Media OutReach
1 in 4 Malaysians at Risk: Alpro Pharmacy Leads National Movement to Reverse Prediabetes
In response to this urgent need, Alpro Pharmacy has launched the ASAP Programme (Alpro Stand Against Prediabetes) a nationwide health campaign that began in April 2025. This initiative is designed to raise early awareness, promote timely screening, and provide accessible, professional care to help Malaysians reverse prediabetes before it becomes a lifelong condition.
As part of this commitment, Alpro is offering 10,000 free HbA1c tests to high-risk individuals across more than 300 Alpro touchpoints nationwide, from April through June 2025.
With a focus on those with a family history of diabetes and those at higher risk due to age or weight, the ASAP Programme empowers individuals to take proactive steps towards better health. Through early detection and pharmacist-led counseling, nutrition guidance, and lifestyle modifications, participants can potentially reverse their condition.
Beyond individual action, the programme also reinforces the vital role that primary care providers—including community pharmacists, community nutritionists and dietitians, and general practitioners—play in delivering preventive healthcare directly to the public. By bringing early intervention into the heart of the community, the programme ensures that help is accessible, timely, and coordinated.
This national effort is made possible through a strong multidisciplinary collaboration between Alpro Pharmacy, Merck Sdn. Bhd., University of Malaya, Yuwell Malaysia, Ethos Healthcare, and Powerlife Malaysia. United by a shared vision for preventive healthcare, these partners bring together medical innovation, digital health tools, academic research, and nutritional science to combat one of Malaysia’s most pressing chronic health challenges. “Prediabetes is not a life sentence—it’s a second chance,” said Ph. Lim En Ni, Chief Pharmacist and Engagement Director of Alpro Pharmacy. “Through the ASAP Programme, we’re reaching people before diabetes does—offering them the tests, intervention, and ongoing support they need to make lasting changes. Our aim is to stop diabetes before it starts.”
For Merck Sdn. Bhd., the programme aligns with its commitment to early intervention in chronic disease.“The ASAP Programme puts prevention into action—on the ground, led by pharmacists,” said Ms. Pixie Yee, Managing Director of Merck Malaysia and General Manager of Merck Healthcare Malaysia and Singapore. “It’s meaningful because it reaches people before complications begin. As healthcare leaders, we must shift the focus from delayed treatment to early empowerment.”
A core component of the campaign is a research collaboration with the University of Malaya to evaluate the impact of pharmacist-led interventions in identifying and managing prediabetes. The study explores how HbA1c screening, paired with pharmacological and lifestyle guidance, can delay or even prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. Findings are expected to help shape future national healthcare strategies and support the standardisation of pharmacy-based chronic disease prevention in Malaysia. “This campaign is more than awareness—it’s a chance to validate the impact of pharmacists in chronic disease prevention,” said Professor Dr. Hasniza, Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Malaya.
The ASAP Programme aims to amplify a clear and urgent public health message: prediabetes is reversible, early action matters, and no one should wait for symptoms before seeking help. With professional support and free screening made easily available across the country, this campaign proves that diabetes can be stopped—before it starts.
Malaysians are encouraged to participate by visiting any Alpro Pharmacy outlet during the campaign period. For full campaign details, eligibility information, and outlet locations, please visit: https://bit.ly/AlproASAP
Let’s act ASAP — because the best way to fight diabetes is to stop it before it starts.
Hashtag: #alpro
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Alpro Pharmacy
With a humble beginning starting with a single pharmacy outlet in the small town of Port Dickson in 2002, Alpro Pharmacy is now a diversified community chain pharmacy that provides comprehensive primary healthcare solutions via over 300 outlets including Alpro Pharmacy, Alpro Clinic, Alpro Physio and Alpro Baby, both online and offline, nationwide. It is supported by a team of more than 650 healthcare professionals, ranging from doctors, pharmacists, nutritionists, dietitians to physiotherapists and many other healthcare professionals.
