https://www.scmp.com/rss/325303/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Reuters Reuters Soon-to-be brides and grooms seeking ⁠short cuts to shed pounds before the big day have become the latest consumer target ⁠for weight-loss drugs in India. New Delhi wellness clinic Klarity Skin Clinic touts a “Mounjaro bride” package, while other clinics have woven weight-loss injections into “pre-wedding” transformation packages typically focused on skin treatments and hairstyle makeovers. In a social media video, Klarity offers “guided nutrition, Mounjaro and smart workouts” to prepare brides... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3349011/here-comes-mounjaro-bride-indian-women-turn-weight-loss-drug-wedding?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3349011/here-comes-mounjaro-bride-indian-women-turn-weight-loss-drug-wedding?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 02:25:11 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang A therapy using pig semen-derived exosomes, engineered into eye drops capable of penetrating deep into retinal tissue, may hold the key to breaching the brain’s defences against diseases like Alzheimer’s. This advance, led by Professor Zhang Yu at China’s Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, originally targeted a rare childhood eye cancer retinoblastoma that often resists conventional treatments due to its delicate location near the brain. Published in peer-reviewed journal Science Advances on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3348726/chinas-brain-penetrating-pig-semen-eyedrop-may-treat-alzheimers-scientist-australia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3348726/chinas-brain-penetrating-pig-semen-eyedrop-may-treat-alzheimers-scientist-australia?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 06:47:06 +0000 Bhakti Mathur Bhakti Mathur Anjali Hazari hit the ground running when she arrived in Hong Kong as a newlywed in her early twenties more than four decades ago – and she has not stopped. Despite developing knee pain that has required surgeries and now having osteoporosis and more, the retired teacher and tutorial company owner keeps pushing forward – first as a marathoner, then a mountaineer, now a powerlifter – at the age of 70. Raised in Amravati, a city in the Indian state of Maharashtra, Hazari studied in Mumbai and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348484/70-shes-now-powerlifter-how-retired-teacher-refuses-slow-down?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348484/70-shes-now-powerlifter-how-retired-teacher-refuses-slow-down?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 03:00:09 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying An orthopaedist has been issued a public warning letter and reprimanded by Hong Kong’s medical watchdog after performing an unconventional bunion surgery without a patient’s informed consent. The Medical Council on Monday found Dr Daniel Wu Yiang guilty of professional misconduct on four charges after the patient at Hong Kong Adventist Hospital underwent a syndesmosis procedure, a soft-tissue bunion surgery advocated by the doctor, without sufficient information about the operation or any... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348419/orthopaedist-rebuked-over-performing-bunion-surgery-without-informed-consent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348419/orthopaedist-rebuked-over-performing-bunion-surgery-without-informed-consent?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:55:09 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren The cross-border outlicensing activities of Chinese biotech firms reached a record transaction value of US$60 billion in the first quarter of 2026, driven by multinational pharmaceutical companies’ growing appetite for the country’s promising drug candidates. The deal value represented a 73 per cent jump from the same period a year earlier, and accounted for nearly half of the total US$135.7 billion worth of agreements signed throughout 2025, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA)... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348295/china-biotech-deals-hit-record-innovative-drugs-draw-interest-multinationals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348295/china-biotech-deals-hit-record-innovative-drugs-draw-interest-multinationals?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 11:26:21 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang US biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences agreed to buy Ouro Medicines, which is developing an antibody-based medicine for autoimmune diseases licensed from China’s Keymed Biosciences, in a deal worth up to US$2.18 billion. Gilead Sciences is among a group of global drug makers facing patent expirations and turning to mergers, acquisitions and licensing deals to refill their drug pipelines. Under the agreement, Gilead Sciences would pay shareholders of US-based Ouro Medicines US$1.675 billion... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347693/rights-antibody-drug-chinas-keymed-change-hands-gilead-acquisition-ouro?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347693/rights-antibody-drug-chinas-keymed-change-hands-gilead-acquisition-ouro?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 07:51:07 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Our health is shaped by far more than what happens in a doctor’s office. Research estimates that as much as 80 to 90 per cent of health outcomes are influenced by factors outside medical care, including diet, physical activity and other everyday habits. Yet food, one of the most powerful drivers of health, is rarely treated as medicine. The concept of food as medicine is not new, says Dr Jaclyn Albin, an internist and director of the culinary medicine programme at UT Southwestern Medical Centre... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3347524/how-food-shapes-our-health-more-medicine-doctors-share-healthy-eating-tips?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3347524/how-food-shapes-our-health-more-medicine-doctors-share-healthy-eating-tips?