Anaesthesiologists to be applauded: Mary Yap

KUALA LUMPUR: Anaesthesiologists are to be applauded as they provide a whole range of care for patients.
Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr. Mary Yap Kain Ching said their task was not only confined to the operating theatre.
"They are consulted in the preoperative period to optimise the patients' condition and they run the Intensive Care Units. Anaesthesiologists are involved in obstetric analgesia and anesthesia, pediatric anesthesia, emergency medicine in the Accident and Emergency departments, resuscitation, acute and chronic pain management, and patient transfers between hospitals.
"The role of the anesthesiologist is ever expanding as we venture into more fields to provide a safe environment for both patients and surgeons," she said, adding their role also includes providing safe sedation and caring for patients.
She was speaking in her opening speech at the National Anaesthesia Day 2017 launch at Universiti Malaya (UM) today.
She also recalled a surgery on her husband last month where UM's anesthesiologist Dr. Loh Pui Sun had explained the procedure in a calm manner.
She described the explanation given as reassuring and thanked the medical team.
Earlier, Anaesthesiology Department Head Prof. Dr. Marzida Mansor said that currently, the ratio of anaesthesiologists to surgeons is about 1:5.
She hoped the target ratio could be 1:3 surgeons in the future.
She also announced that the 6th World Congress of Total Intravenous Anaesthesia (SIVA-TCI) will be held next year in August at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.