12-Jul-16 In the Philippines, the healthcare system is challenged by resource constraints, affordability and dated health IT systems. The Department of Health reports there are 10 hospital beds per 10,000 population - half the WHO recommended number. To address these challenges, the government has set goals complementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 in achieving good health and well-being. [image: Manila Bulletin]

11-Jul-16 Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Health has encouraged public hospitals to begin preparing for full financial and managerial autonomy. Financial autonomy among hospitals is designed to help reduce state expenditures so that funds can be diverted to preventive medicine and targeted community-care programmes. [image: Phương Vy]

10-Jul-16 In a medical power shift in Asia, China is catching up fast with Korea and even Japan. Although it is still unclear how much money China spends on medical R&D, the country now makes up 20% of the world's total R&D expenditures, second only after the US (27%), according to the 2016 Science & Engineering Indicators report. [image: Korea Times / Jung Min-ho]

05-Jul-16 India is making steady progress in the export of drugs around the world. India's Commerce & Industry Ministry said "India's pharmaceutical exports continued their lead over China in 2015." However, experts warn this trend will wane if Indian firms continue to depend on Chinese raw materials. [image: Pixabay]

09-Jul-16 As China's medical bills rise steeply, outpacing government insurance provision, patients and their families are increasingly turning to loans to pay for healthcare, adding to the country's growing burden of consumer debt. That is luring big companies like Ping An Insurance as well as small loan firms and P2P platforms, as China's traditional savings culture proves inadequate. [image: Reuters / David Gray]