02-Feb-15 A group of Indian healthcare operators, including Manipal Hospitals, Narayana Health and Pfizer, have got together with an investor to provide up to USD1.6 million in grants and investments to early-stage startups that seek to enhance access to affordable technology-driven healthcare products and services for the low-income population in India. [image: The Times of India]

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]

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]