How Will Government’s Cost-Cutting Impact Healthcare?

The Ministry of Health expects a 10% cut of its 2026 budget,  as part of cost-cutting measures to save government funds amid the impact of the Iran war. This cut would be equivalent to RM4.65 billion, which the Minister of Health has promised will not affect essential core services. We explore how …

Biosimilars In Cancer Care and Why They Matter

 Innovator drugs and treatments can be costly, even if they are life-saving in cases of chronic and serious illnesses like cancer. That’s where generic and biosimilar drugs come in, offering patients more affordable alternatives. But how exactly do generics and biosimilars work? Are they as effecti…

A Dynamic Form Of Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy using high-powered X-rays are a central therapy in cancer treatment, as it is very effective in killing cancerous cells and shrinking tumours. This form of treatment has come a long way, with advancements to improve the delivery of radiation so that it can be targeted more accurat…

Strong Evidence That Vaping Can Cause Cancer

Research from the University of New South Wales in Sydney has provided the strongest evidence to date that vapes and e-cigarettes can cause lung and oral cancer, due to pre-cancerous changes like DNA damage. Is this a clear sign for health regulators to take stronger action against vaping? What doe…

Geopolitics, Conflict, and The Impact on Global Medical Supply Chains

The current Middle East conflict and shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz has sent shockwaves across the world as countries grapple with a global energy crisis and rising costs. As supply chains are disrupted worldwide, one of the areas which is seeing worrying short- and long-term impact i…

Beyond The Diagnosis #38: Ili Sulaiman on Living With PCOS & Surviving A Heart Attack

Beyond The Diagnosis is a series about people, going beyond the diagnosis to explore their personal experiences, their challenges, as well as the impact of their health condition on their loved ones. These stories reveal the importance of understanding the unique struggles and needs of the individu…

Is Malaysia Facing Medical Device Shortages?

The shocks from the war in Iran have extended to the healthcare industry, with shipping delays and fuel price volatilities threatening the medical device supply chain worldwide. Dr Muralitharan Paramasua, CEO of the Health Ministry’s Medical Device Authority, joins us to unpack the impact of the Mi…

Because Feelings Matter #50: You Find Joy In The Small Wins

In conjunction with Autism Awareness Month in April, Salbiah Ebbe Hamzan shares the journey of raising an autistic daughter, and the fight to dismantle the barriers in the education system that continue to stand  in the way of inclusion. On this episode of Because Feelings Matter, she speaks about …

Global Energy Crisis: How Secure Are Our Medical Supplies?

As the Middle East conflict prolongs, so do worries over a shortage in medical supplies. From pharmaceuticals to medical devices, supplies are warning that we are already seeing signs of an upcoming shortage. We speak to Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, Minister of Health, to find out how the governm…

Why We’re Spending RM3.3bil on Treating Chronic Kidney Disease

The burden of chronic kidney disease is a silent but growing public health crisis in Malaysia. Minister of Health Dato’ Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad recently highlighted how treatment costs have surged from RM572 million in 2010 to RM3.3 billion annually. So what isn’t working and what do rising costs t…