12-Mar-17 Private healthcare institutions in emerging Asian economies are cutting costs to offer high-quality care at 50-70% the price of large private hospitals. QualiMed in the Philippines has kept labor costs down by hiring young doctors who cannot afford a hospital space. Columbia Asia keeps operating costs low by focusing on high-demand fields. [image: Nikkei Asian Review]

12-Mar-17 China has said its population will peak to 1.45 bn by 2030 and drop to 1.1 bn towards 2100, as it shrugged off concerns over a declining labour force. In 2016 China relaxed its One Child Policy amid concerns over a rapidly ageing population. Following the second-child policy, a total of 18.46 mn births were recorded across China in 2016. [image: The Siasat Daily]

11-Mar-17 In India, the prices of all medical devices except for stents, condoms and intrauterine devices can only be raised by up to 10% a year, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority said. The regulator also clarified that all medical devices notified as drugs under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act will have to carry their maximum retail price on their packs. [image: ET Healthworld]

10-Mar-17 Seattle-based Columbia Pacific, owner of Columbia Asia Hospital Group, has acquired Serene Senior Care, a leading player in the housing segment for senior citizens in India. Columbia Pacific said it will significantly expand its senior housing portfolio over the next five years. It currently operates 735 units in South India, and plans to expand to 1,700 units by fall 2017. [image: Corp Expansion]

 Insights

10-Mar-17 Indonesia is likely the largest outbound medical travel market, according to Josef Woodman of Patients Beyond Borders. “Indonesia’s healthcare infrastructure is generally poor and about 1.5 to 2 mn Indonesian medical travelers go to Southeast Asia or Australia,” he said. China is also one of the largest medical tourism markets as many Chinese travelers look for better healthcare. [image: Skift]