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:15:09 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Tuen Mun Hospital has, for the first time in Hong Kong, used a non-invasive, MRI-guided ultrasound procedure to treat a Parkinson’s disease patient suffering from uncontrollable tremors, offering an alternative option for those affected by the condition. The hospital said it expected to provide the procedure to 40 patients within two years as part of further research into the new treatment. Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a non-invasive, incisionless procedure that uses... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347504/hong-kongs-first-mri-guided-ultrasound-offers-relief-parkinsons-tremors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347504/hong-kongs-first-mri-guided-ultrasound-offers-relief-parkinsons-tremors?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 23:30:37 +0000 Ritu Hemnani Ritu Hemnani Hong Kong women navigating menopause have often felt the need to “soldier on”, their hot flushes dismissed by others – and themselves – as stress, their mood swings blamed on “having teenagers” and their fatigue chalked up to ageing. But a new non-profit organisation aims to put a stop to that. The Hong Kong Menopause Society (THKMS), which will officially launch on March 28, aims to boost awareness and understanding of perimenopause and menopause issues, both for the women who have them and for... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3347116/how-new-hong-kong-menopause-support-group-aims-help-women-through-difficult-life-stage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3347116/how-new-hong-kong-menopause-support-group-aims-help-women-through-difficult-life-stage?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 07:15:09 +0000 Vasudevan Sridharan Vasudevan Sridharan Namita Joshi made a New Year’s resolution in January to tackle one of her long-standing problems: being overweight. A key part of her slimming journey is her weekly weight-loss injections. While the 29-year-old interior designer has made changes to her diet and increased her workouts, she said the medication has helped her lose up to 6kg (13 pounds) in the past two months. With her weight at 85kg before her treatment and height at 1.65 metres (5.4 feet), Joshi was considered obese. “My mental... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3347198/indias-weight-loss-price-war-begins-semaglutide-patent-expires?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3347198/indias-weight-loss-price-war-begins-semaglutide-patent-expires?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:19:15 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin Beijing’s global pharmaceutical push is following a playbook seen in rare earths, semiconductors and electric vehicles, US lawmakers said on Wednesday, as concerns grow over the United States’ reliance on Chinese drug ingredients. “China is cornering the market on our medicines – from the supply of generic drugs that Americans depend on every day, to the cutting-edge biotech pipeline that will determine who leads medicine in the years and decades ahead,” said John Moolenaar, the chair of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347087/fears-grow-over-us-drug-supplys-rising-dependence-chinese-ingredients?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347087/fears-grow-over-us-drug-supplys-rising-dependence-chinese-ingredients?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 21:33:43 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik Chinese scientists have engineered E coli bacteria into a novel cancer therapy that colonises tumours, produces an existing drug on-site and delivers it directly – reducing the toxic side effects of traditional chemotherapy. The research, performed on mice with breast cancer, paves the way for targeted cancer treatments in future, according to the scientists from Shandong University in Qingdao, eastern China. Escherichia coli (E coli) is a group of bacteria commonly found in the gut. While most... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346974/chinese-scientists-use-e-coli-fight-breast-tumours-within-mice-study?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346974/chinese-scientists-use-e-coli-fight-breast-tumours-within-mice-study?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 06:00:25 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Lawmakers in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday rejected legislation that would have made Scotland the first part of the United Kingdom to allow terminally ill adults to end their lives. Members of the Edinburgh-based legislature voted 69 to 57 against a bill that would have let people in Scotland with six months or less to live seek help to end their life. There was one abstention. It came after an emotional debate that lasted around three hours and saw lawmakers tear up and applaud as they... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3346944/scottish-lawmakers-reject-bill-let-terminally-ill-people-end-their-lives?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3346944/scottish-lawmakers-reject-bill-let-terminally-ill-people-end-their-lives?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 23:03:42 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Self-regulation by a profession serving the public is fine, so long as it truly serves the public interest in practice. Otherwise it risks undermining public confidence. A case in point is the Medical Council of Hong Kong’s handling of public complaints. The Ombudsman has criticised its lengthy process, highlighting 11 cases that remained unresolved after more than a decade. The council is mostly made up of doctors. One case that caused a public outcry, an alleged medical blunder that left a boy... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3346870/medical-council-reform-must-prioritise-public-interest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3346870/medical-council-reform-must-prioritise-public-interest?