Needling concern: Calls are growing
for invasive clinical procedures to be carried out at licensed
facilities and that consistent enforcement is carried out against
premises offering blood-taking services without proper approval.
PETALING JAYA: There is a need to clearly define the
scope of services pharmacies can and cannot provide, particularly the
distinction between finger-prick screening, venous blood-taking,
laboratory testing, diagnosis and treatment, says a doctors’ group.
The
Private Medical Practitioners’ Association of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur
has also called for consistent enforcement against premises offering
blood-taking services without proper approval.
Its
president, Dr Eugene Chooi, said clear guidelines should be issued to
all healthcare providers to eliminate ambiguity and ensure consistent
patient safety standards.
“Patient safety must be protected through enforcement that is timely, transparent and fair,” he said.
Dr Chooi was responding to a statement from the Health Ministry
that operators of premises providing blood collection or phlebotomy
services without a licence could be fined up to RM500,000, jailed for up
to six years, or both.
“Community pharmacists play an important
role in medication counselling, health education and basic screening
within their professional scope.
“The issue is clear, blood-taking is an invasive clinical procedure.
“It must be performed within properly registered healthcare
facilities, under clear clinical governance and accountability,” he
added.
He said such procedures carry real risks and must be
carried out by trained and authorised personnel in regulated settings,
stressing that there should be no shortcuts, grey areas or double
standards.
Dr Chooi said Malaysia does not lack healthcare regulations but enforcement has been inconsistent.
He
said the public was now confused after years of seeing blood test
promotions in non-clinical settings, which may have created the
impression that such services are permitted.
He warned that
blood-taking involves infection-control risks, proper patient
identification, specimen handling and clinical interpretation, adding
that blurred boundaries between screening, diagnosis and treatment could
lead patients to delay seeking care or misinterpret results.
Stiffness, achy joints, acid reflux, snoring — experts explain the pros and cons of the three main ways people sleep.
Rachel Levit Ruiz
Ever wake up with a crick in your neck or a pain in your lower back? Are you roused from sleep by heartburn, or a partner complaining that you snore?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, your sleep position might be to blame.
There is no one “right” way to sleep, said Dr. Indira Gurubhagavatula, a professor of sleep medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.
But if you are waking up with discomfort or stiffness or having restless nights, certain adjustments to your sleeping posture may help. Here are some of the most common issues associated with how people sleep, and what to do about them.
On Your Side
Many of us sleep on our sides with no problem. But for some people — especially those with joint issues or who are older — it can put a lot of pressure on the shoulder, hip and knees, said Dr. Rohan Jotwani, a pain medicine specialist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City.SKIP ADVERTISEMENT
Sleeping on top of a memory foam or gel mattress pad can help by distributing your weight more evenly, he said. Placing a pillow between your knees can also reduce hip, knee and lower back pain by keeping your legs and hips aligned.
When you’re on your side, using a pillow that is either too thick or too thin can force your spine out of alignment, leading to muscle and joint strain. Or it can put pressure on nerves, causing pain, tingling or weakness in your shoulders, arms or upper back, Dr. Gurubhagavatula said.
Those who have a deviated septum may find that sleeping on their side affects how well they breathe, said Dr. Gerald Suh, an ear, nose, throat and sleep specialist in Princeton, N.J. The condition occurs when the thin layer of cartilage and bone that divides the nasal cavity is off-center or crooked. It is common, he said, affecting probably more than 80 percent of people, though only about 30 percent notice an influence on breathing.
For some, it’s easier to breathe when they sleep on the side that the narrower nostril is on, allowing air to flow unimpeded through the wider one, Dr. Suh said.
On Your Back
The goal when sleeping is to maintain the natural curvature of the spine and neck “without creating too many bends and twists and turns,” Dr. Jotwani said. Sleeping on your back is best for maintaining this alignment, he said, but it can also cause or exacerbate other issues.
The symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, for instance — which occurs when the muscles in the throat relax during sleep and cause snoring and temporary pauses in breathing — can worsen when lying face up, said Azadeh Yadollahi, a scientist who studies sleep and airway disorders at the University Health Network in Toronto.
