Author: Gerald Ng

King Charles III has received medical treatment for an enlarged prostate, a condition common among men his age, Buckingham Palace announced. The monarch has what is clinically known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). But what does BPH mean? Dr Ronny Tan and Dr Lie Kwok Ying, Urologists of Advanced Urology Associates, Singapore, help to explain the condition. They also advise on treatment options for this common condition, such as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and prostatic urethral lift (PUL).

We look at the top 5 most popular medical news stories across Southeast Asia this week!  #1 – Brain Surgery in Malaysia Only Costs RM258 A man, Lee Vi Hua, expressed his gratitude and amazement on Facebook over the affordable cost of his wife’s brain surgery and treatment at a government hospital in Malaysia. His wife had been suffering from severe headaches. Thereafter, she was diagnosed with a brain haemorrhage and underwent a brain coiling procedure. Initially planned at a private hospital with an estimated cost of RM150,000, her surgery was shifted to a government facility due to her contracting…

The UMMC’s medicine department is planning to resolve its Houseman shortage by opting for a parallel HO system and hiring more permanent medical officers.  UMMC’s medical department has proposed a parallel houseman system for the recruitment of its own HOs in the future. This is in a bid to be more self-reliant. The department had made a statement earlier this year regarding a critical shortage of HOs in UMMC. This led to internal suggestions that the university hospital should hire and train its own HOs. These HOs will then continue to serve UUMC as medical officers (MOs) and specialists once…

Takashimaya Department Store had to announce a product recall after accidentally selling a sample product. The customer bought a sample cake last Sunday. A sample version of the cake, “Galette des Rois”, from DonQ, was accidentally sold to a customer. Subsequently, Takashimaya had to put out a notice warning the customer not to consume the product. The warning does not include the dangers of consuming the cake.

President Marcos has recently inked the approval of measures establishing college of medicine programs in four state universities and colleges (SUCs) across the archipelago. This strategic move not only addresses the longstanding gap in medical education. It also symbolises a commitment to empowering local communities with the means to cultivate a new generation of healthcare professionals. The establishment of new colleges of medicine is poised to contribute substantially to the enhancement of healthcare practices in the country. Closing the Gap The motivation behind these legislative strides is rooted in the recognition of a persisting gap in medical education. This is…

Groundbreaking research by the Integrated Women’s Health Programme (IWHP) at the National University Hospital (NUH) and NUS Medicine has brought to light the predominant issue of menopausal arthralgia among midlife Singaporean women.  This condition, marked by muscle and joint pain, has emerged as a significant challenge during menopause, profoundly affecting daily life and well-being. Research Findings Two comprehensive studies conducted last year by the IWHP, funded by the Singapore National Medical Research Council, have shed light on this issue. The first study, published in Maturitas in October 2023, surveyed 1,054 Singaporean women, revealing that 62.6% reported at least one moderate…

#1 – Thailand Seeks Citizens’ Opinion on Marijuana Law Thailand is seeking public feedback on a draft bill that aims to outlaw recreational cannabis use. The move comes after the country decriminalised cannabis in 2021. Subsequently, that led to a burgeoning industry with dispensaries, spas, restaurants, and festivals. However, initial regulations were rushed and left loopholes for recreational use. This new bill, driven by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s concerns over drug abuse, aims to restrict cannabis use strictly for medical and health purposes. The public has until January 23 to provide feedback before the bill proceeds to the cabinet and…

The Duke-NUS research team, collaborating with Duke University and the National University of Singapore, conducted a preclinical comparison between nasal and subcutaneous administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. Their findings were published in eBioMedicine. It revealed that the intranasal route not only induces a strong mucosal antibody response but also enhances long-term mucosal and systemic immune protection.

The Malaysian Ministry of Health (MOH) has released new guidelines to evaluate and treat individuals who are overweight/obese. The MOH’s latest CPG for the management of obesity emphasises the complexity and chronicity of said condition. The CPG update involves behavioural change, recommendations for anti-obesity medications and surgery.  Should We Be Concerned? Yes, we should. The National Health Screening Initiative (NHSI) 2023 showed that 53.5% of Malaysians screened are overweight (31.3%) or obese (22.2%). The results translate to 283,100 Malaysians with a body mass index (BMI) of over 25kg/m2 and 199,400 Malaysians with a BMI of over 30kg/m2.  In fact, 62,346…

The vibrating capsule, likened to the feeling of drinking a glass full of water before eating, targets the brain’s perception of satiety. When ingested 20 minutes prior to a meal, it stimulates mechanoreceptors, which in turn signal the brain via the vagus cranial nerve. This signal initiates the production of hormones such as insulin, GLP-1, C-peptide, and PYY, reducing hunger and enhancing the digestion process. In animal models, this mechanism resulted in a reduction of food consumption by about 40%.