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu This series is based on our reporting on TCM: its history, treatments and growing acceptance around the world. This is the eighth instalment. For decades, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has often been viewed as a fragmented collection of folk remedies, overshadowed by Western clinical models and dismissed as purely anecdotal. But as luxury wellness centres in Hong Kong blend traditional methods with modern science – drawing interest from Western-trained doctors and hospitality leaders alike... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3346451/how-luxury-traditional-chinese-medicine-treatments-are-finding-more-fans-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3346451/how-luxury-traditional-chinese-medicine-treatments-are-finding-more-fans-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 03:15:07 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Mayra Hurtado knows the struggles of perimenopause first-hand. “My weight fluctuated so much, I had migraines and I literally saw every doctor,” she recalls. It was only after she visited a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinic in Singapore that she slowly recovered from her migraines. Inspired by the holistic approach of TCM, the Mexico-born, Singapore-based entrepreneur realised that there are healthcare pathways beyond conventional medicine. “We have that kind of traditional medicine... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3346296/how-new-home-tests-let-women-gain-insights-their-reproductive-health?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3346296/how-new-home-tests-let-women-gain-insights-their-reproductive-health?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 04:15:08 +0000 dpa dpa Taking a daily multivitamin may slow down biological ageing, a study has suggested. Experts calculate that taking daily vitamins for two years cuts biological ageing by about four months on average. Biological ageing refers to how old the body is in terms of health and function rather than the number of years a person has lived. Previous studies on the use of multivitamins and health have given mixed results, with one large study in 2024 showing no benefit when it comes to preventing early death... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3346446/multivitamin-day-could-slow-biological-ageing-especially-those-unhealthy-diets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3346446/multivitamin-day-could-slow-biological-ageing-especially-those-unhealthy-diets?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 23:15:06 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang In a landmark development, Neuracle Medical Technology has secured the country’s first-ever approval for an implantable brain-computer interface (BCI) system designed to restore hand motor function in patients with spinal cord injuries, in a regulatory milestone that underscores China’s accelerating push in neurotechnology. China’s BCI start-ups, seen as potential rivals to Elon Musk’s Neuralink, are gaining momentum as regulatory support and fresh capital fuel growth. Shares of BCI companies... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3346495/first-china-neuracles-implantable-brain-computer-interface-wins-approval?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3346495/first-china-neuracles-implantable-brain-computer-interface-wins-approval?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 09:30:13 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse An Iran-linked hacking group claimed responsibility Wednesday for a cyberattack on US medical technology giant Stryker, saying it had extracted 50 terabytes of data in retaliation for military strikes on Iran. “Our major cyber operation has been executed with complete success,” Handala said in a statement. It described the hack as retribution for what it called “the brutal attack on the Minab school” in Iran, where authorities said more than 150 people were killed, and for “ongoing cyber... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346277/iran-group-hacks-us-medical-firm-retaliation-strike-girls-school?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346277/iran-group-hacks-us-medical-firm-retaliation-strike-girls-school?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 21:45:11 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 84th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. I did not recognise the signs of dementia developing in mum – the changes in her walking, her frequent need to urinate, her difficulty in swallowing – until quite late. Looking back, I see how they developed one after another. Nearly 80 per cent of all dementias are caused by Alzheimer’s disease. The hallmark of this is the abnormal deposit of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3345912/dementia-can-be-hard-spot-signs-pay-attention-trouble-eating-fitful-sleep?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3345912/dementia-can-be-hard-spot-signs-pay-attention-trouble-eating-fitful-sleep?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 04:15:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong is well served by its two traditional medical schools. A third school taking shape at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology will add an innovative dimension to healthcare as well as a welcome boost to the supply of doctors. An emphasis on biotechnology and research, and the school’s ultimate location in the Northern Metropolis, near the Shenzhen tech hub, will foster partnerships and collaboration with the rest of the Greater Bay Area. The first intake of 50 students at... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345719/medical-schools-biotech-focus-will-boost-hong-kongs-innovation-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345719/medical-schools-biotech-focus-will-boost-hong-kongs-innovation-push?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 22:45:14 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Megan Worthy still recalls singing in a choir in the Australian capital, Canberra, as she was growing up. Now, as a rare form of early-onset dementia chips away at her vision and other brain functions, the 58-year-old is transported back to her musical youth as she and her daughter, Bronte, sing together with other people with neurological conditions in an Amsterdam concert hall, the Concertgebouw. “It’s pretty brutal,” Worthy said of her rare neurological condition. “I’m starting to lose... