1+ hour, 10+ min ago (109+ words) Monday, 01 Dec 2025 WITH over 3,500 outlets nationwide and more than a dozen major players vying for market share, the retail pharmacy sector might appear to be under significant pressure. However, the industry is thriving with corporate activity, as seen in the planned privatisation of Apex Healthcare Bhd and the upcoming initial public offering (IPO) of the Big Caring group. While Apex Healthcare is not a retail pharmacy chain, it plays a crucial role in the sector as a manufacturer and distributor of pharmaceutical products. Billed as RM 6.95 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter. Billed as RM 74.00 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter....

8+ hour, 36+ min ago (104+ words) Sunday, 30 Nov 2025 I am a 30-year-old man devastated after a recent diagnosis of testicular cancer, following me noticing a lump in my right testicle while showering. Billed as RM 6.95 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter. Billed as RM 74.00 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter. Dr George Lee is a consultant Urologist and Clinical Associate Professor whose professional interest is in men's health. This column is a forum to help men debunk the myths and taboos on men's issues that may be too "hard" to mention. You can send him questions at [email protected]...

17+ hour, 10+ min ago (762+ words) Sunday, 30 Nov 2025 WITH artificial intelligence (AI) being applied in medical schools, students need to be taught to be sceptical and responsible users of these tools, emphasises Dr Manraj Singh Cheema (pic). "In clinical settings, the risk is even greater if a student blindly accepts an AI's diagnostic suggestion without verifying it; that can lead to real harm," the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences senior lecturer in molecular toxicology told StarEdu. Manraj, a recent recipient of the Teaching Award in the Health Sciences category, bestowed by the Higher Education Ministry at the 16th National Academic Awards, added that in medicine, the danger of automation bias " the tendency to trust AI output even when it is flawed " could mean missing a rare diagnosis because the algorithm was trained on common cases. "To guard against this, we need better…...

1+ day, 2+ hour ago (288+ words) Sunday, 30 Nov 2025 PURSAT, Cambodia: A team of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) experts on Saturday (Nov 29) provided free medical check-ups and treatment to teachers and local residents in western Cambodia's Pursat province. Held at the Hun Sen Bakchenhchien High School in Phnom Kravanh district, the one-day event allowed local people to experience the charm of TCM culture firsthand. At the event, dozens of teachers, local residents and authorities received health consultations and treatment. Sum Sopharit, principal of the Hun Sen Bakchenhchien High School, said the TCM experts were very professional, and they paid attention to diagnosing illnesses before providing treatment. "I also received TCM treatment and felt relieved," he told Xinhua. "This treatment is very useful for people's health, and it's great that the medical team has spent their time treating teachers at our school." "I would like to thank the…...

1+ day, 2+ hour ago (424+ words) BUKIT MERTAJAM: A notice to provide a statement has been issued to a group of Muslim individuals detained at a health centre on Jalan Raja Laut, Kuala Lumpur, on Friday (Nov 28) night, following suspicion of involvement in immoral activities. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Islamic Affairs), Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mohktar, confirmed that the notice was issued for further investigation in accordance with the relevant laws. "I take the detention of 203 men, aged 19 to 60, very seriously. This case involves immoral activities that contradict religious values, societal ethics, and the laws of the country," he said in a statement on Saturday night (Nov 29). The operation, named 'Ops Songsang,' was conducted by the police, together with other agencies, including the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), the Health Ministry, and the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department (Jawi). The raid, which occurred around…...

1+ day, 4+ hour ago (256+ words) PHNOM PENH: HIV/AIDS killed about 1,000 people in Cambodia in 2024, down nine per cent from 1,100 in a year earlier, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has said. In a message dated Wednesday (Nov 26) and released to the media on Friday, Hun Manet said the South-East Asian country recorded roughly 1,200 new HIV infections in 2024, a decrease of 20 per cent from 1,500 in 2023. He said the kingdom currently has approximately 76,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, of which 71,716 have received antiretroviral drugs. "Despite this achievement, more than 4,000 people were still unaware that they were infected with HIV, and had not yet received antiretroviral drugs," he said in the message, which was issued to commemorate the upcoming World AIDS Day on Dec. 1. The prime minister said the kingdom is committed to reducing new HIV infections to just more than 200 cases and fatalities to less than 200 cases…...

1+ day, 10+ hour ago (374+ words) PETALING JAYA: A total of 67 health facilities have been affected by the floods as of 5pm, according to the National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC). In a statement, the CPRC said 15 of the health facilities affected by the flood are in Perlis, followed by 14 centres in Terengganu, 12 in Kelantan, 12 in Perak, nine in Pahang, three in Selangor, and two in Kedah. "Of these, 31 are klinik desa; 17 health clinics; 15 dental clinics; two health district offices; one hospital, and one other facility. "A total of 20 flood-affected health facilities have relocated their operations to nearby facilities, 44 continue operating as usual, while three health facilities are not operating," the CPRC reported. So far, a total of 422 emergency medical teams (EMT) have been mobilised, comprising 212 health rapid response teams (RRT), 183 Medical RRTs, and 27 Mental Health and Psychosocial Support teams. These teams have been deployed to…...

1+ day, 11+ hour ago (223+ words) PUTRAJAYA: A total of 54 public healthcare facilities across the country are affected by floods as of 8am on Saturday (Nov 29). Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said 25 healthcare facilities had to move their operations due to floods. "While they have to move operations, the healthcare facilities are still operating. "The remaining 29 healthcare facilities affected by the floods are still able to operate as usual," he said at a press conference after launching the Health Care seminar for people with disabilities (OKU) here on Saturday. Dzulkefly also shared that 2,672 flood victims across the country have been examined by healthcare personnel so far. Of the total, 600 victims have received treatment for various illnesses. He said 433 victims were treated for acute respiratory illnesses, followed by 134 for skin infections, 27 for acute gastroenteritis and six for conjunctivitis. "As of 8am today, no disease outbreaks have been…...

1+ day, 11+ hour ago (249+ words) KUALA SELANGOR: There is no necessity to establish field hospitals or clinics in response to the current flood situation affecting several states, says Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. He said this is because none of the Health Ministry's hospitals have been affected by the disaster. "For our facilities nationwide, 54 were affected, involving only health and rural clinics, and 25 of them have relocated their operations to nearby areas. "So, there is currently no need to set up field clinics or field hospitals, including those in collaboration with the Armed Forces. We hope and pray that there will be no further waves of flooding," said Dzulkefly. He said this when met by reporters after visiting flood victims at the temporary evacuation centre (PPS) at the Sekolah Rendah Agama (SRA) Ijok here, on Saturday (Nov 29). He added that, for now, the…...

1+ day, 14+ hour ago (470+ words) Saturday, 29 Nov 2025 AMMAN, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Attacks by stray dogs roaming neighborhoods have become a public concern in Jordanian cities, prompting calls for a comprehensive, long-term national response that balances public safety with animal welfare. Residents have reported a rising number of injuries and, in some cases, deaths, urging authorities to tackle the problem at its roots. In the northwestern city of Ramtha, a fourth-grade student was bitten by a dog near her home while walking to school. Her mother, a nurse at Ramtha Hospital, said the child received immediate treatment. She called on authorities to better protect students, especially in the early morning hours. In another case in the same city, a two-and-a-half-year-old Pakistani girl sustained severe injuries due to a stray dog attack outside her home, including damage to the optic nerve, prompting anger among residents. In Zarqa, the…...