17-Mar-17 The Malaysian Medical Device Agency has made public its plans to ratify the ASEAN Medical Device Directive, a framework intended to harmonize medical device regulations across 10 ASEAN member nations, in mid-2017. The agency has also announced its plans to undertake revisions of the country’s current medical device regulatory system in 2017. [image: Pacific Bridge Medical]

17-Mar-17 Japan's medical equipment makers are stepping up efforts in the Middle East, where their presence has been small but where they see significant growth potential. Fujifilm will deliver over 200 units of its X-ray system to public hospitals in Saudi Arabia by the end of Mar-17, while Olympus is planning to begin sales at its new headquarters in Dubai. [image: Nikkei Asian Review]

16-Mar-17 Green Cross of Korea has signed a contract with TECO Diagnostics to supply USD12.3 mn worth of blood glucose monitors. The volume to be supplied is equivalent to 25% of the whole blood glucose meter market in Algeria. [image: Green Cross Medical Science]

15-Mar-17 India's decision to put in place price controls on cardiac stents shows it is a country that isn't business-friendly, say representatives from the US Embassy in New Delhi. The country’s classification of the cardiac stents as an essential medicine requires that they abide by new regulatory guidelines and pricing regulations. [image: Hindustan Times]

14-Mar-17 Alex Gorsky, CEO of Johnson & Johnson said: "We believe that the macro trends - a large population, urbanisation, growing middle class, demand for healthier lifestyles and care choices - remain favourable for... China's healthcare industry. J&J has a legacy of translating technological innovation and medical science breakthroughs into industrial outputs that address the needs of patients and consumers." [image: China Daily]