GM mosquitoes plan squashed for now

The plan to introduce GM mosquitoes in Malaysia will not be implemented “at the moment”.

“Seemingly it is quite an interesting (solution) to deal with such a problem but I think… not until and unless every aspect of research being carried out is clinically tested and… environmental issues have been addressed,” AFP reported Muhyiddin as saying.

That is of course welcome news; good sense has prevailed. Now can we look into eliminating the breeding sites of the aedes mosquito? It was shocking to hear that a spot check for dengue breeding grounds by the authorities found the Penang Hospital compound teeming with aedes mosquitoes and larvae, as reported in theSun.

“The perimeters of Block C of the hospital are full of aedes larvae, and since nobody is above the law, the hospital which is managed by Faber Medi-Serve will be issued a compound for breeding aedes mosquitoes,” said Penang exco member for health Phee Boon Poh. The mosquito larvae were found in a clogged drain, theSun later reported.

Quite. Instead of the Health Ministry wasting time with GM mosquitoes, its time would be better spent checking on breeding sitess including at its own hospitals.

Which brings us to the question of what exactly Faber Medi-Serve is doing. Isn’t this a dereliction of duty?

In late 1996, the government awarded the company a 15-year concession “to manage, operate and provide five core support services to 71 out of the 123 MOH-owned hospitals”. FMS’ business centres on clinical waste management, facility engineering maintenance, linen and laundry services, biomedical engineering maintenance, and cleansing and janitorial services. FMS has already submitted a proposal to the Health Ministry to renew its concession, which expires in October 2011.

In 2009, Faber was paid RM452 million by the Ministry. It has received RM4.0 billion since 1997. For more information on Faber, see here.