The NHMS, conducted nationwide by the Institute for Public Health (IKU) under the Health Ministry, provides key data on the health status of Malaysians. The 2025 edition marks the second assessment of older persons aged 60 and above, following its inaugural review in 2018.

According to the NHMS 2025, only 14.7% of senior citizens meet the criteria for healthy ageing, based on a survey of approximately 7,528 respondents.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad explained that “healthy ageing” is defined by five strict criteria: strong social support, absence of cognitive impairment such as dementia, freedom from depression, independence in daily activities, and either the absence of chronic diseases or well-controlled conditions.

“If only 14.7% are ageing healthily, the rest are battling chronic disease and frailty,” said Dzulkefly when launching the NHMS 2025 findings yesterday.

“Chronic diseases among seniors are increasing, with 39% having diabetes, 73% having hypertension and 76% having high cholesterol,” he added.

The Health Ministry further noted that 68% of seniors are living with at least two of these three chronic conditions, while 30% are affected by all three, describing the trend as concerning and requiring comprehensive intervention strategies.

While the survey recorded a decline in depression among older persons – from 11.2% in 2018 to 8% in 2025 – dementia showed a slight increase, rising to 9.8% in 2025 from 8.5% in 2018.

“This is closely linked to other factors, particularly non-communicable diseases that are not well controlled,” said Dzulkefly.

“Conditions such as poorly managed Type 2 diabetes and hypertension can lead to vascular complications, including multiple micro-infarcts in the brain, which may contribute to memory loss and dementia.

“If these conditions are not properly managed, we are concerned that dementia cases may rise as a result.

“To address this, particularly in managing dementia, we are strengthening and advancing our health policies through a more comprehensive approach.

“This includes the National Ageing Blueprint Malaysia and the Health Care for the Elderly Action Plan 2023-2030, as well as the National Dementia Action Plan 2023-2030.”

He also cautioned on what he described as the “silent killer” of physical decline among older adults.

“The survey found that 30.6% of our ­senior citizens are physically inactive.

“As a result, 45% are now experiencing sarco­penia or severe muscle loss, while another 60% are at risk of frailty or physical fragility.”

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the remaining 70 doctors who came back to Malaysia opted to work in the private sector or with statutory bodies instead of rejoining government service.

“Not all ground is greener next door until they step on it,” he remarked during the policy-stage debate on the Supply Bill (Budget) 2026.

Dr Dzulkefly said that to address the ongoing issue of healthcare professionals migrating abroad, the ministry must continue improving career structures, particularly those relating to remuneration and wages.

“What is most important is for the Ministry of Health to continue refining the career schemes, especially regarding pay and allowances,” he said.

“My team is actively exploring ways to retain our healthcare workforce, including specialists, medical officers and nurses. This is among the measures we are implementing to keep our experts in service.”

On claims that Singapore’s Ministry of Health had been attempting to recruit Malaysian specialists and nurses to work in its facilities, Dr Dzulkefly clarified that the matter had been raised directly with his Singaporean counterpart.

“Frankly, I have contacted the Health Minister of Singapore. Initially, I received confirmation from him that such activities were being carried out by private recruitment agencies,” he said. “He himself expressed regret over the matter. We will continue to engage further on this issue, as this is not the first time I have taken action.”

Approximately 1 in 500 individuals inherit a mutated BRCA (BReast CAncer) gene. This inheritance significantly increases the risk of cancer, with probabilities ranging from 45% to 87% in European women. Previously, medical professionals in Asia were unable to provide accurate risk estimates for Asian women due to the majority of data being based on European women and the lack of reliable estimates from Asian women. The new study is expected to fill this gap and provide critical information for Asians.

Related: Advocating for Timely Detection and Cancer Screening in Women’s Healthcare

CRMY Chief Scientific Officer, Professor Datin Paduka Dr Teo Soo Hwang and the lead of the study said, “This study builds on our work in the past two decades to develop better ways of detecting breast cancer early and saving lives. Until recently, only 5% of the genomic and genetic studies globally were conducted in Asians and we are delighted that by continuing to focus on Asians, we can ensure that advances in precision medicine can also benefit the Asian population.”

Women with inherited changes in the breast cancer predisposition genes face challenging decisions, contemplating whether to opt for prophylactic surgery to remove healthy breasts or ovaries, thereby reducing the risk of breast or ovarian cancer.

Alternatively, they may consider more frequent or different types of screening to ensure early detection and increase the chances of successful treatment in case cancer does develop.

