Foon Fong Loh

Interested in health policies, systems and #access2meds. Over 30 years of journalistic experience. WHO Journalism Fellowship recipient.

[Foon Fong Loh @FoonFong]

My article today. Do read for details.
#Budget2026 #UniversalHealthCoverage #HealthEquity
@anwaribrahim
@DrDzul
@KKMPutrajaya
@UNU-IIGH
@WHOWPRO
@WHOMalaysia
@WHO
Opinion: Unmet promise to double health budget may cost votes https://t.co/I144reVgZC

[Foon Fong Loh @FoonFong]

I shared my thoughts at the "Regional Workshop on Climate Change, Corporate Power, and Agri-Food Systems in Southeast Asia," held at the Sustainable Agriculture Foundation in Nonthaburi, Thailand from June 22 to 24, 2026.

[Foon Fong Loh @FoonFong]

Struggling with #FoodSensitivities & #UPF made me think abt the "food" we eat, food systems & processes. I presented it in my talk, "Are we eating ourselves sick? A journo's reflection on food sensitivities, ultra-processed food & corporate influence." #Lancet #UNU-Global Health

[Foon Fong Loh @FoonFong]

Does this mean it'd be difficult for countries to object to patent "ever-greening" tactics? Does this mean the average folks will now have difficulties accessing some life-saving drugs in their lifetime if the 20-year patent is extended for another 20 years? That'd be dire!

[Third World Network @3rdworldnetwork]

🚨Developing countries' ability to issue compulsory licenses for generics is now under serious threat.

The non-violation complaints moratorium expires today & without it, countries can be challenged at the WTO for using rights TRIPS grants them.

Read ▶️ https://t.co/M6EEaD0bKP

[Foon Fong Loh @FoonFong]

The Health Ministry's response. @3rdworldnetwork

[Dzulkefly Ahmad @DrDzul]

Salam Syawal 🇲🇾 Madani 🌹

Lest you missed our Communiqae on the subject matter, please be informed about Malaysia/MOH’s position on the subject and don’t be presumptuous @DGHisham

Press Statement
Ministry of Health Malaysia

Malaysia’s Participation in the 6th Session of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG6)

(Translation)

Kenyataan Media Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia

Penyertaan Malaysia Dalam Sesi Rundingan Intergovernmental Working Group Ke-6 (IGWG6)

[Third World Network @3rdworldnetwork]

For upcoming WHO negotiations on Pathogen Access & Benefit-Sharing, Singapore is sending a 6-member delegation. Phil, Brunei & Indonesia will also be present. Malaysia is sending NO ONE to defend its interests/sovereignty. Why?

@KKMPutrajaya @DrDzul @MalaysiaPMO. Pls reconsider!

[UNU Global Health @UNUGlobalHealth]

Yesterday 8th January 2026, at 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶 𝗞𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗮𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗮 (𝗨𝗞𝗠), a crucial conversation took place between health experts and the media.

UNU-IIGH Policy Research Lead 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳. 𝗗𝗿. 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝗠𝗰𝗖𝗼𝘆 (@dcmccoy11) alongside 𝗗𝗿. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗲 𝗞𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗻, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗲𝗻𝗴, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗺 (@Seanthum), and 𝗠𝘀. 𝗟𝗼𝗵 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗼𝗻𝗴 (@FoonFong) unpacked the complexities of healthcare financing, system resilience, and reform scenarios.

Informed journalism is a cornerstone of effective public health policy. By equipping media professionals with deeper analytical tools and trusted expert networks, we strengthen the public discourse on Malaysia’s healthcare future.

A heartfelt thank you to all the journalists, panelists, and organising partners for making the 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 & 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 a resounding success. This collaborative effort between 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻𝘀’ ����𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗮 (@nujmalaysia), 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, and 𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗥𝗔-𝗨𝗞𝗠 (@ukm_my), with UNU-IIGH, was fully sponsored by 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗮 (@theedgemalaysia).

