Mahjong as brain medicine? Pantai Hospital KL is the first to fold competitive social mahjong into a clinical brain health programme, pairing it with cognitive screening to catch dementia early. 🀄
285,400 medical tourists. RM601.8 million. Penang pulled in both in just H1 2026, over a third of Malaysia's medical tourism, and now eyes Arab nations and Australia next. ✈️
267,873 calls. 518 crises intervened, including suicidal ideation and attempts. Malaysia's HEAL 15555 mental health line has been busy since Covid, and MOH is now stepping up school support. 💙
Medicines by post is now live in Malaysia. MOH's Postal Medicine Delivery Programme aims to cut hospital queues, with the MyUbat app already at ~893,000 users. 📦
MOH launches a national registry for suicide and fatal injuries, plus postvention guidelines — aiming for better data and support to curb suicidal behaviour in Malaysia. 💙
MediAsas update: people with pre-existing conditions can still get cover for unrelated illnesses, with a 7-year no-look-back rule and RM100k–RM300k limits. Treatment for the existing condition stays excluded. 🩺
Malaysia mourns Tun Dr Siti Hasmah, 100 — a doctor who championed maternal and child health, immunisation and rural public health. Her legacy shaped generations of care. 🕊️
A 19-year-old factory worker in Ipoh had his hand trapped in a meat grinder — rescuers couldn't free him due to the steel blade and rushed him to Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun. ⚠️
Malaysia's evening haze update: 5 areas now "Unhealthy" — Pasir Gudang, Kota Tinggi, Pengerang, Larkin (all Johor) and Serian, Sarawak. Rest of the country mostly Moderate or Good. 😷
Kedah records its first human rabies death in 28 years — a man died after being bitten by a stray dog and missing post-exposure treatment in time. Authorities are investigating under a One Health approach. 🐾
Sarawak's haze eases but lingers — Serian's API fell to 146 (from 177 a day earlier) while Samarahan (156) and Kuching (154) stay 'Unhealthy'. Rest of Malaysia mostly 'Moderate'. 😷
Malaysia's Health Ministry is beefing up data systems to fuse environmental data with disease patterns — aiming to catch health threats earlier, officials say. 🌡️
Perlis' pilot Electronic Medical Record system is paying off — over 86% of patients are now seen by a doctor within an hour. Other states may get the rollout next, says Fahmi. 📲
Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan tells the UN pandemic prevention must be a shared global responsibility — "no nation can secure its health in isolation" — backing the WHO Pandemic Agreement's equitable pathogen-sharing terms. 🌍
13,000 runners left scrambling after Kuching Marathon 2026 was axed over haze — Sarawak's sports minister calls it a major blow for those who'd already booked travel and hotels. ✈️
Haze forces the Kuching Marathon 2026 to be cancelled at the eleventh hour, just days before its Sept 27 date — organisers cite worsening air quality and runner safety. 😷
A Unimas medicine trainee says teaching days get no protected time off the wards, and sick leave eats into his 28-day academic leave cap. Faculty says it'll review. 🩺
"Cancer does not care how virtuously you live." A columnist argues blaming patients misses the real problem: a healthcare system that runs out of options. 🎗️
Sunway Healthcare to build an RM800mil, 400+ bed hospital in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, opening 2030 — ~1,400 jobs as chronic disease & an ageing population drive demand. 🏥