food and Islamic Consumer Goods, developed the MS 2424 to provide guidelines for the development and handling of halal pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceutical companies that want to manufacturer halal-certified pharmaceuticals must follow the guidelines set out by the MS 2424.
Today, Malaysia has created an attractive halal-friendly environment for Muslim medical tourists by implementing strict standards to reassure that halal-certified pharmaceuticals and foods are of the highest qualityand by collaborating with agencies and companies across various industries to assure that the needs and standards of Muslims medical tourists are satisfied.

Malaysia: Fostering a rigorous halal ecosystem for patient assurance

Malaysia is the only country in the world where the halal industry development agenda is backed by the government, which translates into the existence of a unique ecosystem that allows synergy between the private and public sectors. This ecosystem works in perfect unison with the private players focusing on production, manufacturing and serviceswhile the public agenciescoordinating the industry’s progress by providing certification and training. This collaboration is unique to anywhere in the world, fortifying the confidence of Muslim patients in seeking halal medical options in the country.

The Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC), the Islamic Tourism Center (ITC) and the Malaysian Department of Standards, through their well-orchestrated efforts, are ensuring an ecosystem where halal is looked at comprehensively and holistically. For instance, while HDC is responsible for coordinating the developments of the halal industry throughout Malaysia through setting standards, conducting audits and providing certifications, in order for food manufacturers and kitchens to become halal-certified, they must successfully pass an audit that confirms that they are abiding by specific guidelines, as ratified by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia. Furthermore, ITC caters to the needs of Muslim tourists by facilitating access to halal directoriesand Muslim-friendly hotels and travel agencies.

Malaysia has 13 halal standards, which not only certify food items as well as food premises, but also cosmetics, personal care, pharmaceutical products and logistics.

Apart from the food and pharmaceutical industries, the Malaysian halal industry players have also been actively producing halal vaccines, nutraceutical products (dietary supplements and medicinal food ingredients) as well as devices that are used during medical operations.

These sectors have seen various new products and developments.As for the nutraceutical sector, there are a number of emerging big companies that produces halal supplements.

Today, anchored on the halal approach to medical treatment, Malaysia’s healthcare system has gone beyond just meeting Islamic or Shariah requirements but also the hygiene and safety aspects which have been an integral part of the country’s medical standards. This has made Malaysia an attractive medical magnet for non-Muslim medical tourists too.

Halal is here to stay

Halal is associated with ethical consumerism, which signifies high-quality, safe and ethical products. Halal is gaining currency, principally driven by two key trends that include the following:

  • Rise in Muslim consumer spending

Muslim consumer spending in 2014 was USD1.8 trillion and this is expected to surge to USD2.6 trillion in 2020.

  • Growth in the worldwide Muslim population

The worldwide Muslim population grew at 2x the rate of the global population, i.e. the world’s population is projected to grow 35 per cent in the coming decades but the Muslim base is expected to grow by a sharper 73 per cent – from 1.6 billion in 2010 to 2.8 billion in 2050. Concurrently, by 2050, Muslims are expected to make up about 30 per cent of the world’s population.

Based on these statistics, it is evident that the global halal sector will be the fastest growing consumer segment in the world. And with an eye on the future, Malaysia, with the most developed Islamic ecosystem, is further fortifying its strengths in halal and emerging as the medical market of choice for anyone looking at holistic, low-cost, safe and hygienic treatment.

GD Assist, as a reputed healthcare tourism management company in Bangladesh, possesses an unparalleled hospital network association and database of hospitals and medical professionals, thereby offering patients a wide range of affordable, high-impact and halal medical solutions in Malaysia.

So call GD Assist today for booking an appointment.

Hotline: 16457; +8801617666888. Email: gdal@green-delta.com

Website:  gdassist.com

Gift Good Health This Eid

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Are you someone who is always on the look-out for innovative gifting ideas, especially during the joyous festival of Eid, after the holy month of Ramadan? If you think that giving sweetmeats is a thing of the past, giving designer clothes is a boring idea, giving expensive gadgets is unimaginative and giving money is so ‘yesterday’, we have just the right gifting idea for you.

