Saturday Mornings: Healthspan Over Lifespan: Why Southeast Asia Is Turning to Self‑Care

Saturday Mornings Show host Glenn van Zutphen and co-host Neil Humphreys are joined by Ritesh Pandey, General Manager for Southeast Asia at Haleon, to explore how health and wellness priorities are rapidly shifting across the region. With an ageing population, a rising working class, and greater post‑Covid awareness, Southeast Asians are taking health into their own hands—driving a surge in preventive health and self‑care.

Ritesh breaks down the demographic realities: ASEAN’s population aged 65+ will nearly double in 20 years, while in Singapore, those aged 80 and above have grown by 60% in the past decade. Yet many of these added years are lived with disability, often linked to preventable issues such as micronutrient deficiencies, untreated bone and joint pain, and oral health problems. He explains why health literacy is now a critical economic and social priority, with Haleon’s research showing that improving literacy by just 25% could unlock over USD 100 billion in economic gains for APAC. We also discuss the rise of influencer‑led discovery, the behaviour–action gap in everyday health, and how companies like Haleon are using AI and digital tools to democratise access to credible, science‑backed information.

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