Health & Living
Episodes
Is Malaysia Facing Medical Device Shortages?
29 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The shocks from the war in Iran have extended to the healthcare industry, with shipping delays and fuel price volatilities threatening the medical dev...
Because Feelings Matter #50: You Find Joy In The Small Wins
28 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In conjunction with Autism Awareness Month in April, Salbiah Ebbe Hamzan shares the journey of raising an autistic daughter, and the fight to dismantl...
Global Energy Crisis: How Secure Are Our Medical Supplies?
27 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As the Middle East conflict prolongs, so do worries over a shortage in medical supplies. From pharmaceuticals to medical devices, supplies are warning...
Why We’re Spending RM3.3bil on Treating Chronic Kidney Disease
24 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The burden of chronic kidney disease is a silent but growing public health crisis in Malaysia. Minister of Health Dato’ Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad rece...
Neuroinclusion In The Workplace
23 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It is estimated that 15-20% of the population is neurodivergent. That means it’s likely that you have identified as being neurodivergent or so...
A Reminder For Mental Health Check-Ins During WFH
22 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In some ways, it feels like 2020 all over again - the work-from-home directives, along with a sense of anxiety over global events. Licensed counsellor...
Ask A Respiratory Physician: How We Breathe
21 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Humans breathe approximately 20,000 to 22,000 times a day, but how often do we pay attention to how we breathe? In this month’s open clinic, we’re...
Mind Matters: Do We Need Better Mental Health Insurance?
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Recently, the Health Parliamentary Special Select Committee proposed that insurance coverage should be expanded for mental health services. We’ve go...
What Would The DRG System Mean For Healthcare Costs?
17 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What is the DRG or diagnosis-related group system? If you’ve been following the news about healthcare reform, you would’ve heard Health Minister D...
After 20-Year Wait, GPs’ Fees Are Revised
16 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For two decades, general practitioners have not been able to charge beyond RM35 for clinic consultation fees, but a new revision has finally been gaze...
Surviving The Heatwave
15 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The temperatures are soaring in many states in Malaysia, and the current heatwave is expected to persist until June, as El Niño continues. What is th...
Humans of Healthcare: The Biomedical Engineer
14 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When we think about healthcare, we often picture doctors and nurses on the frontlines. But behind many life-changing interventions, from artificial li...
Can We Pick Up Type 1 Diabetes Early?
13 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Picking up Type 1 diabetes early isn’t just about getting a diagnosis - it’s about preventing a health crisis. We speak to consultant paediatric e...
Rise of Antibiotic-Resistant Infections In Conflict Zones
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
An emerging public health threat lurks amid the rubble and destruction of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. Antimicrobial-resistant infections ...
Public Health: Is The War On Sugar Working?
09 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Health Ministry has waged a war on sugar to tackle the inexorable rise in non-communicable diseases. But are policies like the sugar-sweetened bev...
Healthy Ageing: When People With Dementia Wander Off
08 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In February this year, 76-year-old Halim Yunos from Singapore made headlines here when he was reported missing while on holiday with his family in KL....
Brain Waves: Goodbye, Mice; Hello, Organoids?
07 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Goodbye, lab mice. Hello, mini organs. For decades, medical research has been reliant on animal testing. From understanding diseases like Alzheimer’...
Why Are Celebrities Glamourising Smoking - Again?
06 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Kylie Jenner on the Vanity Fair cover. Jacob Elordi in Saltburn. From magazine covers to the silver screen and social media feeds, celebrities are gla...
Childhood Obesity Is At An All Time High - What Are We Doing Wrong?
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
2.8 million Malaysian children are overweight or obese. This was estimated in the World Obesity Atlas 2026 released in March. But childhood obesity is...
What is Pharmaceutical Compounding?
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
You may have come across “compounded medications” being offered to you as a form of personalised medicine. What does this term mean? In our conver...
Is Every Emotion A Mental Health Label?
01 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when every emotion is treated as an illness, or given a mental health label? Do we risk becoming a society that cannot accept the messine...
Why Are Younger Adults Being Diagnosed With Colorectal Cancer?
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Colorectal cancer used to be most common among adults over the age of 50, but things are changing. With more cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed in y...
Are Weight Loss Drugs Changing Body Positivity?
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Thin is back in vogue, but this time not due to diet culture but a quick fix from a drug. With GLP-1 drugs - or what some might colloquially refer to ...
How To Build A Habit Of Exercising (Sustainably)
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh recently announced an 80% reduction in gym licence fees in KL, hoping that gym owners will be able to pass on...