It is a common belief that health is wealth. So this Eid, why not gift the invaluable wealth of good health and happiness to your loved ones? The cheer and happiness that this precious gift will provide you and your family will be priceless. Plus, gifting a health check-up package will not only enable you to stand out as someone who is innovative but also stand tall as someone who is responsible. Interested? Read on…

Gift the wealth of good health to your dad, around whom your world revolves

Your father lives a hectic life, works till late and works on holidays, just to provide you with every possible comfort. Or you also maybe someone who’s father is aged and you are constantly worried about his health. In the humdrum and business of life, he may have neglected his health. Hence, this is just the right time for you to gift him an executive health check-up package that can help detect early warning signs of any emerging health issue, while also allowing him to improve his lifestyle for a healthier tomorrow. Also, the penance offered in the holy month of Ramadan by virtue of fasting, etc., could have worn out his health and hence, Eid would be the ideal time to take him for a health check-up.

Research has proven the fact that getting health check-ups on a regular basis can actually increase life expectancy, while also enabling the participant to make appropriate lifestyle choices that could contribute to healthy sustenance in the future. Importantly, the diagnostics performed in such a check-up provides health information that can be vital in spotting early signs of health issues such as heart problems, diabetes, cancer and other complications that could reduce the quality of life. Also, timely check-ups could prevent one to spend large sums in health recuperation and restoration that could have easily been avoided. So a health check-up is not just a panel of clinical tests performed by a team of specialists supported by advanced diagnostic technology with prompt service, but also an opportunity for you to ensure that your father lives the rest of his life in good health and happiness.

Gift the wealth of good health to your mother, the anchor in your life

Let’s face it. When it comes to getting a health check-up done, some of the most common refrains that we hear is, “Health check-up? But I’m too healthy to get a health check-up!” or “What for? I’m too busy for a health check-up” or “Why spend money now? Can’t you see I’m fine!”

The importance of ‘ma’ in one’s life cannot be emphasised by words. You are in this world because of your mother and whatever you are today is also because of her. Hence, isn’t it your responsibility as a dutiful son or daughter to ensure that your mother lives in peace and comfort in her senior years, especially since she has spent many sleepless nights in raising you while bearing much pain and hardship? In her everyday life, your mother would have forgotten to maintain a balanced diet but would have never forgotten to put food on your plate. She would have forgone her exercise routine and would have made many lifestyle choices that would have been unhealthy.

This thus corroborates with the fact that many medical experts are of the view that every woman should get end-to-end health check-ups done every year, especially those above 50 years of age. So how about surprising your mother by gifting her a comprehensive health check package for her complete health assessment? With increasing prevalence of cardiac and other lifestyle diseases, especially among women, it is of utmost importance for every woman to get heart screening done once every 2-3 years. Hence, you can also gift her an advanced cardiac package. It can help detect any risk factors for heart disease at an early stage when treatment can be more effective along with prevention from this silent killer.

Also, a number of healthcare packages that include both tests and consultations are available customised for women and are especially designed to suit their basic needs for a health check-up. Hence, by getting the right health services, screenings and treatments, you are indeed taking steps that can help your mother live a longer and healthier life.

Gift the wealth of good health to an aunt or uncle, who made your life happy and enjoyable

Do you remember longing to visit your aunt’s house during the summer vacations just so that you could have an enjoyable holiday in her farmhouse? Or do you remember your uncle taking you out on weekends when your father was too busy with his work and could not find the time? Well, it is these relatives that make one’s life happy and memorable. So now it is time for you to payback and what better way to do so than to gift him/her a health check package.

Undoubtedly, prevention in the form of health check-up is both effective and cheaper than treatment. A regular health check-up not only improves one’s long-term health quality but also reduces long-term healthcare expenses. Moreover, early detection gives one the best chance for getting the right treatment quickly, while avoiding any complications. Some of the popular health checks include:

  • Cervical smear tests (Pap tests) for women
  • Blood pressure tests
  • Cholesterol level checks
  • Body mass index (BMI) and obesity tests
  • Diabetes checks

The plus point is that if your aunt or uncle has any other specific health concerns, then the health check-up would open up an opportunity for him/her to speak with the doctor who would advise on further checks or provide consultative action.

