Malaysia’s health system is in dire need of meaningful and systemic reforms. Despite years of attempts, however, efforts and calls to transform the delivery of healthcare services, management of human resources, and the financing model, have all hit roadblocks due to political and bureaucratic obstacles. Now that our health sector has come through a watershed period, will we finally see national reforms being implemented? We speak to Tan Sri Shahril Ridza Ridzuan, Co-Chair, Health White Paper Advisory Council, about the reforms proposed in the Health White Paper, and whether the time is right to push this through.

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The birth of a child is often one of the most exciting moments for new parents. To find out at that moment that your child has a rare condition can be traumatising, which was the case for Dr Vaishnavi Nadesonmulu when her son was born with a giant congenital melanocytic nevus on his forehead and scalp. She joins us to share more about this rare skin condition, and what it was like for her as a parent and paediatrician on this journey.

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Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in the world, and today, it’s something that we’ve grown more comfortable talking about as a society. But just how much do we understand what depression is? Is it caused by a “chemical imbalance” in the brain, as has been commonly suggested or is the theory now dead as was reported in a recent research review? Consultant psychiatrist Dr Ravivarma Rao Panirselvam joins us on this episode of Mind Matters, to help us better understand this common but complex condition.

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In January, an NFL football player for the (American football team) Buffalo Bills, Damar Hamlin, collapsed suddenly on the field after suffering sudden cardiac arrest. As Hamlin’s collapse occurred immediately after another player had collided into him, there was speculation about whether a massive blow to the chest could result in cardiac arrest. We find out from consultant cardiologist Dr Choo Gim Hooi, and discuss what were the rapid actions that most likely saved Hamlin’s life, despite overwhelming odds against his survival.

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In April, the Ministry of Health announced that it has given the “orphan medicine” status to Koselugo, a prescription drug used in treating children with neurofibromatosis type 1 and the only medical treatment that is available for this rare disorder. With May being Neurofibromatosis Awareness Month, we discuss what the availability of this treatment means for children with neurofibromatosis and the gaps that still remain, together with Prof Dr Thong Meow Keong, consultant paediatrician & clinical geneticist, and Carol Lim, who is living with neurofibromatosis.

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Movement is everything in our daily lives. Movement is not just limited to mobility, in terms of getting around, but is a fundamental principle underlying human function and well-being. In this episode of Humans of Healthcare, we speak to an allied health professional whose core business is movement: a physiotherapist. Rebekah Lynn Mohan joins us to share how physiotherapists work in promoting, preventing, treating and rehabilitating individuals with pain, injuries and movement disorders, and what you need to know if you’re considering a career in this field.

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7.30am, stuck in traffic. 1pm, no parking available. 6.30pm, bumper-to-bumper traffic. 8pm, still not home yet. That’s the daily commute for most Klang Valley residents who drive to and from work. What if we turned those hours of being stuck on the road into time spent walking, cycling and using public transportation instead? There’s no doubt that it would save time and increase productivity, not to mention improve our physical and mental health. We explore how investing in active mobility actually saves lives and money when it comes to healthcare costs.

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Running, cycling, and swimming are probably some of the most common workouts that people enjoy. But how many of us have done or thought about doing all three in a triathlon? Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr Harjeet Singh is joined by triathlete Dr Alan Tan on this episode of Be Fit Malaysians to discuss what it takes to become an Ironman/woman, and if we all have it in us to do it.

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Pain is one of the most common symptoms experienced by cancer patients. It is often debilitating and disruptive to patients’ quality of life. Yet, many patients endure this pain silently, believing that nothing can be done to help them. Dr Loh Ee Chin, Consultant Palliative Physician, Subang Jaya Medical Centre, joins us to clear up misconceptions about cancer pain, and shares how palliative care can help patients to manage the pain and live a better quality of life during and after treatment.

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Prof Dr Ina Ismiarti Shariffudin, President of the Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists, and Dr Gunalan Palari Arumugam, Consultant Anaesthesiologist, are among a multidisciplinary healthcare team involved in the Global Surgery Initiative, which seeks to provide access to safe and affordable surgical and anaesthesia care in rural areas of Malaysia. Prof Ina and Dr Gunalan join us to share their experience of bringing the surgical care team to Sarawak, and to discuss how this initiative can be expanded to the rest of the underserved communities in rural parts of Malaysia.

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