Can generative AI tools like ChatGPT improve workflow in clinics and hospitals, allowing doctors and nurses to focus on the most important areas of patient care? We speak to Dr Vaikunthan Rajaratnam, Nerve Surgeon, Educator, and AI Ethicist, about how he uses these tools in his clinical and surgical practice, and what are the risks that we need to safeguard against.

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In 2020, when Dr Ruben Ramakrishnan completed his Doctor of Public Health, it was the culmination of two journeys - one, his professional journey, and the other, his personal journey to better health, having gone from 150kg to 78kg. Now a public health medicine specialist, Dr Ruben shares his personal story of overcoming obesity and how policies can be improved to support individuals, while Consultant Health Psychologist Dr Hariyati Shahrima Abdul Majid dives into the impact of stigma and the need for psychosocial support.

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What happens when you’re struck by an illness and require more support beyond just treating the symptoms or injury you have? That’s where medical social workers come in to support patients, whether with their mental health or to connect them to the right resources and financial support. On this episode of Humans of Healthcare, we speak to two medical social workers to find out more about this underappreciated role.

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Every time you wash your hands or flush the toilet, do you think about what the world would look like if we couldn’t easily do any of those things? For people living in conflict zones like Gaza or in the aftermath of a natural disaster like Myanmar, water and sanitation can be extremely hard to come by. Here to shed some light about the urgent need for water and sanitation in emergency situations, we speak to Wayne Chang, Emergency Water & Sanitation Coordinator with MSF, who is currently based in Myanmar.

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Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is treatable, and even curable, when patients are diagnosed at the earlier stages. But the treatment journey can be long and arduous, due to the intensity of the therapies. We speak to two survivors to find out how they stayed resilient throughout treatment, and how the Cancer Survivor Support Group is there through thick and thin for survivors. 

NCD Chronicles is a series about people living with NCDs, going beyond the diagnosis to explore their personal experiences, their challenges, as well as the impact of their health condition on their loved ones.  

Image credit: Andrew Say & Malaysian Oncological Society

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A survey in the UK shows that Gen Z parents find reading to their children boring. We speak to Dr Rajini Sarvananthan, Consultant Developmental Paediatrician and Eugenie Chan, who’s on the Board of Trustees of the Playcentre Library Association, to find out if younger generations of parents in Malaysia still read to their kids, and why parents should hold on to this practice (and their books) with both hands.

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Refugees in Malaysia live on the precipice of danger - fleeing persecution in their own country, while facing social and financial insecurity in a foreign land. Contrary to popular perception, refugees aren't given a free ride in Malaysia - they're subjected to the same rules and policies that apply to all foreigners, such as paying for medical treatment at government hospitals and clinics. We speak to Dr Susheela Balasundaram, UNHCR Community-based Protection Officer, and Dr Siti Noraida Bt Mohamad Habibullah, Founder of refugee clinic Klinik Amal Muhajir, to find out how refugees cope with their healthcare needs, and how UNHCR’s Refugee Medical Insurance scheme provides a safety net that allows refugee communities to be more self-sustaining.

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What does a person with complex PTSD look like? Just like you and me, it turns out. Shane’s bubbly personality hides the scars of abuse, low self-esteem and unrecognised dyslexia, but also, the steely determination to challenge everything that stood in the way of her recovery - stigma, discrimination…even her own suicidal thoughts.

Every mental health struggle has a story behind it. ‘Because Feelings Matter’ is a series that brings you the stories of people and their mental health issues. These stories aim to normalise conversations about mental health, and to show that it’s okay to struggle emotionally and psychologically, but more importantly, to reach out for help. This series is produced in collaboration with Thrive Well.

Content warning: This conversation brings up difficult topics like suicide and self-harm. If you need to talk about your mental health problems, look for local support within your community, or call helplines like: Talian HEAL at 15555, MIASA's 24-hour helpline at 1-800-1800-66, or Befrienders KL at 03-7627 2929.

Image Credit: M. Shane

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For the first time, doctors have treated a baby boy born with a rare genetic disorder with gene-editing treatment that was tailor-made for him. This has been hailed as an exciting case because of what it means for patients who otherwise would have no other options. We speak to Prof Dr Thong Meow Keong, consultant paediatrician & clinical geneticist, to help us break down what this means for the rare disorder community and how accessible would such a treatment be.

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Two in three Malaysian men above 40 are at risk of erectile dysfunction, but how many of them are open to talk about it, let alone seek medical help? 26 years after the blue pill was discovered to treat erectile dysfunction, consultant urologists Dr George Lee and Dr Arun Arunasalam Poraviappan discuss how much management has changed over the decades and how we can get men to speak up about not getting it up.

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