Encourage others to take their health in their own hands

Here is an innovative idea for you to do something different and highly impactful. You can start a campaign in your community to encourage others to make an appointment for a check-up or health screening, say on Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, each year. You can champion the cause of good health while encouraging your friends and relatives so that this could emerge as a successful community initiative. Who knows, you might emerge as a social media star who finds fame as someone who has his/her heart in the right place!

So take charge of your family’s health and schedule an appointment with GD Assist today. We offer a wide variety of services for exceptional treatment and care for you and your family. Contact us now!

Hotline: 16457; +8801617666888. Email: gdal@green-delta.com

Website:  gdassist.com

Sports Medicine: A High-Potential Medical Niche

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In sports, injuries are inevitable.

Sit back for a few seconds and think of the challenges that athletes face: exhausting training schedules, gruelling fitness sessions, lost matches, excruciating pain, unbearable injuries, heart-breaking failures and personal adversity. The reality is that even when sportspeople are in their peak physical form and specifically train to stay fit, a single errant step, an awkward landing, an ankle sprain, a hamstring strain, a violent collision, a misjudged stride or a fatal fall can bend joints and twist limbs in painful ways.

But the good news is that the way in which technology, medical care and advancements in surgery have developed, many of the breaks, sprains, and tears are no longer the career-enders that athletes fear. With the right rehabilitation athletes can return to their peak form – becoming better, faster and stronger. This is the importance of sports medicine and as injuries grow more complex and with a larger number of people taking to sports and the outdoors, the specialised field of sports medicine is emerging as a high-potential medical niche.

The rehabilitative impact of sports medicine

The rehabilitative impact of sports medicine is undeniable. Take the case of Tiger Woods, the legendary golfing icon. Woods came into the 2008 US Open after suffering a double-stress fracture of his left tibia. After intense therapy and recuperation and, of course, unquestionable mental strength, Woods gritted his teeth through five days of golf and 91 holes, defeating Rocco Mediate in a riveting playoff. The championship win is one of the most legendary performances by Woods in his career.

Or, take the instance of Michael Phelps, the celebrated swimming great.

Phelps is considered to be no less than the greatest Olympian swimmer of all time. Everyone thought that no swimmer would be able to win 8 gold medals in just one Olympic games. Phelps did just that and he has a tally of 19 Olympic medals, 15 of which are gold. The remarkable thing about him is that as a child, he suffered from ADHD and was on medication. Most assume that people with ADHD suffer from restlessness, impulsiveness and a very short attention span. However, medical intervention and rehabilitation ensured that Phelps could turn his weaknesses into his strength as he developed an incredible capacity to remain hyper-focused on the activity he was most passionate about, exploiting the positive side of ADHD. Phelps has shown that he can beat the most disciplined and strongest swimmers in the world, thanks to sports medicine.

But what exactly is sports medicine?

Sports medicine is a medical specialty that deals with the treatment and prevention of injuries related to sports and fitness. Healthcare professionals who work in this interdisciplinary medical field focus not only on treating sports-related injuries but also on injury prevention, rehabilitation, nutrition and performance training in order to help athletes not only stay at the peak of their performance for longer periods but also raise the bar and improve their game.

A sports medicine specialty team often involves physicians who are trained in sports medicine, as well as orthopaedic surgeons, physical therapists, trainers, coaches and others. The team works together to help patients get back into ‘top shape’ as safely and quickly as possible.

Sports medicine fills a much-needed niche in medicine. Sports and outdoor-related injuries are common, not only among professional athletes but also among those who are active. Although sports medicine is a relatively new medical specialty, it has become indispensable for athletes with its targeted focus on their unique needs and concerns. It is without doubt that reputable sports medicine specialists and surgeons can make a tremendous difference in the lives of athletes and sportspeople.

