GOUT CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES LAUNCHED

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Rheumatology Association
has issued Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) on the treatment of gout by
government and private hospitals.

Rheumatology medical specialist Dr Azmillah Rosman said the CPG was aimed at
educating the public on the right way to treat gout and how to find the source.

"The CPG explains how gout patients are managed based on the proof
available," she said when launching CPG on behalf of the director-general of
Health, Dr Mohd Ismail Marican here Monday.

"Gout can be treated with the right management and diagnosis combining
medical and non-medical treatment like a change in the lifestyle and diet," she
said.

Malaysia only has 34 rheumatologists serving government hospitals in the
states of Penang, Perak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Pahang,
Sabah and Sarawak.
-- BERNAMA