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3345892/singing-circle-amsterdam-offers-benefits-dementia-patients?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3345892/singing-circle-amsterdam-offers-benefits-dementia-patients?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 12:07:17 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee China has for the first time included commercial health insurance in its 2026 government work report, signalling efforts to strengthen the country’s social safety net and support the growth of innovative drugs and medical devices. On Thursday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said the government would “work faster to develop commercial health insurance” and promote the “high-quality development of innovative drugs and medical devices” to better meet people’s diverse needs. Behind the unusual emphasis... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345717/china-pursue-commercial-health-insurance-ease-public-strain-support-drug-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345717/china-pursue-commercial-health-insurance-ease-public-strain-support-drug-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 10:12:46 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong has launched its first action plan on weight management, aiming to reduce the proportion of people who are overweight or obese to less than half the population in three years from the current 51.3 per cent of adults. On Wednesday, World Obesity Day, the Department of Health announced more than 40 measures, ranging from installing more weighing scales in government venues to exploring the inclusion of novel weight-loss injections in the drug formulary, in a bid to reverse the rising... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345436/hong-kong-launches-3-year-action-plan-help-residents-fight-flab?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345436/hong-kong-launches-3-year-action-plan-help-residents-fight-flab?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:48:43 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Social media is filled with influencers rating electrolyte supplements or even telling followers how to make their own. But experts say many of the claims about the health benefits of these drinks need to be taken with a pinch of salt. Electrolytes are electrically charged substances that help regulate chemical reactions in the body. In the context of hydration, they balance fluid levels inside and outside cells, says Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic in the US state... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3345208/why-electrolyte-drinks-gatorade-and-pocari-sweat-arent-always-beneficial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3345208/why-electrolyte-drinks-gatorade-and-pocari-sweat-arent-always-beneficial?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:15:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press With hundreds of millions of people turning to chatbots for advice, it was only a matter of time before tech companies began offering programs specifically designed to answer health questions. In January, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Health, a new version of its chatbot that the company says can analyse users’ medical records, wellness apps and wearable device data to answer health and medical questions. Currently, there is a waiting list for the program. Anthropic, a rival AI company, offers... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3345364/should-you-ask-ai-chatbot-about-your-health-5-things-know-you-start-sharing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3345364/should-you-ask-ai-chatbot-about-your-health-5-things-know-you-start-sharing?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 07:15:08 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu About 20 per cent of the 50 places in the inaugural intake of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s (HKUST) new graduate medical school in 2028-29 may be reserved for non-local students, with most expected to come from mainland China, according to the institution. Applicants for the four-year graduate entry-level medicine programme must pass an international admission test, with the university preferring those with a background in biotechnology. According to HKUST, the tuition fee... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345170/hkust-may-reserve-20-new-medical-school-inaugural-intake-non-locals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345170/hkust-may-reserve-20-new-medical-school-inaugural-intake-non-locals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 12:33:23 +0000 Vincent Chow,Dannie Peng Vincent Chow,Dannie Peng Chinese companies are leading the way in personalised medicine, the development of healthcare treatments tailored for individual patients. MGI Tech last year unveiled the world’s fastest gene sequencing machine, while BGI Genomics has become the world’s biggest generator of data about human genes. Chinese biomedicine companies also have a world-leading pipeline of novel targeted therapies used in personalised or precision medicine (see previous China Future Tech). New technology, including... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/science/article/3345088/china-ai-boosts-cancer-screening-rare-disease-diagnosis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/science/article/3345088/china-ai-boosts-cancer-screening-rare-disease-diagnosis?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 05:00:08 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Hong Kong-listed mainland Chinese pharmaceutical companies are on track to deliver full-year profits, as surging drug sales and lucrative out-licensing deals with global partners start to pay off after years of research and development outlay. “Despite domestic challenges, particularly drug pricing pressure, the earnings performance of innovative drugs should still fare well in China in 2025,” said Tony Ren, head of Asia Healthcare Research at Macquarie Capital. Innovent Biologics, the first... