22-Jan-17 The healthcare construction market in the GCC appears to be growing at a steady rate as various high-value projects are being developed. There are 709 healthcare construction projects with a value of USD65 bn, out of which 133 are worth over USD100 mn. These projects make up almost 80% of all healthcare projects in the region. [image: World Health Organization]

20-Jan-17 Allianz announced it has partnered with telehealth startup Doctors on Demand to provide video consultation services as a value added provision for its policyholders in Australia. Policyholders will have access to complimentary video consultation and can request prescription services through the value added offering. [image: Insurance Business / iStock]

20-Jan-17 Private jet company L’Voyage is seeing growing interest in overseas medical and wellness trips from China. The ultra-rich prefer to fly by private jet and are increasingly choosing Europe and the US for treatments, drugs and technologies not available in China. Global Growth Markets estimates that 4,300 ultra-rich Chinese sought treatments overseas in 2015. [image: International Medical Travel Journal]

20-Jan-17 India's medical technology sector can make great contributions in terms of economic growth, job creation and enhanced innovation. The ‘Make in India’ campaign is a major boon to the medical technology industry, as currently 70% of medical equipment is imported. India should learn from China, where much higher reimbursement is allotted to locally produced medical devices and equipment. [image: Business Standard]

20-Jan-17 Poor spending on healthcare is a major concern in India, where most cannot afford private healthcare. India ranks abysmally low on public healthcare expenditure. The objective laid out in the National Health Policy to increase expenditure 1.04 per cent of GDP to 2.5 per cent by 2020, with 70 per cent for primary care, has been a welcome step. [image: Business Standard]