Health & Living

What does genetic testing have to do with breast cancer? What can a genetic test tell you, and does every woman need it in order to know her risk of developing breast cancer? We unpack these questions with Yoon Sook Yee, Head of Genetic Counselling, and Dr Low Ley Hian, Head of Business Development, from Cancer Research Malaysia’s newly-established genetic testing services, GENETIX. Image credit:...

The word ‘menopause’ conjures up images of greying, elderly women, while menopause hormone therapy (MHT) continues to be the bogeyman that frightens women with notions of cancer and stroke. Recognising this, the theme of World Menopause Day this year (observed on 18 October) was ‘Menopause Hormone Therapy’. In this conversation with Dr Ho Choon Moy, President of the Malaysian Menopause Society, we...

Although we pride ourselves on being a society that is filial and respectful to the elderly, we also embrace a lot of age-related biases against older adults. When these ageist attitudes are practised in the healthcare system, it can affect the quality of care provided to older adults. We'll discuss the subtle and overt ways in which ageism manifests, from healthcare professionals’ attitudes to sy...

Asyraf has struggled with eczema since he was in preschool, growing up with the constant skin redness, persistent itching, and unpredictable flare-ups. Now 18, Asyraf is feeling hopeful for the first time, as he is receiving advanced therapy to control his eczema. On this episode of NCD Chronicles , he shares about the challenges he faced as a child and teenager with eczema, while consultant derma...

The COVID-19 pandemic might feel like a distant dream, but the possibility of humankind facing another pandemic is very real. But are countries prepared for that possibility? How are countries in the region surveilling for the pathogen that could cause the next pandemic? We speak to Prof Dr Paul Michael Pronyk, Director of the Duke-NUS Centre for Outbreak Preparedness, to help us understand why ge...

In October, twelve-year-old Izz Imil made news headlines when he became the youngest student to enrol at Universiti Malaya, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. People love stories of child prodigies, whether they’re excelling in academic studies, sports, or arts and entertainment. But children who are gifted face challenges when it comes to fitting in with the rest of society, or meetin...

About 15 years ago, Herman Jorgensen seemed to be winning at life, so why was he also having panic attacks, feeling a sense of emptiness, turning to alcohol, and becoming more passive at work? In this episode of Because Feelings Matter , Herman, who is now managing director at a multinational company in Malaysia, reflects on his past mental health struggles and how he is using his own experience t...

On this month’s Ask A Doctor, it’s all about getting your body moving! Whether you’re still figuring out what exercise works best for you, or hitting the gym every day, consultant sports medicine physician Dr Arvin Raj is here to answer all your questions about exercise and fitness, and how to get back into it. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What did Budget 2025 deliver for Malaysia’s healthcare needs? For an analysis of the healthcare allocations in next year’s budget, we have Dr Muralli Munisamy, Managing Director of the National Cancer Society of Malaysia, and Dr Amjad Rabi, a social and human security economist. We'll also be taking a look at the longer-term reforms needed for health financing, beyond the annual national budgeting...

Dr Eliezer Masliah is a well-known neuroscientist in his field, having carried out and led research of neurological conditions over the past few decades with around 800 research papers to his name. He was most recently head of the Division of Neuroscience at the National Institute of Aging in the United States, until he was removed from that position last month on allegations of research misconduc...

From burnout to brain drain, the wellbeing and future of our healthcare workers has been a long-standing issue that continues to plague our public healthcare system. What will it take to prioritise the future of our healthcare workers ahead of Budget 2025 and is it just about financial allocations? Here to dive into that and share what’s on their budget wishlist, are Dr Timothy Cheng, Chairman of...

In conjunction with World Mental Health Day in October, we explore a broader perspective to mental health, challenging the notion that mental healthcare is limited to services provided within the health system. Special guest Dr Ahmed Hankir, psychiatrist with the NHS and recipient of the WHO Director-General's Global Health Leaders Award 2022, joins Ellisha Othman, Managing Director of Thrive Well...

