29-Aug-16 Healthcare costs in Malaysia have crept up as much as 15% annually over the past three years. The depreciation of the Ringgit is partly to blame for the increasingly expensive medical bills. Longer queues in public hospitals, while the number of patients at private hospitals has dropped 20%, expose the structural problem of the healthcare system. [image: The Edge Markets / Malaysia Health Ministry / World Bank]

27-Aug-16 Chongqing in Southwest China began piloting the family doctor program in 2012, under which community doctors sign contracts with residents and provide with them medical services, including health management, disease prevention and regular physical examinations at home. 200 Chinese cities will introduce such services in 2016. By 2020, China is planning to extend family doctor services to the entire population. [image: Shanghai Daily / CFP]

26-Aug-16 Columbia Asia Hospitals has announced the launch of its 'Columbia Diabetes Care Program'. This is the first multi-specialty hospital in house diabetes management program. It will aid patients with prevention and treatment options for diabetes and related issues such as diabetic retinopathy and renal failure, and includes a mobile app to track data from a 'smart' glucometer. [image: Columbia Asia]

25-Aug-16 As incomes rise, many China residents are seeking out better quality care than that provided by public hospitals. They want easier ways to book appointments, shorter waits and greater individual attention from doctors. The demand is expected to drive the private health insurance market to USD165 bn in 2020 from USD36 bn in 2015. [image: South China Morning Post]

25-Aug-16 India's Manipal Health Enterprises aims to build more hospitals in the next five years in a move to expand and strengthen its healthcare business as a recognised medical excellence brand in Malaysia. [image: MHE]