World Down Syndrome Day: Together Against Loneliness
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For many people with Down syndrome and their families, loneliness is a common experience, especially when children are excluded from play and educatio...
Beyond The Diagnosis #37: Went For Colonoscopy On A Whim, Discovered Cancer
25 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What made Tengku Nazeehah decide to go for a colonoscopy, even though she had no symptoms like constipation, diarrhoea, bloody stools or stomach pain?...
Because Feelings Matter #49: “I Practice Gratitude Every Day”
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Can you find something to be grateful for every day? For more than 10 years, practising gratitude every day helped Caleen Chua stay away from spiralli...
Humans of Healthcare: The Anatomist
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Anatomy is a field of study that is thousands of years old, tracing back to ancient Egypt. But it was the work of Andreas Vesalius dissecting human bo...
Scaling A Mountain For Cancer Costs
18 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, it’s not only the disease and the rigorous treatment that they have to deal with, but also the financial burd...
Mind Matters: University Students Navigating The Transition
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Local universities in Malaysia have just begun their second semesters, and students are feeling the pressure of dealing with higher education and livi...
Understanding Healthcare Needs Of Orang Asli In Rural Perak
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When family medicine specialist Dr Karen Christelle sees a patient from the Orang Asli communities of rural Perak, she has to look at more than just n...
The Manosphere Is Pushing Testosterone Supplements And That’s Dangerous
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Boys and young men are seeing social media influencers pushing the idea of testosterone as a marker of being “real men”. We explore why these narr...
Public Health: Obesity And Family Care
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Last year, the Health Minister announced that MOH is establishing 10 primary health clinics with integrated clinical obesity management. With obesity ...
Protecting Newborns From RSV
11 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When a newborn baby’s cough and runny nose could quickly turn into breathing trouble, prevention matters. RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a com...
Strong vs Swole: What Building Muscle & Strength Really Means
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How would you define strength? Is it just about chasing defined muscles and sculpted physiques? We speak to consultant sports medicine physician Dr Ar...
Ask A Gynaecologist: Ladies, A Guide To The Checkups You Need
09 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Ladies, how often do you put off getting your health screenings done because there’s just too much else that takes priority? Do you know which...
Why Women Are Invisible In Healthcare AI Tools
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
We know there is a problem with female representation in the tech industry. But what happens when women seem to be invisible even in the technology it...
Why Women Are Invisible In Healthcare AI Tools
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
We know there is a problem with female representation in the tech industry. But what happens when women seem to be invisible even in the technology it...
Help! My Child’s Nose Is Chronically Blocked
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
An extremely common nasal-related problem that affects children is a blocked and stuffy nose. These persistent symptoms can be very frustrating and pa...
Are We Ready For ChatGPT Health?
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
According to OpenAI, more than 230 million people ask its chatbot questions about their health and wellbeing every week. Are you one of them? Open AI ...
Healthy Ageing: Why Our Ageing Strategy Must Be Gender Sensitive
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As Malaysia’s ageing population grows, we’re seeing the government and policymakers being more proactive when it comes to our ageing strategy. Fro...
How To Live With Grief
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
"If you have ever lost a loved one, then you know exactly how it feels. And if you have not, then you cannot possibly imagine it." That’s a quote fr...
Asia’s Obsession With Weight and Body Shape
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Netflix’s new documentary, ‘Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model’, has revived concerns over unrealistic beauty standards, and how b...
6 Or 7: The Right Age To Start Primary School?
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The government’s new policy to allow children to start Standard 1 at the age of six has caught many by surprise. With early enrolment being optional...
Because Feelings Matter #48: We Are All The Canary
25 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Natrah Aziz, an educator and artist, was late-diagnosed with autism and ADHD in her early 30s - a moment that gently unravelled years of confusion and...
Is Walking & Running Enough Exercise?
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Walking is one of the easiest exercises to do - or so we’re told. We speak to consultant sports medicine physician Dr Malini Karupiah about whether ...
Beyond The Diagnosis #36: “I Just Want To Give People Hope” (Living With HIV)
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Description: At 23 years old - when most of us are planning for the life ahead of us - Caroline Rajan was told that she was HIV positive and her world...
Care And Compassion In Methadone Treatment
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Methadone has been in the news following the death of an 11-year-old child and hospitalisation of two younger siblings due to accidental intake of met...
What You Need To Know About The TB Outbreak
19 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysia is currently experiencing a tuberculosis outbreak, with over 2500 cases already reported this year. With clusters being reported across most ...
Mindful Eating: CNY Edition
16 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It is the eve of Chinese New Year and that means only one thing: food! As we prepare for reunion dinner as well as the feasting and snacking that will...
