10-Feb-15 Encouraged by a relaxation of ownership rules in 2014 and a rapidly ageing population, PE firms and industry players are investing in China’s hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and device makers. The prospect of 223 million people aged 65+ by 2030 is enticing, despite risks such as rising valuations and a dearth of doctors. [image: Reuters]

06-Feb-15 Foreign producers of medical devices and supplies will be phased out of government tenders in Russia as Moscow strives to curb reliance on imports. Foreign companies’ tender applications will now be denied if there are two entries from Russia or other Eurasian Economic Union members Belarus, Armenia and Kazakhstan. [image: The Moscow Times]

23-Jan-15 India’s medical electronics market will almost double to USD11.7 billion by 2017, growing at an annual rate of 16%, an SVP of Chennai’s Medall Diagnostics said recently. Increased awareness of healthcare delivery systems, lifestyle diseases, exploding population and increased middle-class income are the main drivers. “The future of electronics is in the field of healthcare”, he added. [image: Business Standard]

01-Feb-15 Brazil has plans to engage a medtech company to improve cardiology in state-sponsored hospitals. Medtronic sees an opportunity post-acquisition of Covidien, and plans to position itself as an entire cabinet supplier for cardiac surgery. "We feel you need to be bigger if you really want to be on the speed dial of the president of Brazil" a spokesperson said. [image: StarTribune/Bloomberg, Ariana Lindquist].

31-Jan-15 India has a huge demand for healthcare and consequently for medical devices and equipment. However, setting up a distribution network for selling equipment in India is no mean task. There are very few distributors with full nationwide coverage. Manufacturers need to forge multiple relationships to establish a pan-India network, and must also be aware of pitfalls such as non-performing exclusive partners, unethical practices and the difficulties of providing after-sales service. [image: Euro Kerala Tour]