Media OutReach
Rising Healthcare Costs and Chronic Health Risks Highlight Need for Preventive Care, Alpro Introduces CarePass
New RM99 annual healthcare pass offers Malaysians access to preventive health services worth over RM600, encouraging earlier health monitoring and intervention
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 May 2026 – As healthcare costs continue to rise and chronic health risks become more prevalent, many Malaysians are still delaying essential healthcare, not because they are unaware of its importance, but because access, affordability and convenience remain key barriers.
According to the Ministry of Health Malaysia, out-of-pocket expenses accounted for 37% of total healthcare funding in 2022, making it one of the largest sources of healthcare financing in the country. Meanwhile, findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023 showed that 12.9% of Malaysians avoided seeking medical treatment due to financial constraints.
This is especially concerning as Malaysia continues to face a growing burden of chronic health conditions. Previous national findings have shown that one in five Malaysian adults are living with diabetes, reinforcing the importance of early detection, regular screening and consistent health monitoring.
While Malaysians are increasingly encouraged to take charge of their health earlier, proactive health monitoring often comes with additional upfront costs. Individuals who choose to screen early and more comprehensively may end up paying more simply because they are trying to prevent health issues before they happen.
Together, these trends highlight a widening gap in preventive healthcare. While services such as blood screening, vaccination, vision checks, hearing assessments and physiotherapy support are available, many individuals may not prioritise them until symptoms appear or conditions become more serious.
In response, Alpro Health, the corporate wellness arm of Alpro Group that supports organisations and communities in improving health and well-being, has introduced CarePass, an annual healthcare pass designed to simplify access to essential preventive healthcare services and encourage Malaysians to take a more proactive approach to managing their health.
Priced at RM99 per year, CarePass gives users access to a comprehensive range of preventive healthcare services worth over RM600, including a complete essential blood screening package, flu vaccination, eye screening for glaucoma risk with optometrist review and eye health supplement for daily eye health support, comprehensive hearing test with audiologist consultation, physiotherapy neck and back relief therapy, unlimited online doctor consultation, personal accident protection coverage, and basic dental screening and oral health advice, which will be introduced soon.
By consolidating multiple healthcare services into one annual pass, CarePass aims to reduce the cumulative cost of preventive care by up to 80%, while making health monitoring more structured, accessible, and convenient for individuals and families. More importantly, the initiative is designed to provide Malaysians with a stronger reason to take action earlier, before minor health concerns develop into more complex conditions.
“At the ground level, we often see patients seeking care only after their conditions have progressed,” said Then Ru Luen, Founder of CarePass and Director of Alpro Health. “Many of these situations could have been managed earlier with timely screening, monitoring and professional advice. The challenge today is not only awareness, but accessibility, affordability and having a meaningful push for people to take the first step. CarePass was created to make preventive care easier, more comprehensive and more valuable, so more Malaysians can take action before health problems become more serious.”
The initiative is supported by Alpro Group’s integrated healthcare ecosystem, which brings together services across Alpro Pharmacy, Alpro Clinic, Alpro Physio, Alpro Audiologi and Alpro OptiSaver. Through this connected network, CarePass users are able to access multidisciplinary healthcare support in a more convenient and coordinated manner.
CarePass is designed for individuals and families who want a more affordable and structured way to monitor their health, especially those who may otherwise delay screenings, consultations or early interventions due to cost, time or complexity.
The service is now available at Alpro Pharmacy outlets nationwide and can be activated via the Alpro App. More information is available on https://carepass.com.my/
As Malaysia continues to face increasing healthcare demands, improving access to preventive care will play a vital role in encouraging earlier intervention, reducing long-term health risks, and supporting better health outcomes for the community.
Hashtag: #Alpro
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Alpro Group
Founded in 2002, Alpro Group’s ecosystem has grown to include Alpro Pharmacy, Apotek Alpro, Alpro スギ (Sugi) Pharmacy, Alpro Physio, Alpro Clinic, Alpro Baby, Alpro OptiSaver, Alpro Audiology, and Alpro Health. Supported by a team of more than 1,000 healthcare professionals, including doctors, pharmacists, nutritionists, dietitians, physiotherapists, optometrist and many others, Alpro serves over 5 million families in Malaysia and Indonesia through its extensive network of 500 physical outlets.