If you have sleep apnea, sleeping on your side can help keep the airway open and let you breathe more freely, Dr. Gurubhagavatula said.
Sleeping on your back may also worsen acid reflux symptoms by allowing stomach acid to seep into the esophagus. And while any sleeping position can lead to nasal congestion, lying face up can cause you to feel even more stuffy, especially when dealing with a cold or allergies, Dr. Suh said.
Propping up the top half of your body with a pillow or a wedge-shaped bolster helps relieve acid reflux, Dr. Gurubhagavatula said. Or try elevating the head of your bed by putting blocks under the legs of your bed frame, she said. Some research also suggests that sleeping on your left side can help, too.
Pregnant women are often told to avoid sleeping on their backs after about 20 weeks to prevent the uterus from putting pressure on a large vein that carries blood from the lower body to the heart. That could restrict blood flow to vital organs or lower blood pressure, leading to lightheadedness.
When pregnant, it’s safest to sleep on your side, especially the left side, as this moves the weight off the vein, Dr. Gurubhagavatula said. This should help with pregnancy-related acid reflux, too, she added.
On Your Stomach
This is the least common sleeping position, Dr. Gurubhagavatula said. It also tends to be the hardest on your spine.
Having your head turned to one side all night strains the neck, Dr. Jotwani said. And that can be compounded by a thick pillow that angles your neck upward.
The position can also hyperextend your lower back. In a review published in 2025, researchers found that sleeping on the stomach is associated with more lower back pain than sleeping on the back or side.
If you enjoy sleeping on your stomach but wake up with low back pain, it can help to put a small pillow under your pelvis. This prevents your abdomen from sinking into the mattress and putting too much arch in your back, Dr. Jotwani said. But if possible, he added, sleep on your back or side for better alignment.
How to Learn to Sleep in a Different Position
Switching to a new position “can be very daunting,” Dr. Jotwani said. He recommended identifying a new position and then trying to spend at least a little time in it each night. Over time, your body will get used to it.
Strategic placement of pillows, special cushions or devices can help keep you in one position throughout the night, Dr. Gurubhagavatula said. To stay on your side, try placing a body pillow behind you, she suggested. There are also cushions that strap onto your back to keep you on your side, and electronic devices that vibrate when they sense that you’ve rolled onto your back. They’re the technological equivalent of getting elbowed by your bed partner, Dr. Yadollahi said.
If you’re new to sleeping on your back, Dr. Gurubhagavatula said you might be more comfortable with a small pillow under your knees, even if it feels awkward for the first few nights.
Your sleep position is just one of many factors that contributes to your overall sleep quality, Dr. Gurubhagavatula said. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, getting adequate exercise and keeping your bedroom dark and cool are all important.
But, she added, if getting a good night’s sleep can be “as simple as turning onto your side, then why not try it?”
A version of this article appears in print on April 7, 2026, Section D, Page 7 of the New York edition with the headline: Your Sleep Position May Cause You Pain. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe
Tips for Better Sleep
Tired of tossing and turning? There are some strategies you could try to maximize your hours in bed.
Sleep Trends: Skip the mouth tape, keep a “worry journal” and limit blue light exposure close to bed time. Here's a look at some of the other popular tips making the rounds on social media and whether they work.
White noise machines have the power to mask yapping dogs, clanky radiators and late-night parties. Consider buying one.
Ever wake up with a crick in your neck or a pain in your lower back?Are you roused from sleep by heartburn, or a partner complaining that you snore?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, your sleep position might be to blame.
There is no one “right” way to sleep, said Dr. Indira Gurubhagavatula, a professor of sleep medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.
But if you are waking up with discomfort or stiffness or having restless nights, certain adjustments to your sleeping posture may help. Here are some of the most common issues associated with how people sleep, and what to do about them.
On Your Side
Many of us sleep on our sides with no problem. But for some people — especially those with joint issues or who are older — it can put a lot of pressure on the shoulder, hip and knees, said Dr. Rohan Jotwani, a pain medicine specialist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City.
OVER Rm90bil of wealth in Malaysia is currently frozen – not lost, not spent, just inaccessible.
Behind this staggering figure are families waiting months, sometimes years, to access money that could otherwise be used for mortgage payments, children’s education or medical bills.
