Maldives Doctors' Day 2008
Maldivian Medical Association wishes all its members and all those involved in health care provision in Maldives a happy doctor's day. In the past year lot has happened in our community and the association has played its part representing its members in various forums and endeavours. At a time where social responsibility comes with attached strings the association has taken up issues based solely on the welfare of its members and the public and it is with the valuable support of its members that the association stands strong today.
Maldivian Medical Association began celebrations for the Doctor's Day 2008 on 15th April 2008 with the kick off of the 2nd 6-a-side-football tournament for doctors and health care persons. This year 5 teams participated and though the first match had to be postponed due to heavy rains the tournament proceeded with much success. The tournament was concluded yesterday with the Chiefs Team winning the tournament for a second year in a row.
The function arranged for the doctors day is to be held on the evening of 18th April and will include an award ceremony, doctors entertainment items and a dinner. This informal gathering has been arranged so that the social bond amongst doctors and indeed amongst all health care persons can be fostered. It is hoped that both these will go a long way to strengthen the fabric of this important network of individuals having the common goal of providing quality health care to our population.
Just following that up the association is planning to go on its long awaited trip. The tentative date set is 25th april 2008 and as soon as some final arrangements are made formal announcement for the same will be made.
Once again we wish you all a happy doctor's day and thank you for your participation and support.
MMA Position Statement
MMA releases its position statement on EECP
Maldivian Medical Association on 27th March 2008 released its position statement titled:
POSITION STATEMENT FOR USE OF ENHANCED EXTERNAL COUNTERPULSATION (EECP) FOR CHRONIC STABLE ANGINA OR CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE.
It elucidates the current evidence available on the use of this promising modality of treatment, its indications, contraindications and give a summary of the trials done on it.While MMA welcomes all efforts by both public and private sector to provide quality health care for the Maldivian population it cautions against overuse of newer modalities of treatment until their efficacy and safety profile is fully studied. MMA also takes exception to any promotional material which has potential to be used to mislead the unsuspecting public. In this regard some statements used in promotional leaflets distributed by promoters of EECP has been deemed not fully in keeping with current medical evidence or misleading. Some such statements have been noted here:
“The most advanced and FDA approved treatment for heart patients”.
MMA comments – this is a highly erroneous statement since though it is a promising modality it is not the most advanced treatment approved for ‘heart patients’.
“EECP is the first non-surgical, non-pharmaceutical, mechanical treatment for patients with chest pain and heart failure”
MMA comments – This statement will easily be interpreted as a statement promoting EECP as a standard treatment for ‘chest pain and heart failure’ while this is not the case. Chest pain has several causes and it is a very small minority of chest pains that is cardiac in origin; and from amongst those with cardiac chest pain the proportion of patients who will meet the criterion set by the scientific community for use of EECP is very small. Plus the use of EECP as a treatment modality of heart failure is yet to be fully established.
“EECP has numerous distinctive advantages over surgery” (CABG)
MMA comments – This statement compares EECP to bypass surgery (CABG) in a way that unfortunately leaves no other conclusion than that EECP is a viable option for those needing CABG while this is not the case. While it is only in those who have CABG indicated but due to absolute inability to undergo surgery that EECP has to be considered, the statement unduly promotes EECP on equal footing as CABG. EECP’s allure is NOT its ‘advantages’ over CABG but rather it’s a fallback second choice for those unable to undergo it.
“No side effects”.
MMA comments – This is a medically incorrect statement since all studies have shown adverse effects of the procedure. Significant numbers of subjects have also been seen to discontinue the use of this treatment modality in controlled studies and thus a claim to nil side effects is totally unsubstantiated.
“… The most advanced cardiac treatment at Maldives”.
MMA comments – this statement could mislead most cardiac patients to erroneously refer themselves for EECP since the most advanced treatment will be aspired to by all. Some candidates needing surgical management may also get a false confidence in this modality as a step to be taken before going for any treatment abroad. Given the body of evidence which show that it is a very narrow patient profile who will ultimately benefit from this therapy the outcome of such a claim is not positive for the population.
The Maldivian Medical Association thus recommends to the government authorities to take steps to ensure the dissemination of correct information to the public, exhorts those investing in the health sector to use means of promotion in a way that the lay public does not get misled even unwittingly and encourages the public to study and discuss all pros and cons of any treatment modality before exposing themselves to any treatment, especially little known new modalities.
Download and read the full statement.
