Patients in specialised psychiatric care face a variety of social risks that are intertwined, a new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows. Social risks tend to accumulate among the most vulnerable segments of the population. They include for example financial difficulties, housing challenges and violence.

In a milestone for Southeast Asia’s healthcare sector, Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH), MOH Holdings Pte Ltd (MOHH), and the Centre for Sustainable Medicine (CoSM) at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) have released its first-ever comprehensive national emissions report for Singapore’s healthcare sector, and the first comprehensive study across Asia.

The NUS-MOH study demonstrates that Singapore’s healthcare system is 18%[1] more sustainable than previously estimated, with the country delivering world-class healthcare at 20% lower carbon intensity than other advanced economies.

[1] 18% lower than the most recent estimate of Singapore's healthcare emissions on a 3-year rolling average basis (Romanello et al. (2024). The 2024 Report of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change: Facing Record-Breaking Threats From Delayed Action. The Lancet, 404(10465), 1847-1896. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01822-1)

A major report recommends regular Covid vaccinations to reduce cardiac risks associated with the virus. Millions of people around the world are suffering with serious cardiovascular problems caused by Covid infection and long Covid. The report, to be published later this week, sets out ways of tackling the ‘profound and lasting impact’ of Covid and long Covid on cardiovascular health.

It makes recommendations for diagnosing, treating and preventing serious heart and blood vessel complications linked to the virus.

As well as continuing vaccination programmes, the report recommends structured cardiac rehabilitation - to prevent long-term problems after infection and boost long Covid recovery.