Alpro Pharmacy is the first and only community pharmacy in the region to offer product liability insurance of MYR 1 million in Malaysia and IDR 3 billion in Indonesia, ensuring the supply of genuine medications and enhancing consumer trust.
With the vision of a healthy and vibrant world, Alpro Group aims to become the No. 1 prescription pharmacy chain in Southeast Asia.
Media OutReach
Franklin Templeton and DigiFT Advance Institutional Tokenization Through Strategic BENJI Partnership
The collaboration is grounded in a shared early commitment to institutional tokenization. Franklin Templeton launched the first U.S.-registered mutual fund to use a public blockchain to process transactions and record share ownership in 2021. DigiFT has built one of Asia’s most comprehensively regulated platforms for institutional tokenized asset distribution — holding licences in both Singapore and Hong Kong, including Type 1 and Type 4 licences from the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong. This partnership brings those two track records together: DigiFT will serve as a key distributor across Asia, with both organisations committed to expanding the scope of their work together over time.
The partnership arrives at a decisive moment. In 2025, tokenized real-world assets distributed on public blockchains grew from approximately USD 5.5 billion to USD 18.6 billion, with tokenized U.S. government securities emerging as the leading institutional category. This growth underscores a structural inefficiency in digital markets, where institutional capital is frequently held in non‑yielding stablecoins or on‑exchange balances, while traditional fund infrastructure remains constrained by defined settlement cycles. The Benji Technology Platform and its related tokenization products are designed to address this gap by supporting the tokenization of U.S. government securities strategies that accrue yield continuously, including intraday accrual, through Franklin Templeton’s patent‑pending Intraday Yield mechanism. It also supports 24/7 transferability between permissioned wallets and near‑instant on‑chain settlement, enabling a range of potential institutional treasury management, payment and settlement use cases, and deployable off‑exchange collateral for institutional market participants.
Henry Zhang, Founder and Group CEO of DigiFT, said: “DigiFT was built with a specific conviction: that institutional investors deserve access to the world’s best on-chain financial instruments, through a platform that meets the regulatory standard they require. The partnership with Franklin Templeton reflects that conviction and marks the beginning of a long-term strategic collaboration to bring tokenized solutions to market.”
Chetan Karkhanis, SVP, Digital Asset Partnership Development at Franklin Templeton, said: “The partners we choose reflect our long-term commitment, not just our near-term distribution objectives towards bringing the benefits of blockchain and tokenization to the industry. DigiFT’s leadership and innovative edge, together with the institutional infrastructure they have built, provides a strong foundation for this partnership. This marks the beginning of what we expect to be an expanding and enduring collaboration.”
Hashtag: #DigiFT
https://www.digift.io/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/digifttech/
https://twitter.com/DigiFTTech
https://www.youtube.com/@DigiFTtech
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
In this role, Hirai will lead Aon’s business in Japan, with responsibility for setting and executing the firm’s strategy, driving sustainable growth and ensuring excellence in client service delivery. He will report to Qin Lu, head of North Asia, and will join the North Asia leadership team.
“Max brings deep market insight, strong leadership capability and a clear focus on clients,” said Lu. “His global business experience and collaborative leadership style position him well to build on our strong momentum in Japan and advance our Aon United strategy — helping clients and colleagues navigate an increasingly complex risk environment.”
With more than 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, Hirai brings extensive local and international leadership expertise. He has built his career at Tokio Marine, in Japan before serving in senior leadership roles across South America, North America and Asia. He currently serves as CEO, Asia Region for Tokio Marine, leading the firm’s Life and Non‑Life businesses across Southeast Asia and India.
Hirai is a well‑respected senior leader, with a strong track record of leading large, multi‑market insurance operations through growth and transformation. He is known for building high‑performing, collaborative teams and for his disciplined approach to strategy, execution and financial performance. His deep understanding of the Japan market and client‑focused leadership style will support Aon’s continued growth in Japan.
“I’m honoured to take on this role at an exciting time for the Japan market, where there is significant opportunity ahead,” said Hirai. “I have long respected Aon’s strong position and contributions to clients in Japan and look forward to working closely with colleagues to further strengthen our business in the market.”
Hirai succeeds Tatsuya Yamamoto, who will work closely with him in an advisory capacity to support a smooth leadership transition.
More information about Aon in Japan can be found here.
