12-Sep-16 Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has introduced health packages to support the country’s medical tourism marketing campaign. Called “Visit Thailand Enhance Your Healthy Life”, the project is expected to gain the support of 70 hospitals and clinics certified by JCI international standards. Three health packages are on offer including medical check-ups, dental service and infertility treatment. [image: TTR Weekly]

12-Sep-16 Hong Kong’s overburdened public hospitals will have to cope with a massive rise in patient admissions by 2041, with the number of inpatient days almost doubling, a study has predicted. The elderly would account for 76% of the increase in inpatient days, up from 62% per cent in 2022. Researchers called the rise “predictable but inevitable”. [image: South China Morning Post]

11-Sep-16 While demographers still assess the effects of the relaxation of the one-child policy, pregnant women and hospitals are feeling the squeeze. China forecasts that an extra 17 mn babies will be born within the next five years. In some of those years, there are expected to be more than 20 mn births. [image: South China Morning Post]

10-Sep-16 Studies in Taiwan and China have shown reductions in incident myopia of 25-50% when children spend an additional 40-80 minutes outdoors. In Taiwan, two hours of outdoor activity has been added to school programs. “Evidence that children who spend more time outdoors... are less likely to be or become myopic has been presented,” said Nina Jacobsen MD. [image: Zeiss]

31-Aug-16  Japanese ophthalmology specialist Santen Pharmaceutical has announced the start of operations of its joint venture with state-owned Chinese group Chongqing Kerui. This partnership, which will involve the establishment of China’s largest manufacturing site for eye care treatments in the city of Chongqing, promises to provide people in China with affordable ophthalmic products. [image: Santen Pharmaceutical]