08-Jun-16 A new global survey of patients and doctors by Philips shows that emerging economies are poised to adopt new technology, led by UAE and China. Australia comes in 4th and the US 6th. At the bottom of the report is Japan, where strict regulation and a lack of oversight have made the healthcare system less efficient. [image: UIG / Getty Images]

11-May-16 Japan is home to four of the world’s top 10 innovative medical device companies, including the world leader Olympus, according to the 2016 State of Innovation Report. China, Korea, Europe and the US are also listed in the global top 10. The medical devices sector clocked 27% growth in year-on-year patent volume in 2015, followed by pharmaceuticals at 4%. [image: Mestec]

26-Apr-16 The Japanese government will work with medical device maker Nihon Trim to set up a chain of hospitals in China, to promote medical exports while helping to alleviate the shortage of facilities there for treating lifestyle diseases. Mitsubishi Corp and other major companies are considering contributing through such steps as developing meals for diets designed to prevent diabetes. [image: Reuters]

17-Mar-16 Canon Inc is to buy Toshiba Corp's medical equipment unit for JPY665.5 bn (USD6 bn). Canon, which makes X-ray machines and eye examination devices, has been trying for years to expand into high-margin medical devices, particularly as demand for traditional cameras has declined with the advent of smartphones. [image: Reuters]

29-Feb-16 The Japanese External Trade Organization (JETRO), which has set a foreign direct investment target of USD300 bn by 2020, is now wooing Indian pharmaceutical companies to maximize its conducive research-innovation ecosystem and advanced manufacturing infrastructure. To this end Japan has amended the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, drastically improving the approval process for medicine and medical devices. [image: JETRO]