Few takers for Government's free ‘quit smoking’ programme
BY ROYCE CHEAHKUALA LUMPUR: Poor response – that is the problem with a free government programme to help the country’s five million smokers quit the habit.
The programme, launched seven years ago, has only seen 20,000 smokers giving it a try.
The Health Ministry has been offering the three-month programme, which costs up to RM1,500, at more than 200 government clinics throughout the country, said its public health deputy director here Dr Sallehudin Abu Bakar.
He cited poor publicity and poor response from private general practitioners (GPs) as the reasons why the programme, launched in 1998, has not been as successful as hoped.
“Whenever the programme is publicised on radio or television, it is usually during non-peak hours, only when housewives are watching and listening.
“Private GPs on the other hand don't treat it as a priority as it is time consuming to counsel a patient.
“When you are spending too much time with a client, you are depriving other patients.”
Dr Sallehudin gave the example of the training organised by Malaysian Medical Association for GPs to learn how to provide smoking cessation services.
“Fewer than 10 doctors turned up for both sessions (once each in 2003 and 2004). By right, all GPs should have the skills to provide this service.”
Dr Sallehudin also said that the ministry did not have enough manpower to cope if there was an increase in the number of smokers coming in to seek help.
“More quit clinics should be set up and more medical officers should be trained,” he said.
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