Health Minister Dato’ Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad has said that within the next four to five years, the Ministry of Health plans to introduce a “One Person, One Record” system that is accessible across both government and private health facilities. What should this system look like and what lessons can we learn from previous attempts of digitalising parts of our public healthcare system? Joining us to...

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis pose a lifelong burden for people diagnosed with these conditions. Access to advanced treatment like biologics can be limited due to the cost of these medications. Dr Benjamin Cheah, President of the Arthritis Foundation Malaysia , and Dominic Wong from the Psoriasis Association of Malaysia , join the show to tell us w...

Recently, the Minister of Health Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad proposed expanding “private wings” in government hospitals to raise revenue for the country’s underfunded public healthcare system. In this episode of Public Health, we explore the advantages and disadvantages of private wings, with a look at the Full Paying Patient (FPP) scheme that has been in place in selected government hospitals s...

For people living with HIV, the presence of the virus means they are often at risk of certain infections and health conditions. This includes the impact on their brain health, and in particular, HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder. Here to shed more light on that and how advances in HIV treatment have changed the lives of people living with HIV, are Dr Reuben N. Robbins, Assistant Professor of...

Music has the power to heal, but it’s not just about how you feel after listening to your favourite music. Music therapy might not be familiar to many, but it can be used to help people from children to older adults with different physical and mental health issues. On this episode of Humans of Healthcare, we speak to music therapist Dr Indra Selvarajah - who is also the founding president of the M...

Last week, Health Ministry Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad launched two action plans for elderly care: the Elderly Healthcare Services Action Plan and the Dementia Action Plan. On this episode of Healthy Ageing, we’ll be dissecting the Dementia Action Plan and how it will address the increased risk of dementia in our ageing population - as well as whether the plan lives up to expectations when advoc...

This year’s Paris Olympics was not without controversy - most infamously for the gender row in boxing. Algerian Imane Khelif and Taiwanese Lin Yu-Ting were questioned for their participation in women’s boxing despite them being disqualified in last year’s world championships for failing to meet the eligibility criteria. But nothing is black and white, to dive into differences in sex development an...

We all know about the dangers of cholesterol. But it’s not just a simple matter of having high or low cholesterol. Enter: LDL (or bad) cholesterol, the silent threat to your heart. Join CVSKL’s consultant cardiologist Dr Al Fazir Omar to get the lowdown on LDL, and how that affects your risk of heart disease. And we’ll be featuring a special guest: a heart disease patient sharing how he overcame h...

Are you struggling with a conflict with your colleagues or boss? Working in a toxic environment? Or feeling stressed and burnt out from work, but don't know what to do about it? On Counsellor's Corner, Christine Chew addresses your questions about workplace problems that affect your mental health. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you have a heart attack, early recognition of your symptoms is a major life-saving factor. But what does a heart attack really feel like, and how do we distinguish it from other conditions? We find out how to recognise the signs of a heart attack, and what to do if it happens to us or people in our vicinity. Dr Wan Faizal Wan Rahimi Shah, Consultant Cardiologist from Cardiac Vascular Sentral Ku...

What is it like living with a chronic condition from birth and to have a lifetime of managing health complications that would never go away? That’s the reality for people born with spina bifida, one of the most congenital birth defects in the world. In this episode of NCD Chronicles, we hear from Su Xiao Vin, a person with spina bifida, on the challenges of living with less visible disabilities an...

World Pharmacists Day is observed on 25 September annually, to recognise and celebrate the crucial role that pharmacists play in building healthier communities everywhere. This year’s theme focuses on ‘Pharmacists: Meeting global health needs’. Why is it important to get to know your friendly community pharmacist, and how do they play a role in promoting health at the community, as well as nationa...

Barely a day seems to go by without a news report about an incident of child abuse or neglect. While the shocking discovery of physical and sexual abuse happening in welfare homes operated by Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH) has caught the nation’s attention, there are also numerous incidents of children being tortured, punished, sexually abused, groomed online, as well as sust...