IN an era when healthcare discussions increasingly focus on ageing populations and chronic disease, Prof Datuk Seri Dr Mike Chan has spent more than four decades advocating a simple but powerful idea: living longer matters only if people can remain healthy, active and independent throughout those additional years.
His philosophy centres on the concept of “healthspan”—the number of years a person lives in good health, free from significant disease, disability and functional decline.
While longevity focuses on extending lifespan, healthspan asks a different question: how can people maintain vitality, mobility, cognitive function and quality of life as they age?
For Dr Chan, founder of the European Wellness Biomedical Group, this distinction represents a fundamental shift in how healthcare should be approached.
Rather than focusing solely on treating illness, healthcare systems should also prioritise prevention, healthy ageing and maintaining human potential throughout life.
International recognition
Before arriving at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, Dr Chan received international recognition for his work in regenerative medicine at the iSuccess Longevity Gala in Bucharest, Romania, where he was named Scientist of the Year in Regenerative Medicine.
The award recognised more than 40 years of work in regenerative medicine, cellular therapy and precision healthcare.
Throughout his career, Dr Chan has published extensively on topics ranging from stem cell therapies and neurodegenerative conditions to healthy ageing and preventive medicine.
His work reflects a broader belief that advances in medical science should not only extend life expectancy but also improve quality of life for people of all ages.
That philosophy extends beyond ageing populations. Dr Chan has also advocated for early intervention and innovative approaches in neurological and developmental conditions, arguing that healthcare should focus on maximising human potential throughout the lifespan.
Taking the healthspan message to Cannes
At the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, Dr Chan used one of the world’s most influential cultural platforms to promote awareness of healthspan and regenerative medicine.
While Cannes is best known for film premieres and celebrity appearances, it has evolved into a global gathering point for business leaders, media executives, entrepreneurs, philanthropists and thought leaders.
For Dr Chan, the festival presented an opportunity to bring discussions about healthy ageing and preventive healthcare to a broader international audience.
His participation reflected a growing trend in which healthcare, wellness and longevity are increasingly becoming part of mainstream public discourse rather than remaining confined to scientific conferences and medical institutions.
Throughout the festival, Dr Chan engaged with media representatives, entrepreneurs and philanthropic organisations to discuss emerging developments in regenerative medicine, preventive healthcare and healthy ageing.
“People today are no longer asking only how long they can live. They are increasingly asking how well they can live physically, mentally and emotionally throughout their lives,” he said.
Healthcare, philanthropy and public awareness
Beyond industry discussions, Dr Chan’s Cannes engagements also highlighted the relationship between healthspan and broader social issues.
He attended several charity and philanthropic events focused on children’s welfare, education, women’s empowerment and medical research.
These initiatives reflected a broader interpretation of healthspan—one that extends beyond ageing and encompasses access to healthcare, education, safety and well-being throughout life.
For Dr Chan, improving health outcomes is not simply about extending life expectancy. It also involves creating conditions that allow individuals and communities to thrive physically, mentally and socially.
This perspective aligns with a growing body of research suggesting that long-term health is influenced not only by medical treatment but also by factors such as education, environment, nutrition, social support and access to healthcare services.
The events also highlighted increasing collaboration between healthcare advocates, philanthropic organisations and public figures in raising awareness about preventive healthcare and healthy living.
A conversation about resilience
Among Dr Chan’s notable engagements during Cannes was a private meeting with veteran Hollywood actor Eric Roberts.
Their discussion centred on ageing, resilience, brain health and maintaining purpose throughout life. Dr Chan shared his work in regenerative medicine and neurodegenerative research, while Roberts reflected on sustaining a career spanning several decades in a demanding industry.
For Dr Chan, the conversation reinforced a central principle of healthspan: maintaining vitality, engagement and purpose throughout life.
Healthspan, he argues, is not merely a medical concept measured through laboratory markers or clinical outcomes. It is also reflected in a person’s ability to remain active, mentally sharp and meaningfully engaged with life as they age.
The meeting illustrated how discussions about longevity and healthy ageing increasingly resonate beyond scientific and medical communities, attracting interest from public figures, business leaders and individuals seeking to remain productive and independent later in life.
Positioning Malaysia in the longevity economy
Throughout his international engagements, Dr Chan consistently highlighted the role that Malaysia and Asia could play in the growing global longevity economy.
Fields such as regenerative medicine, preventive healthcare, wellness diagnostics and healthy ageing technologies are attracting increasing international attention and investment.
As populations age worldwide, demand for solutions that support longer and healthier lives is expected to grow significantly.
Dr Chan believes Malaysia is well positioned to participate in this emerging sector due to its healthcare expertise, established medical tourism industry and growing wellness infrastructure.
Based in Kota Kinabalu, the European Wellness Biomedical Group has developed collaborations and patient networks that extend beyond Malaysia, reflecting the increasing internationalisation of healthcare and wellness services.
He argues that Asia has the potential not only to participate in the longevity economy but also to contribute meaningfully to scientific research, innovation and healthcare delivery in this field.
The future of healthcare
As global populations continue to age, healthcare systems face growing pressure to address chronic disease, cognitive decline and age-related disability.
For Dr Chan, the solution lies in shifting focus from lifespan alone to healthspan.
The goal is not simply to add years to life, but to add life to those years through preventive healthcare, regenerative medicine, healthy ageing strategies and improved quality of life.
His appearances at Cannes reflected an effort to bring that message beyond scientific circles and into wider public consciousness.
“The future of healthcare is not only about treating disease. It is about maintaining vitality, mobility, cognitive function and quality of life for as long as possible,” he remarked.
As conversations around longevity continue to evolve, healthspan is increasingly emerging as a defining concept in modern healthcare. For Dr Chan, that shift represents more than a medical trend. It is a new way of thinking about human health, ageing and potential.
And it is a message he believes deserves a place not only in hospitals and research centres, but also on the global stage. ‒ Focus Malaysia
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