24-Nov-16 Korean biotech and healthcare companies are expanding their business in Japan. Macrogen recently established in Kyoto to provide a genome analysis service. Medipost set up a JV in Japan to release its stem cell therapy product Cartistem. MediTox is supplying anti-aging products in the Japanese market and Tego Science exhibited its anti-wrinkle cell therapy product TPX-105 at Bio Japan. [image: Business Korea]

19-Nov-16  The Japanese government is teaming up with domestic health care companies to gauge demand in China for new nursing care services and equipment in a bid to expand sales channels. The companies include Nichiigakkan, a nursing care provider, hospital bed maker Paramount Bed, wheelchair maker Kawamura Cycle and P2P Bank, a developer of anti-dementia programs. [image: Nikkei Asian Review]

18-Nov-16 Mitsui, one of Japan’s largest corporations, and investment firm KKR have announced the signing of a share purchase agreement for 22% of Panasonic Healthcare for JPY54.1 bn (USD510 mn). Panasonic Healthcare develops, manufactures, and sells blood glucose monitoring systems for diabetes. In Jan-16 it acquired Ascensia, formerly the diabetes care unit of Bayer. [image: Panasonic]

24-Oct-16 Leading Singaporean medical service provider Raffles Medical Group is eager to enlarge its footprint in Japan, encouraged by the success of the clinic it launched in Osaka in 2015. The facility has received a steady flow of patients thanks to the large number of Chinese tourists visiting the city. [image: Nikkei Asian Review]

27-Oct-16 The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor & Welfare announced it will conduct a survey of medical infrastructure to examine how foreign patients use the system. The purpose is to improve medical services for foreign patients before the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Preliminary results show foreign patients have had trouble locating a hospital where they can communicate with staff. [image: Medical Tourism Magazine]