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3344928/hong-kong-listed-chinese-drug-firms-set-turn-corner-rising-sales-licensing-deals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3344928/hong-kong-listed-chinese-drug-firms-set-turn-corner-rising-sales-licensing-deals?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 04:00:22 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung This series is based on our reporting on TCM: its history, treatments and growing acceptance around the world. This is the seventh instalment. In the world of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), few remedies carry the legendary status – or the hefty price tag – of Angong Niuhuang Wan, often referred to as the “miracle pill”. The old formula, consisting of 11 herbs and minerals, has long been revered as a top-grade emergency medicine, historically used to treat those who have had a stroke or may... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344680/how-tcms-miracle-pill-used-treat-strokes-experts-urge-caution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344680/how-tcms-miracle-pill-used-treat-strokes-experts-urge-caution?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse To all the women who have heard the frustrating “it’s all in your head” in response to medical maladies, a new study feels your pain. Research published in the journal Science Immunology shows that women actually do experience exacerbated chronic pain compared to men – a gap that can be explained by biological differences in the immune system. “The pain of women has been overlooked in clinical practice, with the idea that it’s more in the mind, or that it’s because women are softer and more... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344845/chronic-pain-lasts-longer-women-men-study-finds-and-reason-biological?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344845/chronic-pain-lasts-longer-women-men-study-finds-and-reason-biological?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 23:15:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Lori Sepich smoked for years and sometimes skipped taking her blood pressure medicine. But she never thought she would have a heart attack. The possibility “just wasn’t registering with me”, says the 64-year-old from Memphis, in the US state of Tennessee, who suffered two heart attacks 13 years apart. She is far from alone. More than 60 million women in the United States – and an estimated 275 million to 300 million women globally – live with cardiovascular disease, which includes heart disease... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344561/womens-heart-attack-symptoms-and-risk-factors-differ-mens-what-they-are?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344561/womens-heart-attack-symptoms-and-risk-factors-differ-mens-what-they-are?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 09:15:12 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung Mui Thomas is, by any measure, a remarkable woman. Now 33, she is believed to be the world’s fourth-oldest survivor of Harlequin ichthyosis. This extremely rare genetic disorder causes the body to be covered with thick plates of skin – a condition so severe that when Mui was born in Hong Kong in 1992, it was considered universally fatal. She has survived medical emergencies that would have killed lesser fighters. Despite her ongoing health struggles, she has become a rugby coach, a certified... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344406/parents-hong-kongs-girl-behind-face-share-their-story-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344406/parents-hong-kongs-girl-behind-face-share-their-story-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 03:00:10 +0000 Lily Canter Lily Canter When teaching assistant Kavita Biswas first asked for a wheelchair at the airport, she was struggling to walk even short distances. It was a world away from her active life practising yoga and dance alongside her full-time job in a Hong Kong school. Suddenly, in her mid-forties, she found herself relying on a cane and, at times, a walking frame. Knee pain had steadily taken over her life, reshaping her days and narrowing her sense of what might still be possible. The pain began around four years... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344133/how-exercise-helped-mother-tackle-serious-knee-pain-and-return-cane-free-walking?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344133/how-exercise-helped-mother-tackle-serious-knee-pain-and-return-cane-free-walking?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 23:15:11 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Anyone who has used an induction cooker is halfway to understanding Mayo Clinic’s new experimental approach to killing cancer cells. The health system, based in the US state of Minnesota, announced that it is the first in the US to test Israeli technology that targets solid tumours with fast-rising heat in a process it calls hyperthermia. “Temperature is the Achilles’ heel of cancer,” says Dr Scott Lester, the Mayo radiation oncologist leading a clinical trial to see if the technology is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344103/how-magnetic-heating-technology-could-be-new-cancer-fighting-weapon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344103/how-magnetic-heating-technology-could-be-new-cancer-fighting-weapon?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 11:15:08 +0000 dpa dpa The world is a significant step closer to a universal vaccine for cold, flu, Covid and allergies, scientists believe. Experts at Stanford Medicine ⁠in the US have developed a universal ⁠vaccine that could be given as a nasal spray and ⁠could protect against a wide range of respiratory viruses, bacteria and allergy triggers. Although the study, published in the journal Science, was in mice, they said the vaccine offered broad protection in the lungs for several months. Vaccinated mice were... