National Geographic Channel features Thai forensic pathologist Pornthip Rojanasunand’s role in the investigation of the sudden death of a Thai parliamentarian.
Sarawak assembly building – by CMS/Naim
This is the new Sarawak State Assembly building, built at a cost of about RM300 million, on the banks of the Sarawak River in Petra Jaya, Kuching.
Photo credit: Wikipedia
Source: Naim Holdings Bhd Annual Report 2009
The structure was developed by Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s family-controlled listed firm Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd and another listed firm, Naim Holdings Bhd. According to the Annual Report 2009 of CMS Bhd, the complex was developed by CMS subsidiary PPES Works (Sarawak), along with a Naim subsidiary, Naim Cendera Sdn Bhd. Naim Holdings’ Annual Report 2009 says these two companies were turnkey contractors for the project, which was completed in May 2009.
Govt-owned ‘private’ hospitals
With the federal and state governments and GLCs holding stakes in an increasing number of private hospitals, is there a conflict of interest?
Blog reader Ganesh shares his thoughts.
If you see the private hospitals, some of them are virtually owned either directly or indirectly by the government.
So, the government has absolutely no incentive to build more new government hospitals nor to upgrade existing government hospitals at all.
Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-08-22
- John Pilger on Why Wikileaks Must Be Protected http://bit.ly/bzrOif #
- RT @limkitsiang: Pornthip … sure it is not a case of suicide. Live coverage: https: #
- RT @limkitsiang: P of opinion TBH unconscious during fall Live coverage https: #
- The shrine that Ting Pek Khing built https:/accountability/the-shrine-that-ting-pek-khing-built/ #
- M’sia has “largest illicit cigarette incidence” https:/accountability/worlds-largest-illicit-cigarette-incidence-in-msia/ #
Costs soar after health services privatised
Ever since health care support services in general hospitals were privatised, costs borne by taxpayers have soared.
In 1996, health care support services were privatised to three companies: Faber Medi-Serve Sdn Bhd (FMS), Radicare (M) Sdn Bhd and Pantai Medivest Sdn Bhd.
In 1997, the payments made to these companies added up to RM340 million, broken down as follows:
- Faber RM127m
- Radicare RM150m
- Pantai Medivest RM63m
Don’t release GM mosquitoes
Male GM mosquitoes could be released at both inhabited and uninhabited sites in Pahang and Melaka in October or November, if the National Biosafety Board of Malaysia approves an application to conduct experiments.
The Aedes mosquito (OX513A strain) has been modified to include two new traits, fluorescence and ‘conditional lethality’, which means that in the absence of the antibiotic tetracycline, offspring from these males will die. The trial is aimed at finding out how long these GM mosquitoes will survive and how far they will disperse compared to the wild type non-GM mosquitoes.
If the Institute of Medical Research’s application is approved, up to 6,000 of these ‘non-biting’ GM mosquitoes and a number of non-GM mosquitoes will be released in the Bentong district of Pahang and Alor Gajah and Melaka district. The release will be carried out over two consecutive days during the second week of October or November 2010.
Pornthip “most trusted” in Thailand: Survey
Dr. Pornthip Rojanasunand is the most trusted individual in all of Thailand, according to a Readers’ Digest Trust survey.
This survey in October 2009 found that out of 80 individuals in the country, the Director of Thailand’s Forensic Science Institute was the most trusted.
85% of new drugs offer few benefits: Study
A study just out reveals that about 85 per cent of new drugs offer few if any new benefits. In fact, a significant cause of death in the United States is due to the toxic side effects or misuse of prescription drugs, reports the Science Daily.
“Sometimes drug companies hide or downplay information about serious side effects of new drugs and overstate the drugs’ benefits,” said Prof Donald Light, author of the paper, Pharmaceuticals: A Two-Tier Market for Producing ‘Lemons’ and Serious Harm.
Drug firms also tend to spend two or three times more on marketing than research to persuade doctors to prescribe these new drugs for conditions other than those for which the drugs have been approved, said Light, who is professor of comparative health policy at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He added that doctors usually tend to dismiss patients’ complaints of side effects or take them lightly.
Unhealthy politicians
Some light relief. Does this sound familiar though?
Mahidol University and Pornthip
Now here’s some information about Pornthip’s academic background, her career and Mahidol University’s status to enlighten a certain lawyer.
Times Higher Educ Supplement (THES) Rankings:
2009 World Universities Rankings:
Mahidol ranked at 101 (Life Sciences & Biomedicine)
Mahidol ranked at 220 (Overall)2010 Asian Universities Rankings:
Mahidol placed at 18 (Life Sciences & Biomedicine)
Mahidol placed at 28 (Overall).