BFM :: The Bigger Picture

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour.  April 2019 is Palliative Care Awareness Month. This year’s theme is “Speak up – Because I Matter”, bringing home the point that the patient should be at the centre of good health care delivery. Patient centred care has been discussed many times, and private healthcare providers profess to offer this as a way of distinguishing themselves from others. But, what does this mean to the doctors, nurses or allied health professionals offering the care? In today’s show, we discuss why the patient matters.

Charity Right is an international NGO that distributes food to disadvantaged schoolchildren and communities. In 2012, a local branch was set up by Mercy Mission Malaysia as part of a food rescue initiative. We learn more about their “Feed to Educate” programme from Mercy Mission Malaysia’s country manager and Charity Right project director, Mohd Nurhisyam Shamsir.

In the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025, initiative #34 states the aim to increase access and quality of education for students with special needs. We find out how The Education Performance and Delivery Unit (PADU) is working towards creating equal opportunity and access to education to all children in Malaysia, with Dr. Noorliza Binti Hj. Zakuan, the Executive Director for System Structure at PADU.

Countries across the globe are picking up on the trend of IV vitamin infusions. With celebrities also putting their influence behind these IV drips, we take a look at whether this can improve our health.

Will working longer hours help you get the “rewards of hard work”? We take a look at Jack Ma’s latest controversial comments and the potential side effects this 12 hour work culture could bring.

There are many types of sleep apnoea, but one type in particular is more common in children. In today’s show, we take a look at this condition and how it disrupts a child’s quality of life.

What’s taken stand-up comedian Phoon Chi Ho so long to put on a solo show? And why is he calling it “Creepy”? We head straight to the source to find out.

We’ve all read something before about how many hours of sleep you need a night, or how snoring is harmless. But what if we told you that these myths about sleep could damage your health, your mood and even shorten your life. We discuss this new finding.

A hydroelectric scheme in North Sumatra is threatening the tropical rainforest habitat of the Tapanuli orangutan, the world’s rarest great ape. Green activists vow to keep fighting,  despite a recent legal setback. We revisit an Earth Matters interview with Distinguished Professor William Laurance as we discuss the current plight of the Tapanuli apes.

Everywhere around the world, there are now more grandparents than grandchildren. If they were well and healthy, it would not be a problem. But if they are sickly, and dependent on others for daily living and finances, who takes care of them? Consultant geriatrician Prof Dr Tan Maw Pin looks at whether we are prepared in terms of aged care facilities in Malaysia.