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3344056/scientists-test-universal-vaccine-cold-flu-covid-and-allergies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3344056/scientists-test-universal-vaccine-cold-flu-covid-and-allergies?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 23:46:26 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Japan’s health ministry panel on Thursday approved the commercialisation of two regenerative medicine products prepared from iPS cells, the first of their kind in the world. The two drugs, ReHeart developed by Cuorips, a start-up originating from the University of Osaka, and Amchepry by Sumitomo Pharma and Racthera, will be used for patients with severe heart failure stemming from ischemic cardiomyopathy and Parkinson’s disease, respectively. “I am very happy to see the first big step towards... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3344036/japan-approves-worlds-first-regenerative-medicines-using-ips-cells?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3344036/japan-approves-worlds-first-regenerative-medicines-using-ips-cells?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 13:31:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Colorectal cancer is now the top cancer killer of Americans younger than 50, highlighting that it is a threat not just to older adults, but increasingly to young men and women, too. The deaths of Dawson’s Creek actor James Van Der Beek at 48 this week, and Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman a few years ago at 43, highlight the risk for younger adults. “We’re now starting to see more and more people in the 20-, 30- and 40-year-old range developing colon cancer. At the beginning of my career,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343679/after-james-van-der-beeks-death-how-colorectal-cancer-killing-more-under-50s?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343679/after-james-van-der-beeks-death-how-colorectal-cancer-killing-more-under-50s?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 07:15:07 +0000 Rachel Chan Rachel Chan Hong Kong stands at a definitive demographic crossroads. With one-third of our population projected to be over 65 by the 2040s, the city can either treat ageing as a fiscal burden or it can transform longevity into a sustainable growth engine. Drawing inspiration from Andrew Scott and Lynda Gratton’s work on the 100-Year Life project, Hong Kong should boldly embrace longevity as a new development frontier. By leveraging our unique strengths in finance, world-class regulatory frameworks and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3343200/hong-kong-should-see-silver-economy-golden-opportunity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3343200/hong-kong-should-see-silver-economy-golden-opportunity?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 21:30:10 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu A drug for diabetes-related kidney disease could be repurposed to restore fertility for women affected by premature ovarian insufficiency, a largely untreatable condition, according to a study by Hong Kong researchers. The study, conducted by experts at the faculty of medicine at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), found that finerenone – a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes-related chronic kidney disease – could be used to awaken dormant small follicles in women and promote the development of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342937/repurposed-kidney-drug-may-offer-hope-infertile-women-hong-kong-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342937/repurposed-kidney-drug-may-offer-hope-infertile-women-hong-kong-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 10:18:51 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan The increasing flow of foreign travellers to China in recent years has been given a shot in the arm with many people coming to the country to seek medical treatment. The trend has attracted attention online recently after overseas bloggers shared their experiences of visiting Chinese hospitals. A prominent case involved a British woman called Amie who told of her trip to China in December, to treat her long-standing stomach problem. She said she could not see a doctor because of long waiting... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3342338/foreigners-flock-china-affordable-medical-treatment-drawn-free-visa-policy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3342338/foreigners-flock-china-affordable-medical-treatment-drawn-free-visa-policy?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 10:00:09 +0000 Dicky Chow,Dorothy Yeung Dicky Chow,Dorothy Yeung Hong Kong introduced a public hospital fee overhaul at the start of the year in response to long-standing pressures from an ageing population, rising chronic diseases and growing expenditure. Early data from the Hospital Authority suggests the fee increases are having an effect. From January 1-18, semi-urgent and non-urgent cases at accident and emergency (A&E) departments fell by 21.3 per cent year on year, while critical and emergency cases rose slightly, by 7.7 per cent. This indicates... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3342286/fee-hikes-are-only-half-equation-if-hong-kong-health-reform-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3342286/fee-hikes-are-only-half-equation-if-hong-kong-health-reform-work?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong authorities have proposed requiring the Medical Council to set a time frame for handling complaints, following a public backlash over a 15-year delay to an inquiry into an alleged medical blunder that left a child permanently disabled. The Health Bureau on Friday also proposed reforming the composition of the watchdog, bringing in doctors with more diverse backgrounds and qualifications, and increasing the proportion of lay members, who only accounted for eight of the 32-strong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342725/medical-council-set-time-frame-sorting-complaints-under-proposed-shake?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342725/medical-council-set-time-frame-sorting-complaints-under-proposed-shake?