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]

27-Jan-15 Metro Pacific Investments Corp (MPIC) is to buy 12 more hospitals outside Metro Manila. MPIC already has stakes in eight hospitals with 2,082 beds combined, which it wants to bring to 2,712 by the end of 2015. Acquisition targets are most likely to be in North and Southern Luzon. [image: Rappler]

27-Jan-15 The second phase of a healthcare program exclusively dedicated to people in Vietnam’s Central Highlands has started in Dak Lak. The Asian Development Bank has committed USD16.2 million to the program up to 2018. The initial goal of the program is to provide basic medical checks for one million residents in the region. [image: Tuoi Tre News]

26-Jan-15 Thonburi Hospital Group (THG), Thailand's third-largest private hospital group, says it expects to sign an MOU with Ga Mone Pwint (GMP Group) in Yangon to start building two superior-standard hospitals there. THG, which has 22 hospitals in Thailand and elsewhere with 3,000 beds combined, plans to spend US$100 million on the two hospitals. [image: Myanmar Business Today/Thonburi]