The New Straits Times, December 12, 1999
IT is now barely 20 days to the 21st century and the buzz word is "Y2K-preparedness". In many developing countries, it is feared that the Y2K bug (a.k.a. the millennium bug) might cause older computers and software to crash if they are not Y2K-compliant.
This is due to the inability of older computers to recognise the difference between the years 2000 and 1900. The ramifications of this on health have been compiled by The Cassandra Project, accessible at http://www.cassandraproject.org/healthsafe.html.
One international monitoring firm is expecting 10 per cent failures due to the Y2K problem on Jan 1, with many more the following days and weeks.
This is due not only to possible systems and technology failings, but also human follow-up errors.
According to International Monitoring, a UK-based technology consulting company, Malaysia falls under the category of "moderately prepared" based on a three-tier preparedness ranking globally.
But assessment by the United Nations International Y2K Co-operation Centre says "the much feared Millennium Meltdown is unlikely to happen in the country".
This confidence is reflected in the decision in July not to declare public holidays on Dec 31 and Jan 3 - the two days sandwiching the New Year weekend.
In fact, on Sept 9, Malaysia emerged unscathed from another computer bug, the so-called "Four Nines", feared to strike some computers programmed to read "9999" as a command to shut down.
And in October, the National Economic Action Council refuted a claim that Southeast Asian countries, especially Malaysia, were less aware of the Y2K problem and thus unprepared to face it.
The United Nations' Y2K centre looked at nine critical sectors which mostly affect public safety.
It noted that of the nine sectors, four (finance, energy and power, telecommunications and air transport) were highly dependent on computer systems, while three (Customs, government services, and maritime and rail transportation) were moderately dependent.
The last sector, health service, was only deemed to be slightly dependent. In any case, each of the sectors are dependent on one another making the situation even more complex to resolve. For example, medical devices using electricity to operate, like dialysis machines and diagnostic equipment, can also be affected should power supply be interrupted.
In general, public health facilities and surveillance systems dependent on dates for epidemiological and health statistic reasons should take extra precautions.
In particular, clinics and pharmacies that maintain records of patients/clients on computers must be aware of the implications of the Y2K. This is because the date of events, duration between events, and other calculations such as age could to be affected.
Among problems caused by Y2K will be information loss, computerised information becoming "outdated" and premature expiration of prescriptions. All of these could have an adverse impact on health and safety.
Whilst there are solutions to such Y2K problems, the financial cost is indeed high.
Conmen are fleecing the gullible. In Hong Kong, a women paid dearly when she believed that the Y2K bug could be cured by taking a specially concocted Y2K pill. She was conned HK$120,000 (about RM58,000) for 43 such pills.
It is advisable for those with conditions like heart ailments, unstable or juvenile diabetes, epilepsy and other life-threatening chronic conditions to have a sufficient supply of medicine to last until after the new year.
Frail elderly people with acute medical problems and those with other disabilities should make contingency plans.
They should make special arrangements to deal with emergencies. Know the nearest location where help can be obtained.
Overall, educate yourself and your family on what needs to be done as we approach the new year and beyond.
- Learn some basic first aid techniques like dealing with poisonings, fractures, loss of consciousness, general aches and pains, falls and common injuries, especially involving children;
- Make sure you have all the medication needed and extra prescriptions filled;
- Keep a well-equipped first aid kit; and
- Know how to deal with situations involving panic and anxiety.
Based on the Energy, Telecommunications and Multimedia Ministry's statement last week (NST, Dec 2), Malaysia is "in good shape and Y2K-ready".
This is more comforting than what it revealed in mid -1999, when "two areas - health services and broadcasting - are lagging behind". It was noted then that private hospitals have "an average compliance rate of 80 per cent while government hospitals are below 50 per cent ready".
However, major public hospitals are ahead, with Hospital Kuala Lumpur 90 per cent compliant. University Hospital and Seremban Hospital are 75 and 60 per cent compliant respectively.
The Government has its own National Y2K Contingency Plan and Y2K Control Centre to determine the course of action should any problems arise.
Although some insist that Malaysia has about four hours to learn and respond to Y2K bug related events unfolding in New Zealand (it being among the first countries to see the millennium dawn), it may be too late then to do any serious troubleshooting.
It is therefore better to be Y2K-wise by increasing your awareness.
Immediately after the new year, review all information on health and medication records thoroughly.
Be doubly alert as to the possibility of errors and inappropriate information, for example in medications to be used. Ensure that the medication is the right one.
Check the name of the patients, drug name, dosage, quantity and expiration date as it is required.
