01-Sep-16 A pilot program connecting doctors with disabled patients through the use of information and telecommunications technology has kicked off in Korea. The program will involve the patients, including those in welfare and other facilities, and two hospitals. The program, however, faces strong opposition from the medical industry. [image: The Korea Herald]

26-Aug-16 Korea's KT is focusing on three large healthcare areas – bioinformatics, disease diagnosis solutions, and customized personal healthcare services based on wearable devices. NeoFit, to launch in Sep-16, is a smart healthcare wrist band which can analyze workout rates by body part, allowing the device to gather massive datasets and offer customized healthcare services. [image: Business Korea]

10-Aug-16 South Korea bans doctor-patient virtual visits, and expects major demonstrations by doctors and activists when it comes up for a vote in the National Assembly. Medical professionals, including the 100,000 doctors in the KMA who successfully blocked telemedicine in 2014, are calling for "a slower, more collaborative plan of attack that establishes safety protocols." [image: Business Korea]

12-Jul-16 Major hospitals in Korea's second largest city Busan - Dong-a University Hospital, Kangdong Hospital and CMS Korea - are visiting Russia to enter the market and entice Russian patients. The number of foreigners visiting Korea for medical treatment stood at 297,000 in 2015, up 11% from 2014. Russian patients accounted for 7% and Busan was their major destination. [image: Busan Medical Tourism]

10-Jul-16 In a medical power shift in Asia, China is catching up fast with Korea and even Japan. Although it is still unclear how much money China spends on medical R&D, the country now makes up 20% of the world's total R&D expenditures, second only after the US (27%), according to the 2016 Science & Engineering Indicators report. [image: Korea Times / Jung Min-ho]