In making these decisions, it is critical that they have accurate information about their risk of cancer – for example, if a woman has an 87% chance of developing breast cancer, her choices may be different from that if she has a 45% chance of developing the disease.

As actual risk varies based on other genes, lifestyle, and reproductive choices, such as the number of children a woman has, making these decisions is only possible if we have accurate data on cancer risk in Asians. This then is the area of clinical need: to conduct Asian specific studies to provide accurate information to thousands of Asian BRCA carriers so that they can make informed decisions to save their lives.

Researchers from Malaysia and Singapore collaborated on this study, which received funding from Yayasan Sime Darby, Yayasan Petronas, Estee Lauder Group of Companies, and Vistage Group of Companies, to provide a comprehensive analysis of breast and ovarian cancer risk in Asian women. We found a significant shift: for women born from 1920-1940s, Asian BRCA carriers had about half the risk compared to European carriers.

Related: Shanghai Researchers Announce Groundbreaking Treatment for HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Brain Metastases

However, in the GenX generation born from 1960-1970s, the risk aligned with European BRCA carriers. The key takeaway is that lifestyle changes have not only increased cancer risk for the general population but also for BRCA carriers. Doctors should consider the patients’ birth era and lifestyle factors when advising on cancer risk.

“Accurate quantification of disease risk in BRCA carriers demands substantial sample sizes. Our study is a testament to the power of research unity, bringing together brilliant minds from Singapore, University of Cambridge and our home base in Malaysia. Through these expansive collaborative efforts, we’ve achieved a groundbreaking milestone, advancing our understanding of breast and ovarian cancer risks in Asian BRCA carriers and paving the way for more informed decisions in healthcare,” said Associate Professor University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM) and first author of the study, Dr Ho Weang Kee.

Moving forward, the CRMY-Nottingham team have won the global Basser Grant to identify the lifestyle and genetic factors that are associated with cancer risk in Asian BRCA carriers. This grant aims to create advanced tools tailored for Asian BRCA carriers, offering precise guidance on their risk of breast and other cancers. The upcoming tools developed by Malaysian researchers will integrate additional gene variants and lifestyle factors, enhancing precision in prevention and treatment strategies for Asian women.

“This is a milestone in our efforts in saving Asian lives through precision guidance. Having more accurate risk information for Asian women is crucial when providing genetic counselling to patients and their family members. This development will help us to work with the patients and empower them to make informed, life-saving medical decisions,” said CRMY Consultant Genetic Counsellor, Yoon Sook-Yee.

This study was made possible by the Wellcome Trust Collaborative Science Award to Professors Teo and Doug Easton, led principally by A/Prof Ho. Additionally, the research team has recognized the following hospitals for their participation: Subang Jaya Medical Centre, University Malaya Medical Centre, Beacon Hospital, Gleneagles Penang, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, KPJ Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital, KPJ Johor Specialist Hospital, KPJ Sabah Specialist Hospital, Loh Guan Lye Specialist Centre, Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital, Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Penang Adventist Hospital, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Sunway Medical Centre, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore General Hospital, Changi General Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, and National University Hospital Singapore. Their collaboration in recruitment and interviews, according to the researchers, significantly contributed to the success of this study.

Health Care Asia
Home

This initiative represents Alpro Group’s focus on elevating indoor air quality (IAQ) beyond traditional safety measures. The collaboration seeks to provide a safe and comfortable environment for patrons and employees that is also in alignment with the United Nations (UN) Global Compact and environmental and social responsibility, specifically targeting SDG 11 and SDG 15.

The nanoe X technology employed in this partnership aims to create a clean and secure atmosphere by deodorizing and suppressing pathogenic microorganisms. Ph. Lim En Ni, Chief Pharmacist of Alpro Pharmacy, emphasizes the importance of customer assurance and safety, ensuring a worry-free experience for visitors engaging with various professionals in Alpro outlets.

Atsushi Yoshida, Country Head of Life Solutions at Panasonic Malaysia, highlights the shared mission of both companies in contributing to and enriching society while prioritizing the well-being of people through a safe shopping and working environment.

Health Care Asia
Home

What is said to be the Asian region’s first fully digital B2B medical supplies distribution platform, Lumiere32, has entered the Malaysian market, positioning itself for rapid growth throughout Southeast Asia.

