THE Health Ministry (MOH) has launched Braille medicine labels in an initiative to help people with visual impairment keep track of their medicines.

Its minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the labels were created to make it easier for the visually impaired to get quick and accurate information about medicines and prescriptions.“The Braille labels of the medicines given to visually impaired patients will let them know the dosage such as two pills, three times a day.

“The labels will also have indications of the use of the medicine, either for fever, cough or flu,” she said in her New Year’s message for ministry staff today.

Zaliha said the labels would be available in 250 public health clinics nationwide, benefitting 55,000 visually impaired persons.

She said the initiative was also an extension of the ministry’s Know Your Medicines programme, in support of Malaysia’s Patient Safety Goals 2.0.

Zaliha added that Malaysia is among the earliest countries in Asia to introduce Braille medicine labels, which also reflects the government’s seriousness in ensuring that the visually impaired have access to correct information about their medicines and prescriptions. – Bernama, January 6, 2023.