KOTA KINABALU: Medical practitioners have been urged to give their feedback on the Generational End Game (GEG) initiative in a bid to prevent comorbidities related to smoking and vaping.
Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists president Datuk Dr Yong Chow Yen said there are more than 1,400 anaesthesiologists with two-thirds or 933 of them being members of the society and they could do so through the MySejahtera app.
The Health Ministry recently launched a survey to gather feedback and views from all Malaysians on the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023, dubbed the GEG bill.
The survey is open to all Malaysians through the MySejahtera app starting on Oct 11.
GEG would see companies and individuals who sell tobacco products to those born after Jan 1, 2007 to face legal action.
If passed, the new law would not only be applicable to conventional smoking products, but also "next generation" products, including vapes and other electronic smoking devices.
"Prevention is better than cure. If there is any way that we can prevent our community from getting sick, (we should use any means).
"Then, we can also reduce utilisation (of medical items) and other resources," she said after launching the National Anesthesia Day at Queen Elizabeth Hospital here.
The event saw healthcare personnel pledging to reduce waste in support of sustainability and fight against climate change.
Present were Health Ministry (Medical Development Division) director Datuk Dr Azman Yacob and Sabah Health medical division assistant director Dr Shim Jyh Ye.
Earlier, Dr Azman said globally, healthcare was responsible for 5 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions and similar fractions of harmful air pollutants.
"Estimates of global emissions stemming from anaesthesia practice are unavailable due to data gaps.
"However, a UK study found that inhalational anaesthetic agents alone are estimated to contributed nearly 3 per cent of healthcare-related emissions," he said, adding that 25 per cent of the clinical waste in the operating theatre was anaesthesia waste which 45 per cent of them were recycled.