12-Jan-17 Samsung Electronics will develop 'wearable healthcare devices' as its new business for the future instead of the robots that LG and other rivals are paying attention to. "The roles of home robots recently introduced by home appliance companies can be realized by adding artificial intelligence to existing devices such as smartphones, TVs and IoT refrigerators,” said a representative. [image: Business Korea]

11-Jan-17 In 2016 only three mHealth apps obtained medical device authorization in Korea - and one of them was the National Health Insurance Service’s. In contrast, the USFDA authorized 36 digital healthcare devices in 2016. Regulations on cloud services and time-consuming approval of innovative devices are also hindering the growth of the Korean smart healthcare industry. [image: Business Korea]

11-Jan-17 American medical device contract manufacturer Paramit Corp announced the opening of its new facility located on mainland Penang in Malaysia. The site will be the region’s largest manufacturing facility for complex medical devices, realising sophisticated systems for genetic and molecular testing, robotic surgery and cancer treatment, and will also serve its current industrial products customer base. [image: The Star / Asri Abdul Ghani]

11-Jan-17 With Malaysia emerging as the number one country in the world for healthcare, the government is working to secure MYR1 bn (USD225 mn) to expand its medical industry. Already doing well in medical tourism, Penang would be focusing on turning itself into a medical city. Malaysia was recently named number one in the world for healthcare by International Living magazine. [image: Free Malaysia Today]

11-Jan-17 Under pressure Thailand is seeking new markets and promoting health checks. Thailand is under pressure from competition and weaker economies in key source regions - Russia and Middle East. The government is beginning to move promotional efforts to newer markets of China and Indochina. [image: IMTJ]