About Us
Malaysian Skin Foundation
Malaysian Skin Foundation (MSF) is established by a group of dermatologists from the Dermatological Society of Malaysia who recognized the need to address the significant impact of skin conditions on individuals and communities in Malaysia. Our aim is to improve the quality of life of those suffering from skin conditions and to empower them by providing them with the resources they need to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.
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Aims
To promote skin health by improving care and treatment access, raising awareness and standard of education and facilitating good quality research.
Believes
That support, information, advocacy and better understanding of skin diseases can empower those affected to make more informed decisions when seeking the right treatment for their conditions.
Wants
To be an effective voice for patients and a key player in advocating better healthcare services.
Much more can be done to improve the lives of people living with skin conditions or diseases in Malaysia.
Malaysian Skin foundation
Our Objectives
Main Objective
Second Objective
Third Objective
Our main objective is to make it possible for patients to have the opportunity to gain better access to effective medications in the treatment of their skin diseases with the aim of improving lives.
Our second objective is to increase awareness of skin diseases by improving knowledge and to raise the standard of education and training in dermatology.
Our third objective is to facilitate and support good quality research that translates to improved care.
Malaysian Skin foundation
Our Objective
Main Objective
Second Objective
Third Objective
Our main objective is to make it possible for patients to have the opportunity to gain better access to effective medications in the treatment of their skin diseases with the aim of improving lives.
Our second objective is to increase awareness of skin diseases by improving knowledge and to raise the standard of education and training in dermatology.
Our third objective is to facilitate and support good quality research that translates to improved care.
Malaysian Skin foundation
Core values
Compassion
Compassion is a value that is central to our pursuit in understanding the negative psychosocial impact of skin diseases.
Improving lives
Skin is the window to a person’s inner health and by striving to improve skin health, we improve lives.
Respect
We value our patients , their carers and families, healthcare providers, and our partners and respect their aspirations and commitments in life.
Empowerment
We strive to empower patients when making informed decisions about their skin diseases by improving the knowledge and understanding of their diseases.
Target Groups
Skin Disorders
Psoriasis
Target Groups
Skin Disorders
Eczema
Malaysian Skin Foundation
Vision
We envision a Malaysia where everyone has access to quality healthcare and is unburdened by skin diseases.
Mission
To improve access to treatment and to advance knowledge of skin diseases through advocacy, training and research.
Malaysian Skin Foundation
Challenges Faced
It has come to MSF’s attention that most often patients with skin conditions are not given due attention they require as their problems are usually brushed aside and considered to be not life threatening or fatal. MSF wants for Malaysians with skin diseases or conditions to be given the necessary access to dermatology specialists or dermatology clinical nurses without the need to face difficulties in terms of getting the right specialists or long waiting times for appointments. As an example, care and treatment for people with psoriasis in Malaysia remains challenging. By 2017, the Malaysian Psoriasis Registry (MPR) captured over 17,000 adults and children with psoriasis from 25 dermatology outpatient clinics. Of this figure, one in four patients reported severe impairment of quality of life. The total number of cases registered has now risen to more than 24,000. Among the challenges that patients might face include:-
Malaysian Skin Foundation
Challenges Faced
It has come to MSF’s attention that most often patients with skin conditions are not given due attention they require as their problems are usually brushed aside and considered to be not life threatening or fatal. MSF wants for Malaysians with skin diseases or conditions to be given the necessary access to dermatology specialists or dermatology clinical nurses without the need to face difficulties in terms of getting the right specialists or long waiting times for appointments. As an example, care and treatment for people with psoriasis in Malaysia remains challenging. By 2017, the Malaysian Psoriasis Registry (MPR) captured over 17,000 adults and children with psoriasis from 25 dermatology outpatient clinics. Of this figure, one in four patients reported severe impairment of quality of life. The total number of cases registered has now risen to more than 24,000. Among the challenges that patients might face include:-
Rising Cases
In Malaysia, we have seen a rise in the number of skin diseases, and it is a significant public health concern. For instance, the prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) has risen from 9.5% in 1994-1995 to 12.6% in 2002-2003, indicating an increase of 0.49% every year. It is therefore crucial for healthcare facilities and hospitals to be better equipped with trained and skilled personnel to diagnose, treat and manage the patients.
Scarcity and Maldistribution of Trained Dermatologists
Currently there are less than 200 trained dermatologists in the country with a population of 33 million. Access to dermatologists proves to be challenging especially in the rural areas. This leads to long waiting times for appointments and patients tend to source alternative means of treatment. This unfortunately often leads to misdiagnosis and mismanagement.
Lack Of Awareness Among Stakeholders
As skin diseases are often perceived as common and not life-threatening, not much focus and emphasis are placed on them by policymakers and the general public alike. What is even more unfortunate is insurance companies and managed care organisations view most skin diseases as only a cosmetic concern and do not give due reimbursement.
Limited Access to Treatments
Although there have been discoveries of many new and very effective medications over the past decade or so, these medications are expensive and remains inaccessible to a wide segment of the population. As treatments are becoming more costly, comprehensive health economic evaluations become increasingly important for resource-limited healthcare systems like ours.