Mindful Eating: Ramadan Edition
16 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In Part 2 of our festive eating episode on Health & Living today, we’ll be taking a look at how to eat well during Ramadan. The fasting month st...
Why Is Malaysia Worse Than Our Neighbours In Tackling Childhood Stunting?
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
“Richer than its neighbours but doing worse on child nutrition.” That’s how Malaysia was described by non-profit research publication Our World ...
Public Health: Aged Care And Our “Invisible” Women
12 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
One in about 12 people in Malaysia is aged 65 and above. A significant proportion of them may need some sort of care eventually, as the likelihood of ...
Mind Matters: Mental Health Crisis Intervention In The Emergency Department
11 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When we think of the accident and emergency department, what immediately comes to mind is that of serious accidents or sudden health crises like heart...
Brain Waves: Does Alex Honnold Really Not Feel Fear?
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On the 25th of January this year, American climber Alex Honnold became the first person to complete a free solo ascent of Taipei 101. That meant that ...
Ask An ENT: How We Smell
09 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For this month’s open clinic, we’re asking a consultant ENT surgeon Dr Revadi Govindaraju how we smell and why the olfactory sense is so important...
MAKNA: A Founder's Legacy
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Datuk Mohd Farid Ariffin, the founder of Majlis Kanser Nasional (MAKNA), passed away on 14 January 2026, leaving a legacy of tireless advocacy and unw...
Humans of Healthcare: The Clinical Medical Physicist
05 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re receiving radiation therapy for cancer, that radiation dose that enters your body isn’t just any standard dose or a matter of random hap...
Overstimulated: When Everything Feels Like It’s Too Much
04 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve probably heard or seen people say they’re “overstimulated”. But what does this actually mean? Isn’t this something that’s usually a...
Lingering Knee Pain After Surgery
03 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
You’re playing pickleball, and you lunge and twist to hit the ball. That’s when you hear that dreaded ‘pop’ in your knee. The meniscus injury ...
What The Base MHIT Plan Is All About
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Last week, the government announced that they’ll be rolling out a new base medical and health insurance/takaful plan in 2027, in line with a host of...
Rising Career Regrets in Medicine?
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When young medical graduates and doctors raise concerns about working conditions, stress levels, remuneration and low morale in healthcare, how much o...
As Confinement Centres Mushroom, What Standards Are Upheld?
28 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Confinement practices have a special place among Malaysian communities, with different ethnic groups employing their own practices and beliefs for mot...
Because Feelings Matter #47: Surviving The Twists And Turns Of Gymnastics
27 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When former national artistic gymnast Farah Ann Abdul Hadi reflects back on the 2016 Rio Olympics, she calls it “the best point of her career” - n...
Beyond The Diagnosis #35: Caregiver Turns Grief To Purpose
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In 2024, Lim Shyang Guey, known fondly as SG, learned what it was like to be a caregiver when his wife was suddenly diagnosed with gallbladder cancer....
What The New U.S. Food Pyramid Says (& What It Gets Wrong)
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Last week, the United States rolled out its new dietary guidelines… and flipped the food pyramid. It’s not just upside down, but now also promotes...
U.S.-Malaysia Trade Deal: How American Drugs Could Get Express Approval
22 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
All eyes were on the trade deal signed between American President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim last year, but what seemingl...
How Your Hormones and Genes Drive Obesity
21 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For a long time, the conversation on obesity has often been simplified to a lack of willpower. But as we start to see obesity as a chronic disease, it...
Mind Matters: Helping Parents Find Connections
20 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Parents are starting 2026 with no small amount of anxiety, as their children face increasing pressure to manage studies, relationships and online infl...
Entering The Secret World Of Children’s Slang
19 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Two numbers took the world by storm last year - six and seven. Kids were driving teachers up the wall, shouting “6-7” in classrooms. UK Prime Mini...
After Decades, We Have New Antibiotics For Gonorrhoea
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
At the end of last year, the FDA in the United States announced that it has approved two new antibiotics for gonorrhoea, which has not happened since ...
Ask An Audiologist: How We Hear
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this month’s open clinic segment, we start by diving into how we hear, and explore some fun facts about our ears. Then, audiologist Darleena Aziz...
How UMMC Performed Liver Transplant For Youngest Baby Ever
14 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A multidisciplinary team at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre successfully performed a liver transplant on a four-month-old baby boy in November 2025. ...
Should You Buy Weight Loss Medications Online?
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Losing weight is rarely an easy journey, and the effectiveness of GLP-1 medications in helping people shed that weight has led to its popularity all a...