According to a study done in 2009 (Supply Chain Management: An International Journal Healthcare supply chain management in Malaysia: a case study by Noorfa Haszlinna Mustaffa, Andrew Potter), in Malaysia, the medical supplies distribution industry is highly fragmented, with hospitals and clinics adopting a largely manual and labour-intensive means of inventory management. The current process requires medical institutions to procure their supplies from a variety of traditional sources – calls and emails, manufacturer’s websites, pharmacies, and e-commerce sites. This resource-heavy task along with the fast-moving e-commerce world we live in has resulted in an unnecessarily cumbersome medical supplies procurement process.

Lumiere32 adds that it is able to eliminate these hassles as orders for highly sought-after medical and dental supplies from multiple brands can be placed on a single site, with shipping consolidated in a single package for added convenience. This will help ease inventory procurement tasks, so hospital and clinic staff are able to focus on providing better service to patients instead.

Beyond this, Lumiere32 is looking to help local SMEs sell their top-of-the-line medical supplies internationally, to countries like Singapore and the US. This is in line with the Malaysian government’s SMEs Go Global initiative, which encourages local brands, inclusive of those in the healthcare sector, to venture into foreign markets.

Leveraging on its existing partnerships with large medical brands such as Kavo Kerr to Johnson & Johnson, Lumiere32 already has a head start as it enters the Malaysian market, with over 250 brands a part of its growing network. This includes over 100 manufacturers and dealers, enabling the platform to positively impact a potential of over 2,000 clinics as it enables the digitisation of their supply procurement process.

Founded in 2016, Lumiere32 started with just three suppliers and ten brands on its platform. In less than five years, the company says it has added over 70 suppliers and more than 300 international brands on their platform, as it envisions a similar trajectory in the Malaysian market.

“We are incredibly pleased to be expanding our footprint to Malaysia. The medical supplies distribution industry is ripe in Malaysia, especially with the COVID-19 situation improving. We have seen a surge in medical suppliers seeking online platforms such as ours by more than five times, enabling them to reach out to more customers. As borders reopen, and with Malaysia well-known as for its medical tourism, we believe that it is an opportune time for Lumiere32 to be making its mark in the local scene,” said Dr. Priti Bhole, Founder /COO of Lumiere32.

As a B2B healthcare procurement start-up, Lumiere32 says it seeks to partner with more local medical equipment brands, medical supplies manufacturers, hospitals and clinics, creating a more connected medical supplies network.

It has an online platform that offers a wide range of medical and dental products. Its recent ventures include supplying up to 3 million pieces of surgical face masks, 500,000 thermometers, and several thousands of highly essential medical equipment to over 900 clinics, 15 hospitals and 100 corporates in Singapore, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Disposable protective equipment – including face masks – while useful, is estimated to cause massive pollution to the environment. The trace chemicals contained is said to not only affect water and air quality and wildlife health but are also small enough to enter our lungs and bloodstream and cause long-term complications.

To reduce the environmental toll associated with disposable face masks, a Malaysian agency has introduced AiruFlo, a modular face mask that ensures superior protection, breathability, and comfort to its users. The sustainable AiruFlo mask is washable and can be reused, provided the filters are changed periodically.

AiruFlo aims to educate Malaysians on more sustainable face mask options that will not add to the current environmental waste: it is made of biocompatible, food-grade silicone that allows easy folding and is resistant to hard impacts.

Having undergone material development and surface modification utilising nanotechnology, the mask’s silicone body is smooth and transparent, making it exceptionally comfortable when used; and is equipped with adjustable straps which allows for convenient safekeeping.

Furthermore, it includes replaceable N95 grade filters that guard against 95% of 0.3µm particles and dust. This, combined with the fact that it provides a perfect seal, makes it highly suitable for complete protection against germs, bacteria, and pollution without the need for double masking.

Read: Mask sensor to detect and track coronavirus in development

“There are numerous face masks out there in the market with various specifications to fit the preferences of diverse groups of people, and we quickly realised that there is a need for a mask that does it all. Many are looking for masks that check multiple boxes – fashionable, highly breathable, sustainable and unharmful to the environment,” said Vince Koay, Co-founder of AiruFlo.

“It can be challenging to find one that meets all expectations in the market and that is what our team of highly innovative industrial engineers have set out to address with AiruFlo. More than protection, the transparency of AiruFlo masks plays a crucial role in allowing users to communicate effectively using facial queues, particularly for those who have hearing difficulties or require speech therapy.”

AiruFlo masks are designed to meet international hygiene and protective standards – it has been approved for use by the US Food and Drug administration (FDA) and Malaysia’s Medical Device Authority (MDA).

