2026年7月24日
-3 分钟阅读
Columbia Asia Holds HR Symposium Focusing on Preventive Care,Workforce Health and Employee Wellbeing
Penang, June 11 – Columbia Asia, a member of Asia OneHealthcare, recently organised a Human Resource Symposium titled From Lifespan to Health Span: Optimizing Your Workforce Health, themed “Tackling Non-Communicable Diseases & Rising Medical Utilization Through Preventive Care.”
Held at Iconic Marjorie Hotel Penang, the event attracted 144 participants, including HR leaders, employee wellness professionals, insurers, occupational health practitioners, and healthcare industry players.
The symposium focused on a growing challenge faced by many employers today: keeping employees healthy, productive and engaged while managing rising healthcare costs. Through a series of presentations and discussions, speakers shared insights into the health issues affecting today’s workforce and the practical steps organisations can take to address them.
Topics covered included the shift from “sick care” to improving health span, as well as the growing impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), metabolic conditions and musculoskeletal disorders on healthcare costs and absenteeism. Participants also learned how real-world health data can support better workforce health decisions, how organisations can encourage sustainable lifestyle changes, and how emerging tools such as Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) can help identify health risks early and enable targeted interventions.
Functional Medicine Practitioner and CareNinja PLT Founder Dr Zamir Hilman spoke about how many chronic diseases begin long before they are diagnosed. He explained how modern lifestyles—characterised by poor sleep, chronic stress, processed foods and lack of movement—are contributing to rising rates of metabolic and chronic diseases. He also shared practical steps individuals can take to improve their health, including eating more whole foods, staying active, getting enough sleep, and spending time outdoors.
HR Trainer and influencer Sim Ling Ku, better known as AuntyHR, addressed the issue of prolonged illness and absenteeism in the workplace. She explained the different types of long-term medical absences and shared practical guidance on how employers can manage such cases fairly while balancing business needs and employee wellbeing. She stressed the importance of having clear policies, proper communication and a structured approach when dealing with prolonged illness.
PM Care Claims Director, Dr Armin Fansuri Mustapa, highlighted trends in employee medical utilisation. He shared that a small group of employees with chronic or complex health conditions account for a large proportion of healthcare spending. He also pointed out that hospital admissions and multiple chronic illnesses are among the biggest drivers of medical costs, underscoring the importance of prevention, early detection and proactive disease management.
On top of that, Columbia Asia’s Health Transformation Programme team presented its prediabetes programme, which aims to identify employees at risk of developing diabetes and help them make lifestyle changes before the condition progresses. The programme is led and managed by Columbia Asia Corporate Client Services Group Head, Miss Shumita Chaudhury and Dietician/Manager Cik Nurullatifah Fauzan.
Following that, a panel discussion titled Medical, Nutritional & Fitness Perspectives on Healthy Living featured Columbia Asia Hospital Batu Kawan Consultant Internal Medicine Physician Dr Ting Pei Woei and Dietitian Maslissa Sazele. Also part of the panelists was the event emcee cum fitness influencer Linora Low, and Fitness Achievers Founder/Principal Coach, Matt Lim. The panel shared practical insights on healthy living and discussed how nutrition, exercise and medical care can work together to improve long-term health outcomes.
Also present at the event was Asia OneHealthcare Group Chief Commercial Officer and Columbia Asia Regional Chief Executive Officer Encik Anwar Anis.
The symposium was supported by Columbia Asia’s Health Transformation Department, Columbia Asia Hospital Batu Kawan and Fitness Achievers. Sponsors included Northern Heart Hospital, Meta Medical, Kinsmedic, Ha’ritage and Heal.
Click for Online Article:
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