Health & Living

Malaysia has one of the lowest organ donation and transplantation rates in the world, despite being an early pioneer of organ donation in the 1970s. Where did we go wrong, and how can we catch up with countries like Spain, whose organ donation rate is 50 times higher than ours? Kidney transplant survivor Manvir Victor and transplant nephrologist Dr Mohamad Zaimi Abdul Wahab moot the idea of a National Transplant Institute to centralise services, training, data collection and allocation of organs. Listen to the first part here.

Beyond The Diagnosis is a series that goes beyond a medical diagnosis to explore people’s personal experiences, their challenges, as well as the impact of their health condition on their loved ones.

Image Credit: Wira Transplant Malaysia Facebook

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Last month, American president Donald Trump signed an order to limit childhood vaccines and to split the mumps, measles and rubella shots for children in America. While this is just a guidance, and not a mandate, having such recommendations coming from the U.S. president can have a significant influence, not just in the U.S. itself but the rest of the world as well as many countries have traditionally looked to the U.S. for guidance. On top of that, Trump has also called for childhood vaccinations to be reduced across the board. Consultant urologist Dr George Lee is joined by paediatric infectious diseases consultant Dr Sangeetha Siniah to discuss if childhood vaccinations have been a victim of their own success and how parents can navigate misinformation about childhood vaccines. 

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The newly-passed Social Work Profession Bill aims to introduce stricter standards for the field of social work, and regulate the activities of social workers in Malaysia. What does this mean for the thousands of children who depend on social workers, especially those living in vulnerable situations? We speak to Dr Rajini Sarvananthan, Consultant Developmental Paediatrician, and Amy Bala from the Malaysian Association of Social Workers, to discuss this long-awaited bill and what it means for children nationwide. 

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A recent study published in The Lancet Public Health found that in 2023 alone an estimated 2.7 billion people globally were exposed to secondhand smoke, including 767 million children under 15. After decades of anti-smoking campaigns and awareness-building about the dangers of secondhand smoke, why are billions of people still breathing in contaminated air? In conjunction with World Lung Day on the 25th of September, we’re joined by Prof Dr Anna Marie Nathan, consultant paediatric pulmonologist from Universiti Malaya Medical Centre to clear the air about the short- and long-term health consequences of secondhand smoke, why children are especially vulnerable to secondhand smoke in the home, as well as what we can do to help smokers quit to create a smoke-free environment for all. 

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Maya (not her real name) lost her loved one to suicide more than a year ago. She still grapples with the grief, anger and guilt today, but she’s come a long way in processing and learning to speak about her loss. In conjunction with World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September, we speak to Maya about the support that suicide loss survivors need. 

This discussion will touch on topics of suicide and self-harm. If you, or someone you know, needs emotional support, reach out for help within your community or contact the Befrienders KL (03-76272929 or [email protected]), Talian HEAL (15 555), MIASA (1-800-1800-66) or AWAS Malaysia (Whatsapp 010-234 4808)

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Most of the people living with osteoarthritis are older but that doesn’t mean that osteoarthritis is an “older person’s disease” and something that just happens as you age. So can you prevent your cartilage from breaking down? And if you have osteoarthritis, how can you still lead a full life? We ask these and more with Assoc Prof Dr Fariz Yahya, consultant rheumatologist at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre. Dr Fariz is also the president of the Arthritis Foundation Malaysia.

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The bladder is a remarkably forgiving organ, designed to hold up to 500cc of urine without discomfort, yet most people take it for granted until something goes wrong. From managing different types of urinary incontinence and preventing UTIs to prostate problems and bedwetting, consultant urologist Dr George Lee joins us for a frank, practical guide to keeping your urinary system in check.

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Malaysia's healthcare data remains deeply fragmented, with patient records scattered across disconnected clinics, hospitals, and paper files, even within the public system. Armed with a total allocation of RM1 billion and a target to fully digitalise all public healthcare facilities by 2028, the Ministry of Health is racing to turn that reality around, with 500 primary care clinics and 300 dental clinics already sharing records, and 15 million Malaysians now holding prescription records from public facilities in MySejahtera. Dr Mahesh Appannan, Director of the Digital Health Division at the Ministry of Health, unpacks the Malaysia's digital health transformation initiative, covering facility digitalisation, interoperability, and a cradle-to-grave Lifetime Health Record, while addressing the hard questions around cross-sectoral collaboration, AI readiness, and whether RM1 billion is the right spend. Tune in for a candid look at what it will truly take to put every Malaysian's health record in their own hands.

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How often do we think about how complicated it can be for us to see what is in front of us? On this month’s open clinic show, we’ll be uncovering what happens within our eyes - and the brain - to help us see the world, how to keep our eyes functioning at their best, and how to pick up problems when your eyes start declining. 

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It is estimated that over 2,000 Malaysians live with motor neurone disease (MND), a chronic condition that is progressive and life-limiting. As the disease increasingly affects the muscles that are needed for movement, speech, swallowing and breathing, patients and families need a lot of support. But are they accessing the care they need? We find out more from the Chairman of MND Malaysia Ahmad Nurzahid bin Mohd Yusoff, and consultant neurologist Prof Dr Nortina Shahrizaila. 

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