Rising Cases
In Malaysia, we have seen a rise in the number of skin diseases, and it is a significant public health concern. For instance, the prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) has risen from 9.5% in 1994-1995 to 12.6% in 2002-2003, indicating an increase of 0.49% every year. It is therefore crucial for healthcare facilities and hospitals to be better equipped with trained and skilled personnel to diagnose, treat and manage the patients.
Scarcity and Maldistribution of Trained Dermatologists
Currently there are less than 200 trained dermatologists in the country with a population of 33 million. Access to dermatologists proves to be challenging especially in the rural areas. This leads to long waiting times for appointments and patients tend to source alternative means of treatment. This unfortunately often leads to misdiagnosis and mismanagement.
Lack Of Awareness Among Stakeholders
As skin diseases are often perceived as common and not life-threatening, not much focus and emphasis are placed on them by policymakers and the general public alike. What is even more unfortunate is insurance companies and managed care organisations view most skin diseases as only a cosmetic concern and do not give due reimbursement.
Limited Access to Treatments
Although there have been discoveries of many new and very effective medications over the past decade or so, these medications are expensive and remains inaccessible to a wide segment of the population. As treatments are becoming more costly, comprehensive health economic evaluations become increasingly important for resource-limited healthcare systems like ours.
Patient Advocacy Groups Representatives
Malaysian Skin Foundation
Leadership & Board Members
Board of Trustees
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MSF Comittee for Patient Assistance Program
MSF Education Committee
MSF Research Committee
Dr Agnes Heng
Dato’ Dr Sushil Kumar Ratti
Dr Choon Siew Eng
Mr Peter Ho
Ms Patricia Chua
Ms Che Indon Ilyas
Mr Mohd Faiz bin Abdullah
Dr Agnes Heng
Dr Benji Teoh
Dato’ Dr Sushil Kumar Ratti
Dato’ Dr Noor Zalmy Azizan
Dr Choon Siew Eng
Dr Tang Jyh Jong
Dr Leong Kin Fon
Miss Luei Jia Qi
Pn Zanariah bt Baharom
Many studies have demonstrated that skin diseases such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and hidradenitis suppurativa have significant psychological co-morbidities. The Global Burden of Disease project has shown that skin diseases were the 4th leading cause of non-fatal disease burden world-wide.
With the advances in medical research, many new treatment options are made available for these debilitating diseases that could potentially improve the quality of life of these patients. Unfortunately access to these medications is limited due to its high cost.
MSF aims to fill in the gaps in treatment access through its Patient Assistance Programme (PAP). This programme is a subsidy scheme whereby the amount of subsidy is determined by the applicants’ socio-economic status through means-testing. Application is done through recommendation by your treating dermatologist.
Dato’ Dr Sushil Kumar Ratti
Dato’ Dr Noor Zalmy Azizan
Dr Latha Selvarajah
Dr Sean Yong Shin Shen
Dr Ruban Nathan
Objective
To facilitate education and training particularly in the field of dermatology for Malaysian healthcare professionals.
The training committee of MSF is responsible to identify the needs for education and training of Dermatology not just for medical professionals but also for allied heath personnel and patients. In line with the objective of MSF to facilitate education and training in Dermatology, the Training Committee is of the view that there is a need to strengthen knowledge of Dermatology among general practitioners, as they are the first point of contact for patients who suffer from skin diseases. The committee is looking into providing a Graduate Certificate course for Primary Care Physician. A proposal for collaboration is underway with one of the private universities in Malaysia.
Additionally, MSF training committee hopes to provide guidance and support to dermatologists who are interested in pursuing subspecialty training, as we need more experts in specific areas of dermatology such as photobiology, dermatopathology, allergic disorders and dermatosurgery.
Dr. Choon Siew Eng
Dr Azura Mohd Affandi
Dr Felix Yap Bin Boon
Dr Rajalingam Ramalingam
The Research Committee provides the MSF Board with robust innovative and strategic advice on issues pertaining to research and its research program.
The aims and objectives of the Research committee are as follows:- Promote and encourage thematic research identified based on unmet needs in Malaysia
- Research will be conducted either by nominated working groups or by MSF members with research proposals in line with identified thematic research.
- To assess, approve and provide funding for research which have received MREC approval
testimonials
What People are Saying?
testimonials
What People are Saying?
Application Form
Patient Assistance Programme
Many studies have demonstrated that skin diseases such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and hidradenitis suppurativa have significant psychological co-morbidities. The Global Burden of Disease project has shown that skin diseases were the 4th leading cause of non-fatal disease burden world-wide. With the advances in medical research, many new treatment options are made available for these debilitating diseases that could potentially improve the quality of life of these patients. Unfortunately access to these medications is limited due to its high cost. MSF aims to fill in the gaps in treatment access through its Patient Assistance Programme (PAP). This programme is a subsidy scheme whereby the amount of subsidy is determined by the applicants’ socio-economic status through means-testing. Application is done through recommendation by your treating dermatologist.
Kindly fill up this form & email to us.
testimonials
What People are Saying?
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Dwayt Harder
PatientDictum fusce ut placerat orci nulla. At auctor urna nun id cursus metus convallis aliquam posuere eleifend. Dictum fusce ut placerat orci nulla. At auctor urna nun id cursus metus convallis aliquam posuere eleifend.Dictum fusce ut placerat orci nulla. At auctor urna nun id cursus
Jane Bryan
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