03 May2014
Malaysia offers bronchial thermoplasty for severe asthma patients
SERDANG : Malaysia is leading the way as one of the first two Asian countries offering bronchial thermoplasty (BT), a non-drug treatment, for severe uncontrolled asthma.
The health ministry’s medical development division director, Datuk Dr Azmi Shapie, said the Serdang Hospital was the first hospital in the country which offered BT to patients who were on asthma medication but still suffered asthma attacks, via the flexible bronchoscope.
“Its effectiveness has been proven in clinical trials. It is easily available in developed countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Europe. In Asia, only Malaysia and Singapore are doing it.
“We started BT at the Serdang Hospital last year. We have done five cases. Allof them are doing very well.
“Now, our patients need not go abroad to have such treatment,” he told reporters after the launch of the Malaysian Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (Mabip) at the Serdang Hospital here today.
Also present was Mabip chairman Dr Jamalul Azizi Abdul Rahman.–BERNAMA