Serving more than 3 million families in Malaysia, Alpro Pharmacy is the first and only community pharmacy in the country to provide RM1 million product liability insurance to safeguard the supply of genuine medications. With over 500,000 prescriptions filled per year, Alpro Pharmacy is also the largest prescription pharmacy chain in Malaysia.
For more information, please visit 
https://www.alpropharmacy.com .
Media OutReach
New Documentary A MONA LISA OBSESSION from Discovery to debut December 14 in Southeast Asia
Owned by Frank Huang, an art collector and Taiwanese technology leader from Taiwan, this depiction of the Mona Lisa from his private collection adds a unique perspective to the ongoing conversation surrounding one of Leonardo da Vinci’s most iconic works.
The Mona Lisa has long captivated the world with her enigmatic smile and mysterious gaze – over centuries, many artistic interpretations inspired by the Mona Lisa have emerged, with scholars discovering more hidden details and subtle symbols, fueling the fascination of the original painting.
Catch A Mona Lisa Obsession in Southeast Asia on the Discovery Channel, Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 7:10 PM SGT and on Discovery Asia on Sunday, December 14 at 9:00 PM SGT.
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About Discovery Channel
Media OutReach
Financial Stress Keeps Singapore Awake, while Overall Well-Being in APAC Lags Behind Global Peers
Promotion of exercise culture and therapy may boost physical and mental health
The Singapore report of the Cigna Healthcare International Health Study 2025, released today encompasses more than 11,000 respondents across 13 markets, including 1,000 in Singapore and 4,000 across the Asia-Pacific region. The study reveals that physical, mental and financial well-being are the three aspects prioritized by Singapore residents. However, financial well-being is ranked the lowest with almost four in 10 (39%) rating their financial health as “fair” or “poor”.
Raymond Ng, CEO & Country Manager, Cigna Healthcare Singapore & Australia said: “Health and vitality are key to building resilient communities. It promises the well-being of our workforce and enables us to grow and prosper as a society. While vitality and well-being levels held firm among Singapore residents, more needs to be done in today’s uncertain environment to tackle stressors that can negatively impact their physical and mental well-being.”
The key indicators of vitality and well-being in Singapore are as follows:
| Vitality Score | Overall Well-Being
(% rating as “excellent” or “very good”)
|
Top Three Areas of Well-Being
(% rating as “excellent” or “very good” in 2025) |
| 2025: 61.2
2024: 61.4 |
2025: 34%
2024: 33% |
Family well-being: 44%
Mental well-being: 36% Physical well-being: 34% |
On a regional level, overall well-being in Asia Pacific lags behind the global average, with less than three in 10 (28%) Asia-Pacific respondents rating their overall well-being as “excellent” or “very good”, compared to four in 10 (41%) globally. While physical and mental well-being are the two most important aspects of well-being for respondents globally, financial well-being is more important for those in Asia Pacific, coming in as the third most important aspect. With financial well-being remaining the weakest aspect across the globe, there is a pressing need for governments and organizations to render support to address financial concerns.
Robert Peat, Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific, Cigna Healthcare said: “Asia Pacific continues to be one of the fastest growing regions in the world. To sustain this momentum, communities and employers need to recognize that healthy people are the foundation of a healthy economy and implement measures to close the gaps in their well-being.”
Sleepless in Singapore: Financial stress as the sleep killer
While mental well-being in Singapore remains stable with more than a third of respondents rating it as “excellent” or “very good” this year, eight in 10 (79%) respondents are stressed. Their greatest stressors are the current cost of living (53%); uncertainty about the future (47%); and personal finance (43%).
Stress affects more than mental and emotional health and can have huge implications on physical well-being. Our study reveals that disrupted sleep is the most common effect of stress among respondents in the nation, with close to half (48%) of respondents who are stressed reporting this effect, compared to 38% regionally.
Therapy remains underused by Singapore respondents. Despite nearly half (49%) of respondents reporting being negatively impacted by poor mental health, nearly nine in 10 (89%) say they did not receive counselling or therapy in the past 12 months, with 77% believing they do not need it. Given the impacts of stress and poor mental health on physical and overall well-being, more efforts are needed to raise awareness about the benefits of therapy and destigmatize seeking help.