Humans of Healthcare: The Medical Lab Technologist
12 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens between the moment when a nurse or doctor takes a patient sample and when the results come back to you? Medical lab technologists work qu...
Falls Prevention for Seniors
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Earlier this week, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was hospitalised after he had a fall and fractured his hip. While he’s reported to ...
Public Health: Cost Of Cancer Care
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The increasing costs of healthcare and the squeeze on medical insurance will be weighing on the minds of all Malaysians this year. Consultant clinical...
How To Have Emotional Check-Ins With Your Kids
07 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
After a difficult year, 2026 will feel very different for children and their parents. Fears of school violence, social media pressures and the impact ...
Healthy Ageing: SEACURE-ing Dementia Research in Southeast Asia
06 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Much of what we know about dementia has come from research done in the global North, on Western populations and it has been incredibly vital to help u...
From The Big ‘C’ To The Big ‘R’: Navigating Recurrence
05 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When you have cancer, treatment is just one chapter of the story. The rest of the story is about learning to live as a survivor - monitoring the risk ...
CDC Says Hepatitis B Jab Not Recommended For All Newborns
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This month, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) struck out a universal recommendation to start hepatitis B immunisation at birth f...
A New Way Of Thinking About Obesity And Heart Disease
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The alarm bells on obesity keep ringing, but our understanding of how to manage it is changing. We speak to consultant cardiologist Dr David Quek abou...
US Removes ‘Black Box’ Warning For Menopause Treatment
17 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Last month, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it would be removing the strictest "black box" warnings from menopause hormone th...
Critical Care On The Frontlines in Sudan
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As conflict continues to rage around the world, how are medical humanitarian organisations coping and what is it like for these people risking their l...
Mind Matters: Is It Time For A Social Media Detox?
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you’re an occasional user or constant scroller, social media has become an irrevocable part of most of our lives. While it has helped us to ...
If You Have Breast Cancer, NORA Is Here To Help
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A woman with breast cancer needs more than just clinical therapy in order to manage her cancer. We look at Cancer Research Malaysia’s patient naviga...
Public Health: Progress in Lung Cancer Care
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For years, lung cancer has ranked among the top cancers in Malaysia, and been a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. In 2025, Malaysia saw several ...
Can’t Breathe? What’s Causing Nasal Blockages
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Struggling to breathe properly, having to breathe through your mouth or dealing with constant throat irritation and cough - many of us are familiar wi...
Humans of Healthcare: The Family Medicine Specialist
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What do you call a doctor who specialises in taking care of most common ailments, providing comprehensive care for patients of all ages? That’s a fa...
Brain Waves: How Revenge Bedtime Procrastination Changes Your Brain
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How many of us spend the nights staring at a phone or computer screen, putting off sleep? While most of us know it’s probably not great for our heal...
World AIDS Day 2025: Will We Eliminate AIDS By 2030?
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With access to care and effective treatment, HIV is no longer the death sentence it was decades ago. But how is Malaysia doing in getting HIV treatmen...
Counsellor’s Corner: Happy With Life Or Happy Right Now?
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you happy with life, or just feeling happy in the moment? How do we move from one state to the other? We talk about the pursuit of happiness with ...
Will We Have A Treatment For Dengue One Day?
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“There is no specific treatment for dengue.” That’s often how dengue is described, as the viral infection can only be managed through supportive...
Why Compassion Matters in Healthcare
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Compassion is one of the most important elements in healthcare but in a world where healthcare workers are overworked, how does compassion come throug...
Patient Safety #4: Seeking Justice
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens after a patient has been exposed to unsafe care, and has suffered an injury or complication? In the final episode of the series on patien...
Why Rheumatoid Arthritis Needs To Be Diagnosed Early
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rheumatoid arthritis is often diagnosed late, forcing patients to live with daily pain and disruptions to their lives as the disease progresses. We sp...
Should Children Start Learning Social Skills Earlier?
27 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In recent months, incidents involving schoolchildren and violence have raised concerns about whether kids are equipped with the skills to navigate con...
Because Feelings Matter #46: How Do Athletes Cope With The Severe Pressure?
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nobody looking at Goh Liu Ying at the height of her mixed badminton doubles career would have guessed at her mental health struggles. On this episode ...
Hand and Wrist Injuries in Sports
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From holding a racquet to lifting weights, having a good range of motion in your hands and wrists is vital to be able to do exercise and to keep playi...
Beyond The Diagnosis #34: Surviving Dengue
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dengue is endemic in Malaysia, and with over 100,000 cases annually, it’s not a disease that’s unfamiliar to most of us. But despite decades of co...