*Subject to completion of regulatory formalities, where required.
Hashtag: #Aon
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that help protect and grow their businesses.
Follow Aon on newsroom and sign up for news alerts here.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this document is solely for information purposes, for general guidance only and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although Aon endeavours to provide accurate and timely information and uses sources that it considers reliable, the firm does not warrant, represent or guarantee the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or fitness for any purpose of any content of this document and can accept no liability for any loss incurred in any way by any person who may rely on it. There can be no guarantee that the information contained in this document will remain accurate as on the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No individual or entity should make decisions or act based solely on the information contained herein without appropriate professional advice and targeted research.
Media OutReach
Trump’s Beijing Welcome Banquet: Hisense Joins Top U.S. Tech Enterprises at Elite Table to Sustain Technological Leadership
The high-end roundtable establishes a premium communication channel bridging Chinese manufacturing and U.S. hard technology. While U.S. representatives cover artificial intelligence, advanced semiconductors and new energy vehicles, Hisense represents China’s sophisticated technology manufacturing with a multi-dimensional technological layout. Shattering the long-standing stereotype of a conventional home appliance maker, the company has built inimitable technological barriers in high-end display and smart home sectors, maintaining sustained technological iteration and undisputed global technological advantages in 2026.
Empowered by its end-to-end industrial chain capability, Hisense occupies an apex position in the global display industry. The company’s self-developed RGB-Mini LED technology achieves comprehensive leadership in R&D, mass production and technological iteration. Equipped with the pioneering Linglong 4-Core True Colour Backlight system and independently developed Hi-View AI image processing chip, Hisense’s 2026 latest UX series features 110% BT.2020 ultra-wide colour gamut, 10,000 nits peak brightness and 134-bit high-precision colour control, reproducing over 120 million distinct colours. With these innovations, Hisense now has a one-year technological head start over its competitors, enabling the enterprise to set industrial benchmarks and secure rule-making authority within the global display ecosystem.
Hisense remains an undisputed global pioneer in laser display technology, holding full independent intellectual property rights covering laser light sources, optical modules and terminal devices. Continuous investment in underlying optical research enables superior imaging performance with ultra-high contrast, eye-friendly visual comfort and wide colour gamut. The persistent technological edge reinforces Hisense’s dominant market share in the global laser TV industry, consolidating its status as an indispensable Chinese technological powerhouse in the high-end display landscape.
Beyond display technologies, Hisense expands its technological frontier in premium smart home appliances. The self-developed heat pump washing machine adopts an innovative four-in-one integrated heat pump structure, delivering low-temperature fabric-friendly washing and drying while significantly cutting energy consumption. As an original global energy-saving home appliance solution, it embodies Hisense’s green manufacturing philosophy and diversified R&D strength beyond display technology.
During the banquet, Jia Shaoqian engaged in in-depth dialogues with international tech elites regarding technological innovation, transnational industrial collaboration and eco-friendly intelligent manufacturing. The high-level face-to-face communication enhances mutual trust and cooperation potential between Chinese and U.S. technology enterprises. Adhering to a globalised development strategy, Hisense maintains steady overseas revenue and robust independent brand influence, with its technology-oriented products widely recognised across mainstream international markets.
The prestigious seating arrangement serves as compelling proof of global recognition for China’s high-end manufacturing industry. As a leading Chinese tech enterprise, Hisense has obtained equal diplomatic-level dialogue status within the world’s top technological circle. Moving forward, Hisense will consistently invest in independent R&D, continuously iterate RGB-Mini LED, laser display and heat pump appliance technologies, and actively explore global industrial cooperation. Committed to technological empowerment, Hisense will further strengthen the global influence and industrial voice of Chinese high-end manufacturing.
Visit hisense.sg to learn more about Hisense’s innovative products available now in Singapore.
Disclaimer: This article is an objective industrial observation without exaggerated promotional statements. All technical parameters are sourced from Hisense’s official 2026 product releases.
Hashtag: #Hisense
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Hisense
Founded in 1969, Hisense is a global technology group operating in 160+ countries, with a strong portfolio across TVs, home appliances, air-conditioning and commercial solutions. Recognised as one of the Top 2 TV brands worldwide, Hisense continues to strengthen its global presence through innovation, quality manufacturing and major international partnerships, including its role as an Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026™
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