Exercise culture runs strong in Singapore
More than a quarter (26%) of respondents in Singapore rate their exercise habits as “excellent” or “very good”.
When asked how they manage their weight, two-thirds (66%) said they exercise regularly, higher than the Asia-Pacific average of 61%; with only 4% of Singapore respondents turning to medication for weight management. The findings underscore a relatively strong exercise culture and the prioritization of healthy habits among those living in the nation. Communities and organizations may leverage the growing fitness trend to enhance physical well-being.
Cautious optimism around AI in healthcare
Close to half (47%) of Singapore respondents are positive about the impact of AI on healthcare, with 45% expecting it will reduce wait times within three years. This could have an outsized impact in Singapore, as respondents here are 29% more likely to have delayed or avoided getting care due to concern with wait times than their regional counterparts.
Additionally, almost half of Singapore respondents (48%) mention a reduction in human interaction as an expected change with the advent of AI. The challenge ahead is striking the right balance between efficiency and empathy.
The full findings of the report are available here.
Hashtag: #CignaHealthcare #CignaHealthcareInternationalHealthStudy #Health #Wellness #Wellbeing
https://www.cigna.com.sg/
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Cigna Healthcare Singapore
Cigna Healthcare is a division of The Cigna Group, a global health company committed to creating a better future built on the health and vitality of every individual and every community. Cigna Healthcare is a health benefits provider that advocates for better health through every stage of life. We guide our customers through the healthcare system, empowering them with the information and insight they need to make the best choices for improving their health and vitality.
Cigna Healthcare Singapore is a strong believer of total health and wellness and prides itself on delivering personalized solutions for the health of our clients and customers. To achieve this, Cigna Healthcare Singapore works as one global team and in close partnership with its customers, network providers and communities to understand and address their diverse needs. Learn more at www.cigna.com.sg
The JESSICA Beauty and Wellness Awards celebrate excellence across luxury beauty, healthcare and wellness. It is one of the most recognized beauty industry awards in Hong Kong. The organizer, JESSICA, is a major lifestyle and media company. For over 25 years, JESSICA has been reporting on fashion, lifestyle and business, as one of the most trustworthy and influential media sources in Hong Kong.
“We’re incredibly fortunate to win this new, Best AI Slimming Award with JESSICA,” said the spokesperson for SWISS REJU. “Our goal was to provide our guests with top medical aesthetic technologies. Platforms like BTL EXION and INDIBA, are exactly the type of top medical technologies which SWISS REJU is heavily investing in. The breathtaking results powered by AI, reflect the endless possibilities new technologies can bring to the beauty and slimming field”
The JESSICA Beauty and Wellness Awards is extremely selective and has a rigorous nominations and editorial selection process. Only brands that have been proven to provide genuine service and excellent results are eligible to compete. Amongst the Winners this year, are Australian organic brand “CANVAS” and Japanese household name “Panasonic VITALIFT” beauty appliances.
SWISS REJU, with its heavy investment in new and prestigious technologies such as INDIBA (recently approved in Europe under the Medical Device Regulation), offers a seamless blend of traditional wellness and innovation, allowing guests to experience what many considered to be one of the most effective slimming treatments in Hong Kong. INDIBA with its trademark Proionic 448khz technology, is loved by the Top 1% most influential users in the world, amongst them European royalties, celebrity footballers and international singers.
The recognition of this major annual Award, reaffirms SWISS REJU’s commitment to exceptional technology. It is the 12th annual award won by the brand, representing a new record.
SWISS REJU and integrative power of cutting edge technologies
SWISS REJU’s trademarked “K-Lipolysis” body contouring program offers winning technologies including INDIBA, BTL EXION, Winback, ATP LIPO X, amongst others. It is the unique contouring solution beauty lovers are craving for.
Hashtag: #SWISSREJU #熱光溶脂
http://www.reju.hkThe issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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