Further information and credentials may be assessed on the company website, www.airuflo.com/

Nestlé Malaysia, part of the world’s largest food and beverage manufacturer, is providing more than 1 million nutritious breakfast sets under “Projek Kantin MILO” to more than 35,000 deserving students in 700 primary schools across the country. The nutrition assistance programme was initiated by MILO, the leading malt beverage supplied in Malaysia in partnership with the Ministry of Education.

Projek Kantin MILO is a direct response to the socioeconomic impact of COVID-19 on schools and communities: over a period of 20 schooling days, the programme will see students in need provided with wholesome breakfast meals paired with nutritious MILO UHT drinks for free – the drinks are made from malt barley, milk and cocoa, with a nourishing blend of essential vitamins and minerals to help release the energy from food.

“As children return back to school, we continue to spread awareness of breakfast as the most important meal of the day in providing nutrition and energy to start their day right and help them achieve their best potential every day. We hope our contribution through Projek Kantin MILO will relieve some of the burden that the families of our beneficiaries have had to bear as they persevere through these tough times and bounce back stronger,” remarked Ng Su Yen, Business Executive Officer, MILO Business Unit, Nestlé Malaysia.

Projek Kantin MILO is hoped to address healthy breakfast habits as a critical component of maintaining good nutrition, particularly now when there are families struggling to provide basic necessities including food. 

Distribution of the free breakfast sets first begun late last year and has continued well into the new school session this year as students returned to face-to-face learning beginning 1 March; the breakfast sets are prepared by canteen school operators of the respective schools who are also subsidised under this programme.

“As the nation steadily rebuilds itself, our purpose of enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future is now more important than ever,” said Dato’ Adnan Pawanteh, Executive Director, Group Corporate Affairs, Nestlé Malaysia. “The approach we have taken for Projek Kantin MILO is unique. Not only does it provide nutritious breakfasts to students, the monetary subsidies go towards helping canteen operators who are directly affected by COVID-19 due to extended periods of school closures in sustaining their businesses and livelihoods, so that they may continue serving the school children.”

Meanwhile, Dato’ Haji Adzman bin Talib, Deputy Director-General (School Operation Sector), Ministry of Education Malaysia commanded both Nestlé and MILO for contributing to the nation’s concerted effort to rebound from COVID-19 and nourish schools in an impactful way.

The contribution through Projek Kantin MILO is estimated to be worth a total of RM3 million (US$724,000). A mock cheque presentation was held to commemorate the partnership with the Ministry of Education Malaysia.

Malaysia’s largest integrated pharmaceutical company, Phamaniaga Bhd is manufacturing two million doses/month of  Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine starting this March. The deal between the two companies is for the supply of 14 million doses of the vaccine  to be carried out for fill and finish activity.

According to Pharmaniaga’s Managing Director Datuk Zulkarnain Md Eusope, the vaccine would be the first to be manufactured in Malaysia at the Puchong-sited plant owned by Pharmaniaga’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Pharmaniaga LifeSciences Sdn Bhd. The company is also investing RM3 million to retrofit the plant for the production of the vaccine.

Pharmaniaga has been engaging with the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) to ensure that its plant continues to be in high compliance with regulatory requirements. 

A new cooperation agreement, announced by healthcare access company Axios International (Axios) and the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) will see better support for oncology (cancer) patients through improved diagnosis of the disease, access to treatment and patient adherence.

Centered on a holistic approach, the agreement will address difficulties faced by patients: starting from disease awareness, the impact of the community, navigating the healthcare system and eventually having access to and adhering to treatment, in order to ultimately maximise treatment benefits. 

In this, Axios will support eligible patients across Malaysia through its Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) to help them overcome affordability barriers by assessing their individual ability to pay for the necessary treatments; it will allow for completion of these patients’ treatment even if they are unable to pay for it in full.

At the same time, NCSM will raise awareness on the prevention, screening and early detection of cancer through relevant education material(s). NCSM will also provide patients with psychosocial support to increase adherence, empowering them to maintain a high quality of life.

Roshel Jayasundera, Director, Global Consulting, Axios International, pointed out that oncology patients need “sustainable access solutions [that] go beyond treatment affordability” including country-specific indicators, individual patient needs and personalised adherence support to maximise treatment outcomes and most importantly, help patients stay on treatment.

“While Axios works on resolving the financial aspects and hurdles faced by patients; NCSM is excited to be given this opportunity to work closely with patients in need of different forms of psychosocial support; long recognised as part of the insurmountable barriers in cancer care,” said Dr. Murallitharan Munisamy, Medical Director, NCSM. “Together we hope to be able to assist patients in obtaining the care they need and successfully start and complete their cancer treatment journey.”