Author: Gerald Ng

President Marcos has enacted a transformative healthcare law to improve Filipinos’ access to specialised medical services. The law, known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act (RA 11959), was signed on August 24 and mandates the Department of Health (DOH) to establish specialty centres nationwide.

The bustling capital of the Philippines, Manila, recently played host to the 6th Edition of PhilMed Expo 2023.  The event was co-hosted with the Infectious Disease Control Expo (INDEC) Philippines 2023, Philippines Dental Expo 2023, and Philippines Medical Technology Expo 2023, showcased breakthroughs and innovations from the realms of medicine, dental care, pharmaceuticals, and lab technology. Philmed Expo 2023 was the third edition of the event. A Melting Pot of Global Health Expertise What made this expo unique? Firstly, it’s the only specialised medical event in the Philippines that offers an international convergence of healthcare, dental, pharmaceutical, and laboratory expertise.…

In a bid to attract additional investment, The Department of Health (DOH) in the Philippines has streamlined the process for setting up hospitals and other medical facilities.

The world of sports is fiercely competitive, with athletes continuously pushing their limits to reach new heights. However, it’s not just raw talent or dedication that distinguishes top performers; it’s the holistic approach to fitness training.  Fitness training encompasses warming up and cooling down routines, core training, and strength training – pillars that form an athlete’s training regimen. We get the expert advice of two Singapore national team athletes on their training routine Warming Up A gentle start to fierce fitness fraining. Before diving into the intensive training segments, an effective warm-up sets the tone. Increase Blood Flow: Gradually accelerating…

Medical Channel Asia presents the weekly Asian medical news bulletin, bringing you essential healthcare news from across the region. This week’s bulletin reported on AI in Thailand, vaping in the Philippines and monkeypox in Malaysia. Thailand Thailand’s National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) is partnering with the Public Health Ministry’s Department of Medical Services and Ramathibodi Hospital’s Faculty of Medicine at Mahidol University to advance the medical sector through AI data sharing. With 120 million baht in funding, the project aims to develop open medical databases that AI developers can use to create healthcare innovations. This initiative aligns with…

The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck, is the unsung hero of our endocrine system. Producing hormones that regulate numerous metabolic processes in the body it can sometimes malfunction in one of two ways: it produces too little (hypothyroidism) or too much (hyperthyroidism) of the hormone. Medical Channel Asia invites Dr Ben Ng, Consultant Endocrinologist at Arden Endocrinology Specialist Clinic Mount Elizabeth Novena, to provide key insights into this condition.

The Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) broke new ground on 30 August 2023 by launching the George and Jennifer Yeo Professorship in Paediatric Oncology. 

Named in honour of influential Singaporean couple George and Jennifer Yeo, this professorship aims to dramatically improve the treatment outcomes for children with cancer, not just in Singapore but across Asia. The launch event was held at The Fullerton yesterday evening. 

In a stunning medical first, an Australian woman complaining of forgetfulness and depression was found to have a live 8-centimetre roundworm in her brain. Usually found in pythons, the discovery has put the international medical community on high alert, prompting an intensive review of zoonotic diseases — illnesses transferred from animals to humans.

Hypochlorhydria refers to a condition where there’s a reduction in the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Hydrochloric acid is essential for various digestive processes, including the digestion of food and the absorption of nutrients. Hypochlorhydria’s prevalence among the Asian population is estimated at 68 out of every 10,000 people. Medical Channel Asia interviews Gastroenterologist Dr Gwee Kok Ann to understand this condition better. Dr Gwee is a Consultant Gastroenterologist at Gleneagles Hospital, Founding President of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Support Group and Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine at National University of Singapore. Can you explain what hypochlorhydria is and…

Singapore celebrated the launch of the Primary Care Research Institute (PCRI) by SingHealth Polyclinics, AstraZeneca, and GP+ Co-operative. This trio of healthcare leaders will co-create preventive health tools and explore groundbreaking care models for primary care settings.