Browsing: Country

From 1 August 2024, Singapore’s Ministry of Health has introduced substantial subsidies for high-cost cell, tissue, and gene therapies, providing a lifeline for patients needing advanced treatments such as CAR T-cell therapy. The subsidies are aimed at making these treatments more accessible by adjusting the coverage based on household income and patient needs, with caps of up to $150,000 for citizens and $45,000 for permanent residents

The “Hakdaw Kabataan” project in Quezon City trains youth leaders to provide free HIV testing in their communities, addressing disproportionately high HIV rates among Filipino teens. By promoting U=U and empowering youth leaders to spread prevention messages on social media, this initiative strives to end HIV stigma and improve access to treatment and care.

Recent data from Singapore’s Institute of Mental Health (IMH) WiSE study indicated that dementia rates among Singapore’s elderly have decreased to 8.8% from 10% in 2013, largely due to better education and stroke prevention. Professor Chong Siow Ann notes that government initiatives have played a key role in this positive trend. Nevertheless, as Singapore ages, creating a dementia-friendly society is crucial for ongoing support in dementia care.

A recent study revealed that high temperatures can exacerbate conditions like gestational diabetes and thyroid disorders among pregnant women, raising alarms in hot climates like Asia. Scientists from Singapore and Britain recently concluded a review of medical research dating back to the 1940s and found that heat affects hormones and the endocrine system, which is responsible for creating and releasing those hormones.

The mental health of Filipino seafarers has come under intense scrutiny. This is following the release of a recent study by the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP), a government-run maritime training and research institution. 

Discover why breastfeeding is crucial for newborns, particularly in the first two months of life. Learn about the risks of diarrhoea in non-breastfed infants and the unparalleled protective benefits of breast milk.

The Department of Health (DOH) has reported the first case of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) in the Philippines for 2024. This new case brings the total number of recorded mpox cases in the country to 10. The last case was documented in December 2023, and all previous patients have since recovered.

The tragic case of the death of a resident doctor due to alleged bullying at Diponegoro University is a serious challenge facing the medical world in Indonesia. 

The Philippine Academy of Family Physicians (PAFP) has emphasised the importance of paying attention to skin conditions, which may reflect deeper, systemic health problems

On 11 August 2024, the Director of Nutrition and Maternal and Child Health, dr. Lovely Daisy, MKM, announced that this regulation prohibits the promotion of formula milk, which is stipulated in Article 33, as part of efforts to increase the success of exclusive breastfeeding in Indonesia. The regulation adopts the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes that has been introduced by the World Health Organisation (WHO) since 1981.