This is the uncomfortable reality of estate planning in Malaysia. While many Malaysians work hard to build wealth through property, savings and investments, far fewer take the final step of ensuring that this wealth can be effectively passed on to their beneficiaries.
Estimates suggest that frozen estates in Malaysia have risen from Rm42bil in 2011 to as high as Rm90bil in recent years. According to a Bernama report in May last year, Rm13.3bil in unclaimed money was recorded by the Accountant General’s Department as of April 2025.
In news reports last year, Amanah Raya Berhad group managing director Ahmad Feizal Sulaiman Khan was quoted as saying that Rm65bil in assets, including real estate and cash belonging to deceased individuals, remain unclaimed due to lack of estate planning.
At the household level, this translates into delays, disputes and financial strain. At the national level, it represents idle capital that could otherwise contribute to economic activity.
Another reality that many overlook is that debts do not end when life does. Before any inheritance can be distributed, all of the deceased’s outstanding liabilities must be settled. This includes mortgages, personal loans, credit card balances and taxes.
In many cases, what appears to be a substantial estate might be reduced significantly after debts are cleared, leaving some families with far less than expected. In extreme cases, there may be nothing left at all.
Estate planning is often misunderstood as something complex or only relevant to the wealthy. In truth, it is a practical step that applies to anyone with dependents or assets.
From a practitioner’s perspective, three elements are critical.
First, legal clarity: A clear will or estate plan ensures that assets are distributed according to intention and reduces delays and disputes.
Second, debt awareness: Managing liabilities ensures that more of the estate can be preserved for beneficiaries rather than being consumed by obligations.
Third, liquidity planning: For families who need immediate access to funds, instruments such as insurance or structured arrangements can provide cash flow when it matters most without being tied up in legal processes.
These are not complicated strategies. They are basic safeguards that determine whether wealth can actually serve its purpose.
One of the biggest barriers to estate planning in Malaysia is attitude. Many people avoid the topic because it feels uncomfortable or premature while others assume they will get their assets without any complications.
But the evidence tells a different story. Failing to plan does not remove risk; it shifts the burden to the family often when emotions are high and urgent decisions must be made.
Estate planning should be viewed as a practical extension of responsible financial planning instead of a morbid exercise.
Ultimately, the true value of wealth lies not in how much we accumulate but in how effectively it protects the people we care about.
ASSOC PROF CHONG WEI YING Taylor’s Business School Taylor’s University
PETALING JAYA: What was first a mere question from a friend about discounted products quickly turned into a worrying discovery for pharmacist Rachel Gan May Shiang.
Someone was using her pharmacy’s identity to sell doubtful products.
“I was sent a screenshot and that was when I knew our pharmacy was being impersonated online.
“The store looked almost identical. The only difference was that one of the letters bore a small alphabet as opposed to mine.
“Unregistered products in the Malaysian market were also sold on that site,” said Gan, who founded a pharmacy in Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam.
This led to complaints being made to the said e-commerce platform. Several of the product postings were then removed.
Days later, however, more fake accounts emerged.
“What’s even more worrying is that these products are being purchased.
“Besides the impersonation, there are wider public health concerns,” she said.
Gan, who is honorary secretary of the Malaysian Community Pharmacy Guild, questioned how the said platform vets its sellers, especially for those related to sectors such as pharmaceuticals.
Her case is not an isolated one, as even chain pharmacies are being targeted by fraudulent operators.
“Over the past year, we noticed this becoming increasingly rampant.
“At first, we received customer enquiries, with many also checking the authenticity of the products at our physical stores.
“So we checked the sites daily and lodged reports with the relevant authorities every time our brand name is misused to sell health and supplement products,” said Alpro Pharmacy professional care and development manager Ng Yi Ling.
These stores impersonate the Alpro brand, logo and images, she said.
The only difference was in the capitalisation of the letters in the brand name.
“Our biggest concern is how consuming these products will impact the health of consumers. We do not know the contents of these products,” she said.
Du Kiat Seng and Ng Seng Wei, who are the brand owners and sole distributor of a supplement product in Malaysia, said they have received complaints about counterfeit products as recently as March.
