Alpro Group has launched “Together, We Transform 60+”, a community health initiative that helps older Malaysians understand their health risks, spot possible thyroid problems sooner, and get pointed toward the right care.

The programme is backed by Merck Sdn Bhd under a Memorandum of Understanding. It is aimed at adults aged 60 and above, with a particular focus on people living with hypertension or high cholesterol, and it seeks to raise awareness of thyroid symptoms that are easy to overlook.

Why thyroid health matters

The thyroid produces hormones that regulate metabolism, energy levels, heart and muscle function, and cognitive wellbeing. When thyroid function goes off track, though, the warning signs are often subtle.

Ongoing tiredness, memory or concentration problems, chronic constipation, muscle aches, and unexplained weakness are often blamed on ageing or existing conditions. These symptoms do not automatically point to a thyroid disorder, but when they persist or have no clear cause, they deserve a medical check.

If left unmanaged, thyroid dysfunction can affect overall health and quality of life, and it may contribute to complications involving the heart and blood vessels, metabolism, cognition, and bones and muscles. Catching it early gives at-risk people a chance to be assessed and treated before it takes a bigger toll.

A clear path from screening to care

The bigger hurdle is often not access to care, but knowing who should be checked in the first place. Many older adults live with subtle symptoms for months or even years without realising they could be worth investigating. TSH testing, widely used as an initial marker of thyroid function, can flag people whose results suggest they need further assessment. By bringing awareness and targeted screening into everyday community settings, the initiative aims to reach people who might otherwise go undetected.

As part of the programme, Alpro is supporting screening at retail outlets. Individuals with abnormal or borderline results will be guided toward further clinical evaluation to confirm the findings and receive appropriate treatment where needed. The goal is a clear route from awareness to screening and, where necessary, on to professional follow-up.

Through Alpro’s community healthcare network, people can learn about thyroid health, recognise possible warning signs, and get initial screening close to home. The process does not end with a screening result. Anyone who needs further assessment will be directed to appropriate clinical follow-up.

Insights from the programme will be used to refine the screening and referral model, with plans to gradually expand thyroid health initiatives to selected Alpro healthcare touchpoints across the country. Alpro and Merck hope to build an approach that is practical, scalable, and beneficial to more Malaysians over time.

Leadership perspectives

Dr. Cheng Duo-Ying, Deputy Medical Director of Alpro Clinic Group, said that tiredness, constipation, reduced concentration, and muscle weakness are often dismissed as normal parts of ageing. The real concern, she said, is when people live with these symptoms without knowing that further assessment may be needed. Through the programme, Alpro wants to make awareness and early screening more accessible in the community and make sure people identified as at risk are guided to the right next step.

Pixie Yee, Managing Director of Merck Malaysia and General Manager, Healthcare, Merck MYSG, said early detection can make a meaningful difference in thyroid health, but reaching people who do not realise they are at risk remains a major challenge. She noted that Alpro’s strong presence in Malaysian communities gives the initiative an important platform for public education, and that the collaboration hopes to encourage timely medical assessment when it is needed.

Both organisations stress that preventive healthcare should not wait until a condition becomes serious. It should start in the community, helping people understand their risks, recognise changes in their health, and seek assessment at the right time.

About Alpro Group

Founded in 2002, Alpro Group has built an ecosystem that includes pharmacies, clinics, physiotherapy, baby care, optical and audiology services, a health division, and a foundation. Supported by more than 1,000 healthcare professionals, including doctors, pharmacists, nutritionists, dietitians, physiotherapists, and optometrists, it serves over 5 million families in Malaysia and Indonesia through around 500 outlets. Its pharmacy arm is described as the first community pharmacy in the region to offer product liability insurance, covering MYR 1 million in Malaysia and IDR 3 billion in Indonesia. The group’s vision is a healthy and vibrant world, and it aims to become the No. 1 prescription pharmacy chain in Southeast Asia.

About Merck

Merck KGaA, based in Darmstadt, Germany, is a science and technology company with roots going back to 1668. It operates in 66 countries. Merck Healthcare in Malaysia focuses on expanding access to innovation and improving health outcomes, working with healthcare professionals, patient communities, and partners across all stages of life. Its portfolio covers oncology, neurology, immunology, fertility, thyroid disorders, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and growth hormone.