Only less than 15% of Malaysians aged 60 and above are living well.

The Health Ministry says findings from the latest edition of the National Health and Morbidity Survey found that while several indicators did show improvement...progress is still far from satisfactory.  

A person is considered to be ageing well if they have high social support, not cognitively impaired, not depressed, able to perform daily activities independently, and the absence of chronic diseases.

However, diseases among the elderly are worryingly high with nearly 70% in the age group having at least two chronic conditions.

This includes diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol.  

The ministry explained that low levels of physical activity could be to blame, adding that over 30% of the elderly are physically inactive.

Meanwhile, nearly 20% of elderly individuals in the country are living alone.  

This figure is triple the number in 2018.  

Despite this increase...over 60% of this group still report having strong social support especially when it comes to facing systemic challenges including limited mobility and financial constraints.   

The National Transplant Center says several factors are behind the long waiting times faced by many patients on transplant lists. 

It explained that organ donation cannot occur automatically and is only possible under specific circumstances...even in cases involving registered donors who are brain dead. 

This is because of the Human Tissues Act which states that consent from the next of kin is needed before organs can be retrieved from a deceased individual. 

Even if a person has pledged to be an organ donor during their lifetime, approval from the next of kin is still required for donation after death. 

Waiting times also depend not only on organ availability but also on strict clinical criteria. 

This includes rigorous clinical matching that takes into account blood type compatibility, organ size, and the recipient's overall health. 

The ministry also revealed that some heart transplant patients may wait up to 14 years for a new heart... the waiting period for kidney transplant patients ranges from 10 to 13 years.

The Social Welfare Department recorded nearly eight thousand homeless people nationwide between 2021 and May last year.  

The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry says it's already carried out several measures to solve the issue.  

This includes periodic operations in collaboration with other enforcement agencies.