TOPIC COLLECTION

Health & Pharmaceuticals

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Smoking is now prohibited outside schools, hospitals, clinics and elderly care homes. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hong Kong issues 4 tickets from 700 new site inspections under expanded smoking ban

New zones include outside hospitals, clinics and tram stops with possession of e-cigarettes in public to be a criminal offence from April 30.

Wellness

This Chinese-Vietnamese plant-based influencer makes even haters love tofu

China’s private sector

Changing tastes: China’s new affluent consumers seek quality not extravagance

Opinion | Hong Kong’s ageing population needs purpose, not just medical care

Too many among the city’s ageing population struggle on their own due to stigmas around mental health and a lack of targeted policies.

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An elderly woman at Oi Man Estate in Ho Man Tin in October 2025. Photo: Jelly Tse

China woman, 23, exercises 6 times a week, stops menstruating due to rapid weight loss

Intense workouts see woman’s female hormone levels slump to that of a 50-year-old; doctors warn her to slow down, try yoga instead.

Explainer | It’s not you, it’s the weather: all about seasonal affective disorder

Beat the winter blues – and even summer SAD – with expert tips on light therapy, diet and mindfulness for better seasonal mental health.

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Nestlé Hong Kong recalls another baby milk formula batch as tests get all clear

Swiss food giant has added a batch of formula with best-before date of June 16, 2027, to its recall list.

Nestlé is embroiled in a global scare over the potential contamination of certain batches of baby milk formula. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority approves 85% of fee waiver requests on average

Authority says it receives an average of about 5,000 applications a day, releasing figures following complaints about complicated procedures.

China woman who lost limbs in crash gives disabled staff jobs based on their strengths

30-year-old who suffered 3 heart attacks, 14 rounds of surgery dresses like a ‘warrior’; is described as the ‘pride of all women’ online.

Why your gut microbiome is so important for health and how to protect it

Bacteria in the gut perform important jobs that help prevent disease, but how to best protect and improve yours? An expert weighs in.

The gut microbiome performs all manner of important jobs, including breaking down fibre and starches, synthesising vitamins and amino acids such as vitamins B and K, and producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) that help prevent disease. Photo: Shutterstock

Horse power: brands in China seek sales boost with Lunar New Year items

Distiller Kweichow Moutai among the companies launching limited-run Year of the Horse products to jolt revenues during the festive season.

Distiller Kweichow Moutai has released a limited promotional line of liquor commemorating the Year of the Horse. Photo: Kweichow Moutai/Handout

Soaring healthcare costs in the Philippines: are doctors’ fees to blame?

Doctors have hit back, saying that they are being unfairly blamed for deeper systemic failures in healthcare financing.

Self-taught China pupil impresses peers with TCM pulse diagnosis, praised online

Classmates queue up for youngster with facial expression of ‘an experienced doctor’; tells one boy ‘your problem is spicy food’.

Being Chinese | Where do lonely hearts in China go now? Late-night live streams

I was swiping past the noise on Douyin when a calm, warm voice stopped me. So began my evenings in the world of companionship live streams.

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A woman walks in the nearly deserted shopping area of Sanlitun in Beijing in 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE

Video | Why has America’s ‘kill line’ gone viral in China?

The public debate has inevitably drawn parallels with problems faced by China’s own population.

What is a ‘kill line’ and why are Chinese netizens using it to describe living in the US?
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Reflections | How ancient Chinese dental practices were often similar to those used today

From gargling with medicinal concoctions to chewing sticks, people in China addressed dental health with considerable ingenuity.

Housing anxiety impeding Hong Kong fire trauma recovery: mental health experts

Many Wang Fuk Court residents displaced by the deadly inferno are now living in hotels, youth hostels or transitional housing.

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The benefits of boredom, from more creativity to better cognitive function

Often seen negatively, boredom is crucial for creativity and growth – so stop turning to your phone when you feel it coming on, experts say.

Feeling bored? Experts say boredom boosts creativity, resets your nervous system and helps you assess if you need a change in life. Boredom also allows time to rest the brain and eyes and helps nurture development in young brains. Photo: Shutterstock

Trump says Colombia’s Petro to visit US, in U-turn from threats to diplomacy

Just days ago, Trump had issued a warning to the South American leader for criticising the US attack that removed Venezuela’s Maduro.

Hong Kong hospital A&E department visits fall 12% after new fees take effect

Number of people benefiting from fee waivers under new pricing regime that started on January 1 triples.

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Trump-Xi diplomacy put to test thanks to contentious tit-for-tat Covid lawsuits

Unpaid billions of dollars in judgments against China sucks US State Department into escalating legal dispute, but Beijing remains defiant.

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Illustration: Brian Wang

Explainer | Hong Kong just had its driest January day. But how does that impact your health?

Post talks to experts about how to manage health during cold and dry weather, after city’s relative humidity plunged to 17 per cent this week.

Students in warm clothing amid a chilly morning in Hung Hom on Wednesday. Photo: Karma Lo

Meet Katherine LaNasa, who plays Dana Evans in medical drama The Pitt

The Emmy winner from the HBO Max show starring Noah Wyle, drew inspiration for her role from a ‘really kick-ass’ aunt and battled cancer right before auditioning.

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Video | Why are women-only communities growing in China?

Economic independence and educational opportunities are enabling women to focus on their own needs, while social media has exposed many to alternative lifestyles.

China ‘instant reply providers’ offer solace by responding to angry clients online

‘Good listeners’ with a high emotional quotient earn cash by listening to people’s gripes; offer to provide a ‘whole-day good mood’.

A new job known as an “instant reply provider” has emerged in China. It involves individuals immediately responding to clients’ messages to vent frustrations through online platforms, phone calls or videos. Photo: Shutterstock

5 of the best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend, January 9-11

Make your own instant noodle cups before it is too late, check out a street dance festival, join a run and more in Hong Kong this weekend.

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The Hong Kong branch of Japan’s Cupnoodles Museum is set to close its doors on January 11 after nearly five years in operation. Check it out this weekend. Photo: Nora Tam

Hong Kong’s late summer flu season is over. But official says jabs still vital

Controller of Centre for Health Protection says seasonal influenza activity has dropped below baseline level over the past week.

Hong Kong customs seizes HK$18 million of suspected ketamine in baby car seats

Syndicate employed ‘ingenious’ methods to hide drugs in car seats shipped in two containers from Netherlands and Spain, officers say.

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Health & Pharmaceuticals
The latest news on health and wellness, including healthcare, health insurance and hospitals. Also covers topics around the pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology, cancer, dementia, disability, obesity, mental health and well-being, plus diet and fitness.