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 14:46:46 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Patients with advanced lung cancer who receive a certain therapy earlier in the day survive longer, a study has found, with a Hong Kong medical expert saying the discovery opens possibilities for optimal treatment times, although more research is needed. The study was led by academics from Hunan Cancer Hospital in mainland China and supported by the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s faculty of medicine. The research showed that immunochemotherapy administered before 3pm nearly doubled the length... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342699/patients-given-more-hope-study-finds-best-time-lung-cancer-treatment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342699/patients-given-more-hope-study-finds-best-time-lung-cancer-treatment?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 11:40:33 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse US President Donald Trump on Thursday unveiled a self-branded “TrumpRx” website allowing consumers to buy discounted drugs such as weight-loss and infertility treatments directly from companies. The move is part of Trump’s drive to tackle voter anger over the cost of living ahead of midterm elections in November, in which his Republicans risk losing control of Congress. “Starting tonight, dozens of the most commonly used prescription drugs will be available at dramatic discounts for all... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3342568/trump-unveil-trumprx-website-people-buy-discounted-prescription-drugs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3342568/trump-unveil-trumprx-website-people-buy-discounted-prescription-drugs?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:18:15 +0000 Sasha Gonzales Sasha Gonzales Before her mastectomy, Christine Cosby joined a pilot prehabilitation programme designed for newly diagnosed cancer patients before starting treatment. She focused on building her fitness and upper-body strength with one goal in mind: a faster recovery. For the resident of Toronto, Canada, the physical work was a welcome distraction from “the coming scariness” of surgery. Cosby, a part-time artist and accountant, was one of 25 people that the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Kinesiology and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3342230/what-cancer-prehabilitation-how-patients-are-getting-head-start-recovery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3342230/what-cancer-prehabilitation-how-patients-are-getting-head-start-recovery?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 04:45:37 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Scientists have identified 22 genes that increase the risk of conditions such as lupus, stroke and rheumatoid arthritis in patients who have caught the virus behind mono, an illness known as the “kissing disease”. The research, published in the journal Nature, tried to unravel why some people who contract the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) go on to experience other medical conditions later in life. The hope is that by understanding who is most at risk, scientists might be able to better target... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3342227/how-mono-or-kissing-disease-may-increase-your-risk-other-illnesses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3342227/how-mono-or-kissing-disease-may-increase-your-risk-other-illnesses?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:15:37 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The use of weight-loss drugs has transformed the treatment of obesity, a chronic disease so prevalent globally it has been described as an epidemic. Injections that suppress appetite have changed the lives of millions. The new drugs were endorsed conditionally by the World Health Organization in December and are seen as a powerful clinical tool offering hope. But the injections come with health risks and common side effects. It is essential that they are only taken under medical supervision.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3341827/properly-supervised-weight-loss-drugs-have-place-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3341827/properly-supervised-weight-loss-drugs-have-place-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Feb 2026 22:45:09 +0000 Leopold Chen,Fiona Sun Leopold Chen,Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s health minister is seeking to amend legislation to reform and speed up the complaint system of a medical watchdog, but has warned against “arbitrarily” adding more non-professionals to the body. Lo Chung-mau said on Saturday that the Health Bureau would table an amendment to the Medical Registration Ordinance at a meeting of the Legislative Council’s health services panel in February, with the aim of implementing the new measures in April. The amendment would review the Medical... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341933/hong-kong-health-chief-seeks-speed-medical-councils-complaint-handling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341933/hong-kong-health-chief-seeks-speed-medical-councils-complaint-handling?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 06:38:21 +0000 Lily Canter Lily Canter While planning to run an ultra-marathon along the historic Silk Road, Ria Xi was alarmed when AI warned her about taking NSAIDs – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – while ultra-running. She jumped onto Instagram to tell her 38,000 followers “do not take NSAIDs” when running long distances because of the impact they can have on blood flow to the kidneys. Beijing-born Xi was prompted to make the “public service announcement” after she had previously been told, while seeking treatment for knee... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341642/why-nsaids-ibuprofen-and-naproxen-might-be-bad-news-long-distance-runners?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341642/why-nsaids-ibuprofen-and-naproxen-might-be-bad-news-long-distance-runners?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 23:15:07 +0000