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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

Kidney transplantation now includes a new pathway: Donations after the heart stops

For individuals with end-stage kidney disease, a kidney transplant is considered the better treatment option over dialysis because it offers a more active lifestyle and significantly increases the chances of a longer, healthier life. However, there is a long queue. As of June 2025, a total of 412 patients were on the waiting list for a kidney. 
(ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI)

Singapore’s bioethics advisory committee urges caution on heritable gene editing

The Ministry of Health has also not approved heritable gene editing for these purposes as there is currently insufficient evidence of its safety.

Community health posts to be enhanced from 2026 to bring services closer to residents

ST20251012_202534400902 Kua Chee Siong/ jthealth12/

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung participating in the chair rise test which tests the muscle strength of the elderly. 

Sembawang GRC holding its annual health fiesta themed Active Bodies, Strong Minds, at Kampung Admiralty, on Oct 12, 2025. 
Organised by the Sembawang West MAEC, the fiesta aims to enhance mental resilience through a variety of fitness try-out activities and informative wellness talks.

New NUS Medicine research facility looks to slow down ageing

Professor Andrea B. Maier, director of the NUS Academy for Healthy Longevity, said the centre is currently holding four trials.

He battled his own demons, now this doctor is fighting mental health stigma

While awareness about mental health concerns has grown over the years, some misconceptions and subtle biases remain.

Views From The Couch: Tackling the hidden stigma around mental health in Singapore

To tackle these deeper forms of stigma, Singapore must move beyond awareness and towards empowerment.

Eight leaders and innovators receive President’s Science and Technology Awards for 2025

President’s Science and Technology Medal (PSTM) recipient Professor Tan Eng Chye (left), President of the National University of Singapore, and President’s Science Award (PSA) recipient Dr Lisa Ng (right) at the President’s Science and Technology Awards (PSTA) Ceremony held at NUS’s University Cultural Centre on Oct 3, 2025.

When coping with grief is not about the death of a loved one

How to cope with losing a sense of normalcy in your life

Alexandra Hospital to receive emergency ambulance cases from Oct 1

The move is part of the hospital’s efforts to ramp up its emergency response in preparation to have a fully functioning emergency department in 2028.

Let’s talk about suicide

Suicide is one of the most urgent public health challenges for Singapore.