Benefits of sports medicine

Athletes and sportspeople put their bodies to test every day in ways most of us might have a hard time imagining. Consider the fact that in the nearly year-round training season leading up to the Tour de France, for instance, a rider will work his way up to 6 hours of cycling a day for 5-6 days a week at varying levels of intensity. He might ride 60, 100, even 180-km in a single day to simulate what he’ll experience on the Tour! While Tour de France riders are exceptional athletes in a category of their own, professional and aspiring pro-tennis players, golfers, basketball players, footballers, cricketers and athletes of every variety also spend a huge number of hours on the court, course, field or in the gym. Such intense training can take its toll on the body and injuries are virtually inevitable. This is why having a skilled sports medicine doctor is essential, providing the following benefits:

Enhanced athletic performance: Sports medicine specialists often play a role in developing tailored training programs constructed around an athlete’s individual needs, strengths and weaknesses. These experts have the knowledge and the tools to evaluate an athlete’s anatomical strengths and weaknesses, making training regimen recommendations and identifying areas for improvement.

Suitable customisation: Sports medicine physicians are specially-trained to care for athletes, fitness professionals and active individuals. They understand the impact of sports and exercise on their patients’ bodies, such as concussions and repetitive motion injuries, and work closely with orthopaedic surgeons and physical therapists to develop tailored treatment plans that suit each patient’s specific needs.

Cutting-edge treatment options: From leading-edge reconstructive surgical techniques to regenerative medicine procedures like platelet-rich plasma therapy and stem cell therapy, sports medicine physicians and surgeons leverage the latest techniques and procedures to help restore function to injured areas.

Injury and re-injury prevention: Sports medicine physicians have an in-depth understanding of how athletes use their bodies during practice and play. As such, they provide patients with expert advice and instructions on preventing injuries and avoiding re-injuring a previously damaged area. They help professional and novice athletes alike make important ‘return to play’ decisions while conducting pre-participation physical assessments to ensure their patients are ready to resume activities.

Sports injury prevention

Preventing injuries requires good form and technique and good equipment while training/playing/exercising. Even the most seasoned athletes should work themselves into shape slowly, especially after a sedentary period. It may be tempting to jump right into a former routine without preparing, but this is a recipe for injury.

Athletes should warm-up before each exercise session and cool down afterwards. They should stretch regularly, use good technique (a performance training program can help in this area) and be mindful of fatigue and dehydration, which can impair concentration and lead to an injury/re-injury. Athletes should always respond to the signals their body is sending—dizziness, faintness, nausea, overheating and extreme fatigue are all clear warning signs. Hence, prevention is really the best form of treatment.

Nonetheless, injuries happen and the ‘PRICE’ method is usually the first line of treatment for less severe injuries. The PRICE method involves:

  • Protection
  • Rest
  • Ice
  • Compression
  • Elevation

Therapeutic exercise such as stretching, core exercises, and weight lifting, heat treatments, massage, aquatic therapy, balance training, spinal traction and other therapies (including minimally invasive surgeries) can also constitute some other treatment and recovery options.

GD Assist, as a leading healthcare management and medical tourism destination, has forged an exclusive alliance with Imago Sports Management to promote sports treatment and sports-related health services in Bangladesh. With this association, the alliance offers patients access to the latest diagnostic tools and treatment solutions for sports-related injuries, including a range of ankle, shoulder, knee, elbow and hip injuries.

So, call GD Assist to schedule an appointment today and take a step closer on your path to recovery.

Hotline: 16457; +8801617666888. Email: gdal@green-delta.com

Website:  gdassist.com

All You Wanted to Know About Thalassemia

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Seeking adoption, a couple in Malaysia were happy to have a bonny boy aged about 1 year. The parents were aware that the infant had a medical condition that was listed as thalassemia major. Though earlier, the parents were worried and overwhelmed at their son’s condition, the reality was that the child, who’s now about 5-years-old, is like any other child, expect for the fact that he needs to undergo blood transfusion once a month. And then it’s back to typical life.

Though thalassemia is a serious and chronic medical condition, it is not life-threatening. Instead, it is about ensuring compliance with the treatment schedule. So what exactly is thalassemia? Here’s all you wanted to know about it…

Thalassemia: A hereditary blood disorder

Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that passes from parents to children through the genes. It is caused when the bone marrow doesn’t create enough of a protein called haemoglobin, which is an important constituent of the red blood cells. What happens is when there isn’t enough haemoglobin, the body’s red blood cells fail to function properly, lasting for shorter periods of time. The outcome is that there are fewer healthy red blood cells travelling in the bloodstream.

