Opening Address by DMS At The 3rd Japan-Asean Men's Health & Ageing Conference

01 Dec 2008

By Prof K Satku

Professor Akihiko Okuyama,

Professor Dato Dr Tan Hui Meng,

Founding Presidents and Advisors

Prof Peter Lim,

Congress President

Distinguished guests

Ladies & Gentlemen

1. It gives me great pleasure to join you at the opening ceremony of the 3rd Japan-ASEAN Men’s Health and Ageing Conference 2008.

2. Men’s health is a relatively new field of study compared to women’s health. Over the last decade, men’s health has emerged as an important issue in many countries. There is increasing recognition that health, in particular with reference to ageing, has to be better understood in relation to gender.

3. A report published by the WHO on ‘Men, Ageing and Health’ in 2001 states that “both from a physiological and from a psychological point of view, the determinants of health, as we age, are intrinsically related to gender.”

4. WHO Regional Office for Europe, issued a statement in 2002, noting that “health policies have to recognize that women and men, have different needs, obstacles and opportunities.”

5. The Australian government has made a commitment to develop a National Men’s Health Policy. It is currently conducting public consultations and the policy is expected to be finalized in 2009.

6. The Australian Men’s Health Policy focuses on improving access to health services, addressing the reticence amongst men to seek treatment for certain conditions, and raising awareness of the preventable health problems that disproportionately affect men.

7. The study of men’s health has developed into a special interest group, and rightly so. We know that the life expectancy of men is shorter than women. Men are more likely to have health-risk behaviour and are less likely to seek medical attention.

8. There are differences between males and females in susceptibility to cardiovascular disease, cancer, injuries, psychosocial problems, metabolic, genitourinary and fertility issues and many other conditions.

9. The Institute of Medicine published a report in 2001 entitled ‘Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health: Does Sex Matter?’ The IOM workgroup noted that the study of gender differences is evolving into a mature science. There is now sufficient knowledge of the biological basis of sex differences to form a basis for the scientific study of how the pathogenesis of disease differs between males and females. The report concluded that unless questions on gender differences are asked and the answers sought, many opportunities to understand the pathogenesis of disease would be lost.

10. In the last few years, there has been an increase in medical research on gender specific issues and publication of evidence-based studies. There are now several journals dedicated to men’s health and many international congresses have been held around the world.

11. I was looking through the abstracts for this conference and notice that almost every medical discipline is represented. The study of men’s health has moved beyond sexual function, fertility and genitourinary disorders to encompass many other aspects of health and illness.

12. I was intrigued by two abstracts on the endocrinological aspects of ageing submitted by Prof Rajasoorya and Prof Tai E Shyong.  Prof Rajasoorya’s abstract delved into the interesting topic of ‘adrenopause’. Does the decline of adrenal hormones such as DHEA cause physical and cognitive changes of ageing? Are these changes preventable or reversible? Does DHEA have a role as an ‘anti-ageing’ drug?  Prof Tai E Shyong’s abstract examined whether low testosterone levels are associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. They have posed many questions and although I am sure they would be providing some answers during their plenary sessions, there is a sense of greater urgency for answers as our demographic transition gathers pace and many more males are living to an old age.

13. I applaud all your efforts to pursue research in gender-specific issues to fill the gaps in our knowledge. I hope that your research will produce evidence-based guidelines on how to stay healthy, detect early and treat disorders that afflict men.

14. In this respect I would like to make mention of the Society for Men’s Health Singapore (SMHS) which was founded by Professor Peter Lim. It has brought about a significant change in the way our medical profession views aging in the male. To further its objective the society will be establishing an Institute of Men’s Health to actively promote medical education and research in this field. I thank them for their leadership.

15. In closing, I congratulate Professor Peter Lim, Professor Kesavan and their team, especially the Scientific Chair Dr Teoh Seng Hin, in successfully bringing this Congress to Singapore and making it a reality. 

16. This congress will allow you to share best practices in preventive medicine, develop therapeutic protocols and innovative diagnostic tools, stimulate innovative research, and develop public outreach and educational programmes.

17. I hope your efforts will translate to healthier, happier and longer lives for our people. I wish you a fruitful educational experience at this conference.

18. On this note, I have the pleasure of declaring this conference open. Thank you.