14-Aug-16 As the economic boom in Gulf countries has deflated in tandem with hydrocarbon prices, the region has been saddled with another boom, struggling under a massive social burden of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular ailments. The GCC region is now expected to see the healthcare industry flourish as it works to keep the populace healthy. [image: Dallah Healthcare]

14-Aug-16 China has the highest number of diabetics in the world - 109 mn in 2015 or 11% of the population, a third of the world’s diabetic population. 13% of medical expenditure is directly caused by diabetes. "If we don’t act now," says Bernhard Schwartländer, a WHO representative in China, "diabetes will overwhelm the health system." [image: Reuters / Kim Kyung-Hoon]

05-Aug-16 New research shows one in four chronically ill Australians is skipping healthcare because of high costs. James Cook University said the situation was significantly worse in Australia than in Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany. The study found that more than one-third of people with asthma, emphysema and COPD could not afford the treatment they needed. [image: ABC North Queensland / Nathalie Fernbach]

05-Aug-16 The latest reform of China's health system will see patients sign contracts with physicians for basic medical needs. According to the State Council, pregnant women, the elderly, children and those with chronic diseases are the prime targets of the new system. The initiative is intended to make services more accessible to the public and reduce overall medical costs. [image: China Daily]

04-Aug-16 AXA Singapore has launched a health app that provides users with access to medical advice from GPs via live chat or secure “face-to-face” video call. This is the first time an insurer is offering such a service in Asia. The mobile app will also allow customers to manage their healthcare experience by submitting and tracking their health claims online. [image: AXA]