On their part, red blood cells carry oxygen to all the cells of the body. So when there aren’t enough healthy red blood cells, there is also not enough oxygen delivered to all the other cells of the body, which may cause a person to feel tired, weak or short of breath. This is a condition called anaemia and patients with thalassemia may have mild or severe anaemia.

In its more minor form, a person with thalassemia may have his/her red blood cells smaller in size or the red blood cells may be less, causing him/her to be slightly anaemic. In its most severe form, the bone marrow does not create functional red blood cells at all. This would cause the patient to be chronically anaemic with no way to recover his/her haemoglobin levels. Such patients rely on donated blood by receiving blood transfusions every 2-4 weeks to survive. Transfusions have to take place typically every 21-28 days for a child and 14-21 days for an adult.

Thalassemia: Transmission and detection

If two people who each carry the same form of thalassemia trait have a child, there is a 25 per cent chance that this child will be born with a severe form of thalassemia.

Those with moderate or severe forms of thalassemia usually find out about their condition in childhood since they have symptoms of severe anaemia early in life. Those with less severe forms of thalassemia may only find out because they are having symptoms of anaemia or perhaps because a doctor finds anaemia on a routine blood test.

Finding out if one carries the thalassemia trait is not hard. The physician will look at the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of the complete blood count (CBC). If the MCV is 80 or less and if one is not iron-deficient, then one may have thalassemia trait. Other blood tests, including a haemoglobin electrophoresis and a quantification of haemoglobin A2 and haemoglobin F, can also verify the status of the trait.

A haematologist treats thalassemia. In some cases, the treatment can also be dispensed by an oncologist, though thalassemia is NOT a form of cancer.

The question that is uppermost on the mind of most having thalassemia or the family members of such patients is that if thalassemia leads to a deficit of red blood cells, can it be treated with iron supplements?

The short answer is ‘no’.

Thalassemia is not a form of anaemia that is caused by iron deficiency. In fact, those with transfusion-dependent thalassemia often limit iron in their diets as they already receive too much iron from each transfusion. The body cannot get rid of excess iron on its own and transfusion-reliant patients need to take chelation medication to excrete as much iron from the body as possible. Chelation refers to the removal of excess iron from the body. Instead, those with thalassemia are recommended to take multivitamins without iron.

Thalassemia: Types and severity

Thalassemia can be principally classified either as ‘alpha’ or ‘beta’, according to the specific part of haemoglobin that is affected. In other words, when thalassemia is called alpha or beta, it refers to the part of haemoglobin that isn’t being made. If either the alpha or beta part is not made, there aren’t enough building blocks to make normal amounts of haemoglobin. While low alpha is called alpha thalassemia, low beta is called beta thalassemia.

When words such as ‘trait’,‘minor’,‘intermedia’ or ‘major’ are used, they usually describe the severity of the thalassemia. A person who has thalassemia trait may not have any symptoms at all or may have only mild anaemia, while a person with thalassemia major may have severe symptoms and may need regular blood transfusions.

The type of thalassemia a person has depends on how many and what type of traits for thalassemia he/she has inherited or received from his/her parents. Also, having a thalassemia trait means that one may not have any symptoms but one may pass that trait on to their children and increase their risk for having thalassemia.

Sometimes, thalassemia is also referred to by other names like Constant Spring, Cooley’s Anaemia or Haemoglobin Bart Hydrops Fetalis. These names are specific to certain thalassemia. For instance, Cooley’s Anaemia is the same thing as beta thalassemia major.

Thalassemia: Symptoms and treatment plan 

The rare case of the most severe form of alpha thalassemia major may cause stillbirth. Though children born with beta thalassemia major are normal at birth, they tend to develop severe anaemia during the first year of life. The other symptoms of thalassemia can include:

Those with the minor form of alpha and beta thalassemia have small and abnormally-shaped red blood cells (when seen under a microscope) but no visible external symptoms.

