author-image

Joyce Teo

Senior Health Correspondent

Joyce is senior health correspondent at The Straits Times. She has been on the health beat for more than a decade, covering everything from mental health and population health to health policies and palliative care. She is also host of the ST Health Check podcast. Having written extensively about mental health, she believes that talking openly about it can help reduce stigma. She is a member of Singapore’s Bioethics Advisory Committee and a fellow of the Temasek Foundation-IPS Asia Journalism Fellowship. 

Latest articles

NurseFirst helpline redirected over 800 calls away from emergency departments in nationwide trial

These callers were among around 2,500 people, most of whom had called NurseFirst directly, The Straits Times has found out.

Budget 2026: 11 highlights from PM Wong’s speech

In his Budget 2026 speech in Parliament, PM Wong laid out plans to tackle a range of issues, from cost-of-living concerns to helping Singapore businesses expand overseas.

Is it safe to exercise with joint pain? An orthopaedic surgeon explains

What an orthopaedic surgeon wants you to know about exercise and knee osteoarthritis.

Promising longevity molecule may help defend against Alzheimer’s disease: NUS Medicine study

jtaging - Dr Sheeja Navakkode and Prof Brian Kennedy, in the Healthy Longevity Translational Research Programme’s laboratory.

CREDIT: NUS MEDICINE

TTSH geriatric team helps frail seniors avoid unneeded hospital admissions, freeing up beds

TTSH’s frailty pathway helps 3x more older adults avoid unnecessary hospital stays - Patient home visit (TTSH@Home) [223A SUMANG LANE SINGAPORE 821223]
Caption: Ameera Hanim Binte Zainalabidin, Senior Staff Nurse checking on the patient Mr Chia Oh Chang’s pressure, temperature, oxygen level and edema (nurse applying pressure on patients leg) at his house on Feb 6, 2026.

New sarcopenia clinic aims to screen and treat muscle loss before disability sets in

Madam Tan Ah Sang, 82, was referred to the new clinic for muscle health at Tan Tock Seng Hospital in 2025.

SGH’s emergency department marks relocation with early-morning walk

ST20260118-202687200466-Lim Yaohui-Joyce Teo-jtsgh18/

SGH staff taking a group photograph with the old Emergency sign box at 6.33am in front of the old Emergency Department (ED) at Block 1 before relocation to the new SGH Emergency/National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) building at 7am on Jan 18, 2026. 

Singapore General Hospital (SGH) will be relocating its Emergency Department to a new building with effect from 7am on Jan 18. The first shift of nurses will commence work in the new Emergency Department at 7am and the first ambulance case will also arrive at the new facility after 7am. The lights in the old Emergency Department will be switched off, and the place will be renovated for other clinical services.

Singapore General Hospital (SGH) nurses walked from the old Emergency Department (ED) at Block 1 to the new premise at level three of the SGH Emergency/National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) building to mark the 7am cutover time of the ED’s move on Jan 18. 

SGH is moving its ED as part of a 20-year SGH Campus Master Plan aimed at modernising Singapore’s oldest hospital. This building is located adjacent to the previous ED at SGH Block 1. 

(ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI)

He took just four days to reclaim his life from the grip of OCD

Bryan (not his real name) is among over 100 people whom IMH has helped using the Bergen 4-day Treatment.

NUH opens digestive health centre to fight rising tide of gastrointestinal diseases

Dr Bernice Tan, a consultant with NUH’s Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, with patient Anson Hoo, who has ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis.

OCD (Part 2): 4-day treatment and the Bergen approach

The science of getting unstuck from OCD in four days.