“We tried ordering the product ourselves and found that it was clearly a counterfeit.”
The giveaway was the absence of mandatory hologram tags.
The registration number was also a duplicated one, they said.
Both of them found that posts of doubtful products would be taken down following complaints but they would reappear the next day on the same online store.
“There should be some sense of responsibility from platforms to do their due diligence before allowing anyone to list health products for sale online.”
Brego Life Sciences marketing manager Claris Wong said they discovered such issues happening since 2024.
“We received complaints online. The prices were between 30% and 40% cheaper.
“We purchased the products and saw that they were almost identical with our products, although there were subtle differences in the printing.
“There was even a hologram printed on it. But when we scanned it, we found the product was not registered,” she said.
Sh said there was an instance where a customer was hospitalised after consuming a counterfeit product.
“Counterfeit products are dangerous.
“Our tests revealed that they do not have any of the active ingredients as claimed and may also contain unknown or harmful substances,” she said.
Save a dime, risk a life? Beware of cheap fake meds online
PETALING JAYA: It may seem like a good bargain online. But it comes with serious risks, as counterfeit medicines and supplements are still being sold on e-commerce platforms despite ongoing crackdowns.
TikTok Shop Malaysia said medicines and supplements are subject to requirements, including the need for a MAL number or notification from the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA), before being listed.
“Through our Intellectual Property Protection Centre, brands or authorised representatives can submit takedown requests for products and monitor their st
“There is no finish line when it comes to safety. Users are encouraged to report these products, content and sellers through the in-app reporting channel,” said a spokesperson.
TikTok Shop Malaysia is working with the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry and Health Ministry to address evolving forms of circumvention.
The spokesperson said continuous investments are made to improve safety tools, technology and personnel, with more than US$1bil committed globally to protect users from fraudulent and dangerous activities.
Automated systems are also used to detect potential fraud, infringement, unsafe content or violative product listings, both before and after products or content are uploaded.
“Sellers must submit official documentation during registration, which is then verified against business and banking details to ensure authenticity.
“Store names are subject to strict guidelines to prevent misrepresentation, including restrictions on terms such as ‘official’, ‘flagship’ or ‘authorised’,” the spokesperson said.
Once approved, new sellers undergo a probationary period where daily orders and product listings are capped as they familiarise themselves with platform policies.
Between January and June this year, it said more than 70 million product listing attempts were rejected globally for policy violations, with a proactive removal rate exceeding 99.5%.
Some 1.4 million seller account registration applications that failed to meet its standards were declined, with more than 700,000 sellers removed during the same period due to shop-level violations.
“More than 900,000 reports from users viewing TikTok Shop videos or live streams were also reviewed,” the spokesperson said.
Shopee strictly prohibits the sale of counterfeit and prohibited items too, requiring all sellers to comply with local regulations and platform policies.
A spokesperson said the platform works closely with the Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) to verify pharmacies and actively remove listings that violate its rules.
“We are committed to building a safe and trusted platform where shoppers can transact with confidence.
“We also use proactive monitoring and work with brands, law enforcement and the Health Ministry to detect and take action against sellers breaching our policies, including account suspension, permanent bans and, where appropriate, legal action.
“Users are encouraged to report suspicious or counterfeit products via the ‘Report this Product’ option.”
Complaints can also be made to the Public Complaints Management System (SISPAA), which is used to manage public complaints, including reports of fake or unregistered medicines.
MPS president Amrahi Buang said all pharmaceutical products sold online must be registered with the Health Ministry and comply with laws including the Poisons Act, Sale of Drugs Act and the Medicines (Advertisement & Sale) Act and Regulations.
“Legitimate products have the Health Ministry hologram tag and the MAL number,” he said, adding that the number can be checked at the NPRA website.
He said MPS also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with an e-commerce platform to curb the sale of counterfeit drugs online.
There are several conditions to be fulfilled when applying to open an online store as per the MOU, including having a licensed pharmacist, ensuring the products sold online can be tied to a physical store and confirming that the pharmacist is an MPS member.
“Pharmacists can check if the product is legitimate and advise you.
“We don’t just sell drugs. We want the best for our customers,” he said
