20-Jan-17 Poor spending on healthcare is a major concern in India, where most cannot afford private healthcare. India ranks abysmally low on public healthcare expenditure. The objective laid out in the National Health Policy to increase expenditure 1.04 per cent of GDP to 2.5 per cent by 2020, with 70 per cent for primary care, has been a welcome step. [image: Business Standard]

18-Jan-17 The CDFA has published “Guidelines for the Preparation of Special Reports on the Application of Innovative Medical Devices" to encourage medical device study and innovation, and to promote new medical device technology. The medical device industry represents massive potential in China with only 14% of the country’s total pharma/devices market, compared with 42% in developed markets. [image: Woke Medical]

18-Jan-17 Singapore will reorganise the healthcare system into three integrated clusters. Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said “There remain many challenges ahead such as our ageing population, increased chronic disease burden and the need to manage future growth in healthcare manpower and spending.” With all three clusters having primary care capabilities, integration of care in instances like patient referrals will be streamlined. [image: Today / Channel News Asia]

11-Jan-17 In 2016 only three mHealth apps obtained medical device authorization in Korea - and one of them was the National Health Insurance Service’s. In contrast, the USFDA authorized 36 digital healthcare devices in 2016. Regulations on cloud services and time-consuming approval of innovative devices are also hindering the growth of the Korean smart healthcare industry. [image: Business Korea]

11-Jan-17 Under pressure Thailand is seeking new markets and promoting health checks. Thailand is under pressure from competition and weaker economies in key source regions - Russia and Middle East. The government is beginning to move promotional efforts to newer markets of China and Indochina. [image: IMTJ]