The treatment plan for thalassemia often involves regular blood transfusions and folate supplements. If one receives blood transfusions, one should not take iron supplements. Doing so can cause a high amount of iron build-up in the body, which can be harmful.

A transfusion typically takes about 4 hours (as an outpatient). The actual length of time at the hospital may be from 4-7 hours. For transfusions, while some patients may be scheduled on a regular basis, it being important for the quality of life, others can schedule transfusions based on haemoglobin levels a day or two before the actual transfusion. The general range where a patient would fall and be considered in need of a transfusion would be with haemoglobin levels of 9-10.

For transfusions, it is critically important that the blood be exactly matched. This is not the same as when a transfusion would be otherwise required, say in an accident. For chronic/routine transfusions, patients may develop antibodies and hence doctors need to phenotypically match the blood.

It is important to understand that while thalassemia cannot be cured, it can certainly be managed and rigorous alignment with the treatment plan can have a patient live a long and normal life.

GD Assist, as a responsible medical management and healthcare enterprise, observes the World Thalassemia Day on 8th May every year. The organisation commemorates the day and focuses on raising awareness about thalassemia in Bangladesh, especially among those who might be ‘silent’ carriers of the disease and may face health complications in the future. In this mission, GD Assist organises blood donation camps and free consultation sessions conducted by experts and also works towards enlisting a larger number of the population to come forward and donate blood with a view to subsequently creating a blood bank.

The World Thalassemia Day is just round the corner (8th May 2018). So if you want to know more about thalassemia or donate blood, we cordially invite you to spend the day with us and look forward to your active participation.

So, call GD Assist today for an appointment.

Hotline: 16457; +8801617666888. Email: gdal@green-delta.com

Website:  gdassist.com

Second Medical Opinion

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How many dealers did you visit before you bought a car? Were you happy with the first quote you got for your kitchen renovation work? Did you assign the job to the first contractor who gave you his costings for upgrading your office?

When it comes to your finances, your home, your work or your belongings, it makes sense to do your research, shop around and ensure that you’re getting the best advice. But are you as rigorous and cautious when it comes to your health? Have you ever considered the value that a second medical opinion can bring to your table?

Interestingly, in the case of this gentleman, a second medical opinion saved his life. While visiting Malaysia for a hernia operation, the specialists at the hospital discovered that his heart was severely blocked, a heart attack was imminent, he should do an ECG first and only then could the hernia issue be addressed. Evaluating this information and his choices, the patient flew back to his home country, showed the diagnosis for a second opinion to his existing treatment professional who ratified his condition with the result that he flew back to Malaysia, completed the angioplasty and returned back to his country in a much healthier condition.

So if you’re someone who hasn’t ever considered a second medical opinion or are sitting on the fringes to make up your mind to do so, you must understand that patients who seek a second opinion do not necessarily think their diagnosis is incorrect nor do they essentially disagree with the recommended treatment. In other words, most patients, through a second medical opinion, seek genuine information in a readily understandable form. They may be unhappy with the way their diagnosis and treatment recommendations were communicated to them and they may be solely seeking a clearer explanation or a doctor with whom they feel they can share a better rapport with.

A second medical opinion is your right

In order to get the best outcome from a second opinion, it is important to first negotiate the issues of power and autonomy in your relationship with your health professional. As a patient, it is your right to seek advice and to be in-charge of what happens to your body.

Respect for autonomy is drummed into health professionals because the power balance in the specialist-patient relationship generally vests in favour of the specialist. Ideally, your medical professional has to put you in a zone where you are treated as a partner and collaborator in the process of being treated and the journey towards healing and health. In this context, your opinions and preferences should be respected and honoured, regardless of the option you choose to take.

It is understandable that many patients are resolutely loyal to their practitioners under any circumstances, so much so that the concept of a ‘family doctor’ is prevalent in most families. Such people usually feel that a second medical opinion is almost synonymous with betrayal or a breach of trustand wouldn’t think about it even for a second time unless they have fallen out completely with their existing doctor.