#UNU #UNUIIGH #HealthPolicy #HealthSystems #Journalism #PublicHealthMalaysia #HealthcareFinancing  #GlobalHealth

[UNU Global Health @UNUGlobalHealth]

🔴𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄!

Join our livestream to follow discussions from the symposium 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙂𝙡𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙡 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝 𝙂𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚: 𝘿𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙃𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙋𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝘼𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝘼𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚, co-organised by UNU-IIGH and Third World Network.

By convening health professionals, researchers, and civil society representatives, this symposium provides a vital forum to examine the growing influence of powerful private actors (PPAs) in global health governance, addressing issues from the financialisation of the health sector to the corporate capture of public policy.

🕓 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲:

10:00 – Inequality, neoliberalism, and the world of perma- and poly-crisis

11:30 – A New Age of Global Governance

12:15 – The driving power of finance and financialisation in health

14:00 – Corporate drivers of global warming, disease, and illness

14:45 – Private power, public policy, and politics

16:00 – Power imbalances and accountability deficits

🎥 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲: https://t.co/vnH2rHtpUn

#UNU #GlobalHealth #HealthGovernance #Accountability #UNUIIGH #GlobalHealthJustice #HealthForAll #HealthJustice

[Foon Fong Loh @FoonFong]

@peppermin5 Happy new year!

[Foon Fong Loh @FoonFong]

@DrAmarMOH For a country that has way, way more homeless people than Malaysia, why insult Malaysia? A real moron for sure. Malaysia may be a small country but the people are taken care of to some extent.

[World Health Organization (WHO) @WHO]

Is #Dementia a normal part of ageing?
Someone suffers from dementia every three seconds. What are the causes? Can we prevent it? Is there a cure?
@KSeeher explains in Science in 5 ⬇️

[Law, Yao Hua @yaohualaw]

Covering Trial Day 2 in Kuantan High Court. Am the only journalist there. If more show up, they could report more (and better!) than me. It's a big case!
But I'm grateful for this chance. It's my first time in a courtroom. Learning so much from the cross-examination. #barubelajar

[Foon Fong Loh @FoonFong]

Malaysians, pls think seriously abt healthcare financing. It will impact your children. Personally, with an insurance system (social health insurance included), my concerns: high admin cost, often abused & ever-increasing premiums. #SocialHealthInsurance
https://t.co/BlKeIr3RaJ

[Foon Fong Loh @FoonFong]

@markcheongwl A good way to start. :)) Otherwise, you may not get started at all.

[Foon Fong Loh @FoonFong]

@markcheongwl Hope all turns out well! Have a big vision and a big heart!

[Foon Fong Loh @FoonFong]

Sharing my thoughts on "My health, my right," in conjunction with the World Health Day 2024. It's on Astro Awani's "It's about YOUth" segment.

https://t.co/AmgwkcTTyv

[Foon Fong Loh @FoonFong]

Covid-19 cases increasing. Take precautionary measures.

[Amar-Singh HSS @DrAmarMOH]

Daily (7 day average) of Covid-19 cases and hospital admissions. Note that admissions will lag a bit (1+ week) behind cases.
Use a Mask outside the home.
Avoid Crowds.
Improve Ventilation Significantly.
if sick stay at home.
Data link here: https://t.co/b6NW9fe5eC

[Dr Zaliha Mustafa @DrZalihaMustafa]

Diharapkan orang ramai tidak menyebarkan berita palsu seperti ini sehingga boleh menimbulkan keresahan rakyat.

[Foon Fong Loh @FoonFong]

My take on the recently approved Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023.
#smokingcessation #smokingendgame

[CNA @ChannelNewsAsia]

Commentary: It’s a pity Malaysia backed down from its bold generational smoking ban https://t.co/SqbiLFpxJg

[Foon Fong Loh @FoonFong]

Deepest condolences to the family Dato' Chua Jui Meng, former health minister 1995 to 2004.

[Free Malaysia Today @fmtoday]

Former health minister Chua Jui Meng dies, aged 80 #FMTNews #FMTEng https://t.co/kqizAF8beY