09-Jan-15 The China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) plans to allow online sales of prescription drugs soon. If approved, the policy could seed a market worth more than USD160 billion as sales shift from hospitals to online platforms such as Alibaba and JD.com. [image: Reuters/Stringer]

14-Jan-15 Overall, the Chinese government created lots of space for the private sector in 2014, meaning demand remained strong and companies benefited. This trend is likely to continue in 2015, especially if initiatives such as online drug sales, foreign participation in health services, and more funding for doctors’ pay, CFDA and telemedicine, are continued. [image: Forbes]

09-Jan-15 To enable more private operators to relieve the pressure on China’s over-burdened healthcare sector, the government is encouraging physicians to practice at more than one institution, by reforming the doctor registration system, initially on a trial basis. Currently, most physicians work in public hospitals and need permission from the hospital to practice elsewhere. [image: YourHealth]

08-Jan-15 The Food & Drug Administration in Taiwan has reiterated its determination to facilitate easy access to drugs to further promote responsible self-medication, which it says can save people time waiting in hospitals and clinics, as well as considerable National Health Insurance spending. [image: GBI Research]

06-Jan-15 Macau’s Health Bureau has been tasked by the government to develop an improved health system within a year, geared to international standards and resolving various issues. Some of the problems are long waiting lists for specialist clinics, lack of patient education, and lack of training and promotion opportunities for practitioners. Over 500 new staff will be hired. [image: Macau Daily Times]