31-Jan-15 Japan's Chugai Pharmaceutical will invest $476 million over the next seven years to expand its research institute in Singapore. The investment will make its centre at Biopolis one of the biggest pharmaceutical research and development operations in Singapore. It will also boost its "local employee base and antibody research and development pipeline", the company said. [image: Reuters]

31-Jan-15 India has a huge demand for healthcare and consequently for medical devices and equipment. However, setting up a distribution network for selling equipment in India is no mean task. There are very few distributors with full nationwide coverage. Manufacturers need to forge multiple relationships to establish a pan-India network, and must also be aware of pitfalls such as non-performing exclusive partners, unethical practices and the difficulties of providing after-sales service. [image: Euro Kerala Tour]

30-Jan-15 China's mobile healthcare market is expected to see fast growth and hit 12.5 billion yuan (USD2 billion) by 2017, according to the China Medical Pharmaceutical Material Association. There are already more than 2,000 mobile healthcare applications in China and 527 million mobile Internet users. [image: mHealthWatch]

28-Jan-15 In the Middle East & Africa non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are predicted to cost over USD68 billion by 2022, and by 2030 almost 80% of deaths will result from NCDs. The region is lagging behind on gathering and sharing clinical data. However, linking patients, doctors and hospital equipment using Big Data could bring quality healthcare much closer to home for all in the Middle East. [image: The Pulse / GE Healthcare]

28-Jan-15 Turkey continues to assert its dominance as a major medical tourism destination, with a record 360,000 foreign patients visiting the country in 2014, up from 308,000 in 2013. A further 100,000 received treatment as outpatients. Turkey’s long hot season, international travel connections and low cost healthcare all help to draw in medical tourists. [image: Nikkei Asian Review]