I was reading the 2nd page of the Star newspaper today, and I was quite troubled at what I had read.

The article said, Pharmaceutical firms view Malaysia as ideal location for research.

Additionally, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said priority could be given to such value-added (clinical) trials as Malaysia’s multi-ethnic composition represented a big portion of the global population.

University of Aberdeen Institute of Medical Science lecturer Professor Anne Glover said Malaysia could serve as a one-stop centre for clinical trials due to its multi-ethnic population.

“Pharmaceutical companies are interested to use the resources here,” she said.

Light moment: Najib at the meeting in Kuala Lumpur Monday.
With him are Science, Technology and Innovation Minister
Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili (left)
and the Prime Minister’s Science advisor
Tan Sri Dr Ahmad Zaharudin Idrus.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/11/17/nation/20091117070831&sec=nation

I checked the Business Times (belonging to New Straits Times)  and they quote the Prime Minister as saying, “Malaysia should give priority to “value add clinical trials” and “diagnostic trials” in the medicine field as the country has a plural society suitable to test the global market.

“We’ve Malays, Chinese, Indians, Sabahans and Sarawakians who represent the major global market. Malaysia is most suitable to conduct the study,” he said.”

http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20091116144600/Article/index_html

Jasmin says,

What does this mean? Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the article mean that we, the Malaysian population are now targeted as guinea pigs for medical tests? Does it mean our bodies will be subjected to untested medicines and such?

And if it is, how will these companies test us? Will they be using the almost free Malaysian public health care as a vehicle to distribute the medicine and test their products on unsuspecting Malaysians. Will they inform the us beforehand that we will be targeted as guinea pigs or will they just quietly test us without our knowledge?

I’m really troubled about this. I would not want my family and I to be used in a clinical trial as who knows the ramifications of using untested drugs. Would you? Can someone care to enlighten me on this and tell me what I’m reading is right or wrong? I do hope I’m wrong, and maybe misinterpret the article.

Ethan Eating Thin Strips of Chinese Pear

I love to listen to my mum tell me stuff that happened to her as a young girl. It’s fascinating.

One of the things my mum told me was that as a child, my granny had fed her pears to reduce her high fever. However, not any pear will do. It had to be a particular pear from China.

Chinese Pear

There are many, many types of pears from China, and this particular Chinese Pear is recognizable because it is very big. It’s about 1 1/2 times the size of a regular pear that we get at the supermarket. Also it’s round unlike the normal pear.  The skin dark brown, unlike the usual light yellow pears. It’s also quite expensive. I could buy 3 regular pears for this baby.

This is an amazing fruit. The Chinese just love this pear. It’s a great natural fever reducer, something you could try if you are looking for natural alternatives instead of the usual chemical based medicine like paracetamol or aspirin. You could juice this sweet fruit for really, young kids, but otherwise, the entire fruit can be eaten, minus the core and the stem, of course.

I’ve had to tackle my little boy and force feed meds into him before, and it’s a real nightmare .. for both the parent and the child. If you have this experience, then, you know what I mean. There’s nothing worse than having the poor child scream, cry and struggle while you try to force medicine down his throat. Which is why I love this. I can’t think of a better, more yummy way to get well.