05-Jan-16 Brazilian physicians heavily rely on smartphone apps to communicate with their patients. 87% of physicians in Brazil use WhatsApp to talk to their patients, more than in Italy (62%) and the UK (2%). Usage of SMS and emails is rising among doctors and patients, and cellphones have become the primary means of contact (84%). [image: caribbeanmedstudent]

30-Dec-15 Bolivian President Evo Morales has announced investment of USD1.70 bn in the hospital sector as part of the 2016-2020 Social & Economic Development Plan. Four level-4 hospitals are planned, located in Cochabamba, Tarija, La Paz, and Santa Cruz, and specialising in oncology, cardiology, gastroenterology, and neurology respectively. Morales also confirmed the development of a universal healthcare system. [image: Plan Canada]

29-Dec-15 The Chilean company AccuHealth, a pioneer in virtual clinical hospitals, has joined the Business Call to Action (BCtA) with a patient-centric telemonitoring service designed to improve the health and livelihoods of chronically ill patients at an affordable cost. By 2020, AccuHealth aims to serve 200,000 chronically ill patients living at the base of the economic pyramid in Chile. [image: Business Call To Action]

15-Dec-15 Ovitz Corporation, a startup that develops portable devices to check eyes, is set to support developing countries. Kim Joung-yoon, CEO of Ovitz, said “There are 4.5 billion people across the globe in need of visual correction, and 80% of cases are preventable... However, it is actually very difficult for the disadvantaged in developing countries to get proper eye exams." [image: Business Korea]

07-Dec-15 Diabetes afflicts over 400 mn people. Many new technologies are being developed but those with the greatest impact will likely be low-cost solutions that can be applied in markets such as China, India, Brazil, Mexico and Indonesia. Low-cost programs are becoming increasingly possible, for example mClinica's patient management programs tailored for emerging markets, that use mobile messaging to encourage healthy behaviors. [image: Shutterstock]