Health

The impact of stress-related conditions on Singapore’s health system conservatively equates to US$2.3 billion of spend (approximately S$3.18 billion) or 18% of health expenditure, according to a new global report published today (21 Nov) by Cigna and Asia Care Group. The in-depth research study, which examined nine key markets worldwide, found that between 4% and 18.8% of health spending is …

The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson announces the first consensus white paper to be published by an esteemed group of experts who have come together to launch the “Moving Fourth” initiative. The initiative aims to tackle HIV-related health challenges faced by people living with HIV (PLWHIV), such as associated mental and physical co-morbidities, mental health issues, financial stresses …

The Philippines on Friday reported its first case of a vaping-linked illness, as health authorities expressed concern at court orders preventing them from regulating electronic cigarettes. A rash of vaping-linked deaths and illnesses in some countries has raised concern over the rising popularity of e-cigarettes, touted as less harmful than tobacco. India and some US states have banned e-cigarettes. A …

by Olivier THIBAULT E-cigarettes have become hugely popular in the past decade but a rash of vaping-linked deaths and illnesses is feeding caution about a product, already banned in some places. On Thursday an 18-year-old man died in Belgium in a vaping-linked death, the first such case in the country. Here are five things to know about electronic cigarettes. Around …

by Haeril HALIM Indonesian Mirnawati once ate rice with every meal, but its link to diabetes convinced her to join a growing movement to quit a staple food in the third biggest rice-consuming nation on Earth. As World Diabetes Day is held Thursday, the Southeast Asian nation is struggling to tackle a disease that affects as many as 20 million …

by Issam AHMED US health officials said Friday they had identified vitamin E acetate as the likely culprit behind a vaping-linked lung injury epidemic that has killed 39 people and sickened thousands. Investigators have previously pointed to the oil, which is sometimes used as a thickening agent for vaping products that contain a psychoactive substance called THC, as a possible …

by Glenda KWEK A pharmaceutical multinational on Thursday slashed the price of a key anti-tuberculosis drug boosting the battle against the world’s deadliest infectious disease, as a new treatment was also set to begin extensive testing. The initiatives came as the United Nations seeks to galvanise the campaign against TB, which killed 1.5 million people worldwide last year and saw 10 …

Following the High Court’s move to overturn a psychiatrist’s conviction for breaching one of his patient’s confidential information, the Ministry of Health (MOH) sent out a circular on Wednesday (22 October) to medical practitioners on guidelines on how to communicate medical information over the phone. In the beginning of this year, Dr Soo Shuenn Chiang, a psychiatrist at the National …

Blood donation should be “a regular affair” among Singaporeans, as the country’s blood banks “must always have sufficient amounts ready to save lives”, said Progress Singapore Party (PSP) secretary-general, Dr Tan Cheng Bock on Tue (22 Oct). Narrating his visit to blood banks in Westgate and Dhoby Ghaut for a PSP community blood donation drive called “Giving The Gift of …

The Breast Cancer Foundation (BCF) kick-started the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) with a nation-wide launch of a new audio-visual breast self-examination campaign entitled ‘Molly Monkey Sings and Saves’ at the Pink Ribbon Walk 2019 last Saturday (5 Oct). The BCF also made its mark in the Singapore Book of Records for the largest display of paper Camellias at …