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]

20-Apr-16 Singapore’s medical devices industry is aiming to hit SGD5 bn in manufacturing output. The government is targeting up to 1 mn foreign patients a year, which will contribute SGD2.6 bn (USD1.6 bn), or about 1%, to Singapore’s GDP. Already there are 30 global medical technology companies, including the industry’s leading manufacturers, with operations and R&D in Singapore. [image: Asian Briefing].

19-Apr-16 The Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued draft rules that establish registration and quality system requirements for medical devices and IVDs distinct from pharmaceutical products. Although the new rules pertain only to manufacturers based in India, they are significant by showing that the government now distinguishes medical devices as a separate industry from pharmaceuticals. [image: Business Today]

30-Mar-16 Hundreds of Australians implanted with a defective hip device will be eligible for a share of AUD250 mn in compensation following the conditional settlement of a long-running class action. It is estimated 1,700 Australians will be eligible to share in the settlement. The action was started in 2010 after a worldwide recall of the DePuy device. [image: DePuy]

21-Mar-16 Johnson & Johnson has seen the profitability of its consumer and medical device sectors flag in recent years, prompting activist investor Artisan to put pressure on the firm. The company’s executives recently shared their vision for growing its medical device business with a six-pronged plan that includes boosting its consumer medical devices business and expanding into emerging markets. [image: Johnson & Johnson]