According to new data from Medical Channel Asia (MCA), a growing appetite for credible health information is sweeping across Asia. Drawing from platform activity between January and March 2025, MCA has released key insights highlighting shifting patterns in health information consumption across Singapore, Malaysia, and the wider Southeast Asian region.
Top 4 Health Insights at a Glance
- Digital health content sees strong uptake across Southeast Asia
- Women’s health topics lead in online search and engagement
- Cancer awareness continues to shape public health conversations online
- Users turn to search engines for trusted doctors and clinics
The insights shared by MCA highlight the evolving ways people are turning to digital channels for medical information, preventive health advice, and expert perspectives.
In-Depth: What the Findings Reveal
1. Digital health content sees strong uptake across Southeast Asia
Medical Channel Asia’s Q1 2025 data highlights the scale of public demand for trusted health information, with close to 200,000 page views on the website, over 650,000 video views on YouTube and over 5,000,000 content views over social media platforms in three months.
Audiences from Singapore, Malaysia, and across Southeast Asia accounted for the majority of this engagement, reflecting the importance of accessible health education within the Asian audiences.
This growing interest highlights the role platforms like Medical Channel Asia play in bridging information gaps, by providing medically reviewed, easy-to-understand content to support people across various stages of their health journeys.
“Audiences today are more proactive about their health, and they are looking for information they can trust.” said Jason Lim, Chief Executive Officer of Medical Channel Asia. “It is rewarding to see our platform become a go-to for users navigating their health decisions.”
2. Women’s health topics lead in online search and engagement
Women’s health emerged as a major focus for the Asian audience, with high engagement across topics like menstrual health, fertility, pregnancy care, menopause, and gynaecological conditions.
One of MCA’s top-performing videos on YouTube, which addressed painful periods (dysmenorrhoea), garnered close to 200,000 views in the first three months of 2025 alone.
In a traditionally conservative region like Southeast Asia, where open discussions about topics kike menstrual health have often been limited, the popularity of this video reflects a real and growing desire for accessible, non-judgmental information on everyday health challenges of women.
“We are very encouraged to see a rise in open conversations about women’s health,” said Marie Chen, Head Editor of Medical Channel Asia. “We hope to continue providing credible, relatable content that demystifies these topics and supports better health outcomes for women across the region.”
As audiences turn to digital platforms like Medical Channel Asia to access reliable information, they are better equipped to make informed decisions about their reproductive health, manage women’s health issues earlier, and seek appropriate care with greater confidence.
3. Cancer awareness continues to shape public health conversations online
Cancer-related content continues to be a cornerstone of public health interest online.
Topics ranging from early signs of cancer to screening options and treatment pathways attracted consistently high levels of engagement throughout the quarter. This was especially clear on TikTok, where seven of the top ten most-viewed videos during the quarter centred around cancer awareness, underlining cancer’s continued prominence as a major health concern among digital audiences.
This trend is timely and important. In Asia, cancer is a leading cause of death, second only to cardiovascular diseases. In 2019, it was estimated that cancer caused around 5 million deaths, representing 24% of all non-communicable disease deaths in the Asia-Pacific region. Within Southeast Asia, cancer is also a major cause of morbidity and mortality.
Across Asia, rising life expectancies and changing lifestyles have contributed to an increasing cancer burden, making early education, preventive health, and access to credible information more critical than ever.
Recognising this need, Medical Channel Asia has collaborated with hospitals, patient advocacy groups, and health professionals to deliver accessible cancer education materials.
From campaigns on kidney cancer awareness featuring early symptom education with doctors, to public outreach initiatives on different cancers, MCA’s focus has consistently been on helping people understand the value of early detection, screening, and emerging therapies that offer new hope for treatment.
4. Users turn to search engines for trusted doctors and clinics
Many audiences arriving at Medical Channel Asia’s platform were actively seeking information about healthcare professionals.
According to platform data from January to March 2025, Medical Channel Asia recorded over 10,000 search impressions related to doctors, spanning individual healthcare professionals, medical practices, and doctor-related topics.
This reinforces how audiences are proactively researching healthcare providers and medical information before seeking consultations, reflecting a rising emphasis on trust, transparency, and informed healthcare choices.
Before scheduling consultations or undergoing procedures, users increasingly conduct online research to learn more about the doctors they may engage with - reflecting a growing desire for transparency, trust, and preparedness in healthcare interactions. In the digital age, patients today are more empowered and proactive, wanting to better understand the expertise, approach, and reputation of the healthcare professionals they choose to consult.
Having accessible, credible content about doctors and medical topics helps bridge this informational gap, giving patients greater confidence as they navigate their healthcare journeys.
“Since contributing my knowledge on Medical Channel Asia via a video feature, many of my patients have shared that the video helped them feel more prepared and informed before coming for consultations,” said Dr Tan Ken Jin, Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon based in Mount Elizabeth Hospital (Novena), Singapore.
“It allowed them to have better conversations during appointments, and they felt more reassured knowing what to expect.”
Understanding this growing need for accessible, credible touchpoints with healthcare professionals, Medical Channel Asia developed its Community Page, a forum-style platform where users can post general questions or concerns related to health topics.
While not intended to replace medical consultations, the Community Page offers an avenue for the public to engage with doctors in a responsible, moderated environment, helping users access trustworthy information and feel more connected to the healthcare community even before stepping into a clinic.
This initiative reflects a broader commitment to meeting audiences where they are — supporting health literacy, encouraging meaningful patient-doctor conversations, and reinforcing the importance of credible, accessible health education across digital spaces.
Medical Channel Asia’s Q1 2025 Health Trends Insights
Medical Channel Asia’s Q1 2025 Health Trends Insights are based on aggregated website and platform data from January to March 2025. The findings provide a window into regional health education trends, covering topics from women’s health and cancer literacy to preventive health and healthcare trust.
As health information becomes increasingly central to everyday life, MCA remains committed to supporting public health literacy by providing clear, credible, and accessible resources to meet evolving audience needs.
For media inquiries or interview opportunities, please contact: admin@medicalchannelasia.com