On the other hand, it has been observed that those on the other side of the equation (doctors, specialists, clinicians, etc.), especially those who are well-experienced, welcome the chance to have a fresh opinion on an existing issue and, as such, they are happy to cooperate and provide all the information necessary for the appraisal and judgement of a second-opinion doctor.

Hence, it is important to understand that getting a second medical opinion is not akin to a betrayal or a breach of trust.

The value of a second medical opinion

When your healthcare provider recommends surgery or a major procedure or treatment, it’s smart to get a second opinion from another expert. But, how do you know a second opinion is in order? And how do you go about getting one?

Here are some answers.

If you choose to go for a second opinion, it’s a good rule to ask a doctor with at least the same level of knowledge of your health condition, as your current healthcare provider. Consider contacting a specialist. Your current healthcare provider may be able to suggest someone.Even better, ask someone at an institution specialising in your condition, like a cancer treatment centre or a heart surgery centre. These centres will normally have a team of experts readily available to review your case.

Hence, it makes sense to get a second opinion when you face a medical condition that is life-changing or even life-threatening, which can help you:

Become a more educated healthcare consumer

  • Confirm that your diagnosis is appropriate
  • Confirm that the recommended treatment is appropriate
  • Compare outcomes of the treatments you are offered

Ultimately, a second opinion can help you make the best decisions for your health and hence, is in your own interest.

So how should you approach a second medical opinion?These questions offer a good place to start:

  • Is the diagnosis correct?
  • What are my choicesand the pros and cons of each?
  • What would happen if I wait or chose no treatment?
  • What should I do with the results?

If the second healthcare provider agrees with the first, you can move forward with more confidence. So generally, this should be your approach to a second medical opinion.

Here are some more tips:

1: Let your regular doctor know. It will help preserve your long-term relationship and ensure that the new one you are seeing can get all the information they need to make their evaluation.

2: Be clear about the reason for the second opinion. If the second medical opinion is different from the first, are you ready to re-think the prevailing diagnosis or treatment plan? Hearteningly, several studies have indicated that the second-opinion specialists tended to choose treatment plans with greater intervention if they knew there was a pre-existing, more conservative opinion.

3: Be open with the new healthcare professional. If you are one of those who is seeking a second medical opinion for want of better communication with your caregiver, it would be reasonable to assume that you will be more satisfied with a clinician you can relate to well.

4: Second opinions tend to lead to spending more time and effort, especially if you have to travel long or fairly long distances. You may feel more obliged to follow the second advice you’ve gone for, spending so much effort to obtain it. Hence, it is advisable to take your time to consider the second opinion as carefully as you did the first.

Sometimes, medical specialists themselves push you for a second opinion and that’s not a bad thing.

There are certain sets of doctors/clinicians who can be categorised as per the following behavioural traits.

Some are those who come from the totalitarian era of ‘doctor knows the best’and regard informed patients with misgiving and suspicion. Yet again, there are those with authoritarianpersonalities and their verdict (almost dictatorial) is expected to be considered as the final truth. The other set comprises those medical practitioners who are so stressed or so busy that they react with frustration or anger to a request from a patient for extra information or time to consider their options.

On the other end of the spectrum, there are those who falter or are wayward in terms of assuming even basic duties of a caregiver. With this set, the balance is completely towards patient autonomyand they seem to feel no genuine responsibility on their part to advise or motivate their patients. For them, once the patient is out of sight, s/he is usually out of their mind.

Hence, if your first-opinion doctor seems to react rather poorly or not at all to your requests, a second opinion might be exactly what they wrote invisibly in your prescription and that’s a good thing.

So if you are a patient, or if you know someone who is a patient, refer them to GD Assist. GD Assist has launched Second Medical Opinion (SMO) services in association with Assist America, Inc. and this service has been introduced in Bangladesh directly from the US. This alliance is aligned with the company’s focus on working towards the objective of delivering international-grade healthcare facilities at the doorstep of the people of Bangladesh, at an affordable cost.

Remember then. In some cases, a second opinion can be your bridge between life and death, especially for grave, complex and critical illnesses.

So, call GD Assist today for an appointment.

Hotline: 16457; +8801617666888