Dealing With Chronic or Recurrent Tonsillitis

When is a sore throat not just a sore throat? Painful inflammation of the tonsils may not always be a benign, short-lived infection. What happens when episodes of tonsillitis keep coming back, or when there is chronic, long-term inflammation? When is surgery to remove the tonsils necessary? We expl…

Should Chatbots Become Therapists Or Companions?

According to OpenAI, over 1.2 million users discuss suicide on ChatGPT every week.  When we read yet another news report of AI encouraging suicidal thoughts or developing emotional relationships with its users, how alarmed should we be about mental health entering an untested and unregulated realm?…

Ask A Dermatologist: How We Sweat

On this month's open clinic show, we look at how and why we sweat, and what causes sweating disorders like hyperhidrosis or prickly heat conditions. We also explore anti-perspirants, deodorants, creams and more. Image Credit: Shutterstock

Are Refugees Overwhelming Public Healthcare Facilities?

Anti-refugee sentiment has sharply increased in recent weeks. Among the claims that have made the rounds is that refugees are taking advantage of our public healthcare system, thus taking limited resources away from Malaysians. But is that really the case? We speak to Dr Susheela Balasundaram, comm…

How Supermarkets Shape Your Food Choices

When you walk down the aisles at the supermarket, do you notice if the way food products are placed or packaged attracts your attention? Consultant urologist Dr George Lee is joined by nutritionist and public health researcher Dr Sameeha Mohd Jamil from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia to dive into h…

Primary Immunodeficiency: Survival Depends on Early Diagnosis

For children born with a primary immunodeficiency (PID), a delayed diagnosis can have devastating consequences. We find out why newborn screening and early diagnosis are critical, in a conversation with Bruce Lim, a parent advocate and president of Persatuan Pesakit Imunodefisiensi Primer Malaysia …

How Do We Pick Up Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Children?

Over 46% of children aged five and below have anaemia in Malaysia, higher than the global average of 40%. It’s a condition that often goes unseen, but it can have a significant impact on children’s health and wellbeing beyond their childhood years. To dive into this condition, particularly iron-def…

Because Feelings Matter #52: An Educator’s Advocacy For Her Grandchildren

As a professor of education, Dr Ratnawati Asraf’s professional calling had never seemed more meaningful than when her own grandchildren were discovered to be neurodivergent. Terms like dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD and autism were no longer textbook concepts, but realities that changed the trajectori…

Beyond The Diagnosis #40: An Ignored Breast Lump That Became Breast Cancer

Decades of awareness campaigns have equipped women with the knowledge of how to notice suspicious breast lumps and when to get mammograms done. But what happens when your healthcare workers keep reassuring you that your lump is “nothing to worry about”? Juliet Lau shares how a breast lump she’s had…

How Skilled Surgeons Are Saving Children In Malaysia

Every day, many children could be struggling with a medical condition that may need urgent, life-saving surgery for them to survive and thrive. Yet, there are still children in Malaysia who are not able to access these highly specialised surgical services. We find out how the Malaysian Association …