19-Aug-16 To treat cancers Singapore is investing close to SGD100 mn on a proton beam therapy system which causes much less damage to healthy tissue than current radiation therapy. With about three in five cancer patients requiring radiation, the National Cancer Centre Singapore has been studying the technology for a decade, but cost and size have been major inhibitors. [image: Tiffany Goh / The Straits Times]

17-Aug-16 Microsoft Malaysia and Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science & Technology (CREST) have signed an MOU to drive connected healthcare innovation through a CREST-Microsoft Health Innovation Hub. The digital health hub will provide end-to-end services for developers, start-ups and researchers looking to co-innovate and co-sell telehealth, smart access, remote patient monitoring, drug adherence, and corporate wellness. [image: Digital News Asia]

15-Aug-16 India now is a springboard for developing medical device companies who envision a big future on a global scale. Of the 37 mn people who are blind, more than 15 mn are from India. Forus Health’s 3nethra device is designed to take a picture of the eye and detect the five major ailments that lead to blindness. [image: Forus Health]

11-Aug-16 Australian medical device innovator Atomo Diagnostics announced it has raised AUD4.5 mn in new equity from professional investors. Former Macquarie Group Managing Director and CEO Allan Moss said, "Atomo has developed a remarkably user-friendly and accurate testing device which has the potential to assist greatly in detecting HIV and other diseases in Africa and globally." [image: Atomo Diagnostics]

07-Aug-16 Businesses in Japan are looking to cash in on the potential for smartphones and wearable devices as health care trends toward the digital age. They are especially interested in preventive medicine, an area that could help Japan slash its ballooning medical costs. But the environment for startups in Japan is making it difficult to find a viable business model. [image: IStock / The Japan Times]