Category: Health EN

Most of us sense that taking a walk in a forest is good for us. We take a break from the rush of our daily lives. We enjoy the beauty and peace of being in a natural setting. Now, research is showing that visiting a forest has real, quantifiable health benefits, both mental and physical. Even 5 minutes around trees or in green spaces may improve health. Think of it as a prescription with no...

Nicotine-based vapes, or e-cigarettes, are likely to cause cancers of the lung and oral cavity, according to a new study led by UNSW Sydney and published in Carcinogenesis. The study analyses a wide body of global research and was led by UNSW cancer researcher Adjunct Professor Bernard Stewart AM, with investigators from The University of Queensland, Flinders University, The University of...

OPEN LETTER Penang, 7 June 2026 – Civil society organizations have warned the Malaysian Government that intellectual property (IP) proposals being tabled by the European Union (EU) will weaken Malaysia’s generic industry, undermine competition and increase prices of pharmaceutical products in Malaysia. The fourth round of negotiations is expected to take place on 9-12 June 2026, according to...

You thought PFAS, the “forever chemicals,” were bad. You thought microplastics were bad. Did you know we also have PFAS microplastics – a particularly persistent and toxic form of microplastics? Yet, industry wants to continue producing and using PFAS plastics regardless of the costs to our health and the environment. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and microplastics are already...

True wellness extends beyond medicine in bottles. Exercise, sleep, laughter, sunlight, and meditation all play vital roles in supporting the body’s natural healing systems and mental resilience. Moving our bodies, giving ourselves space to rest and reset, breathing in the calm of nature, and sharing a genuine laugh all heal in ways no prescription can. Nourishing ourselves with wholesome food,...

Despite various health awareness campaigns conducted every year, the use of nicotine or tobacco products such as vapes, electronic cigarettes and conventional cigarettes among children and teenagers continues to raise concerns. Devices regarded as alternatives to cigarettes are becoming increasingly popular to young people through various appealing flavours and modern designs, raising concerns...

GEORGE TOWN: An intense “high”, glassy eyes and a loss of awareness of surroundings may follow with just a few puffs of drug-laced vape pods, which can now be found at entertainment outlets and even in some schools. Authorities are raising concerns over fentanyl being detec¬ted in vape products, commonly referred to as “zombie drugs” or “piao piao” (meaning floating or drifting in...

The tobacco industry has survived despite more than seven decades of tobacco control efforts because of its aggressive marketing and product innovation. Central to the industry's business model is a statement contained in a 1963 Brown & Williamson internal document: "Nicotine is addictive. We are, then, in the business of selling nicotine, an addictive drug." Nevertheless, during the 1994...

A coalition of campaigning groups represented by the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat (IBAS), the Asian Ban Asbestos Network (ABAN), the Asian Citizens’ Center for Environmental Health(Eco-Health), the Indonesian Ban Asbestos Network (INA-BAN), the Local Initiative for OSH Network – Indonesia (LION), the Consumers’ Association of Penang, Sahabat Alam Malaysia, and Ban Asbestos...