30-Aug-16 Australia’s first large-scale trial of telehealth has shown it could save up to AUD3 bn (USD2.3 bn) a year. The research involved trialling telehealth systems with 287 patients over 12 months. It showed savings of 24% to the healthcare system made through falls in the number and cost of GP visits, specialist visits and procedures. [image: CSIRO]

25-Aug-16 As incomes rise, many China residents are seeking out better quality care than that provided by public hospitals. They want easier ways to book appointments, shorter waits and greater individual attention from doctors. The demand is expected to drive the private health insurance market to USD165 bn in 2020 from USD36 bn in 2015. [image: South China Morning Post]

22-Jul-16 China must take steps to overhaul its healthcare sector as expenditures will be difficult to sustain in a slowing economy, says a World Bank report. The study found that expenditures would grow 9.4% annually from 2015 to 2020, while GDP is projected to grow at 6.5%, meaning health costs would rise from 5.6% to over 9% of GDP by 2035. [image: How Hwee Young / European Pressphoto Agency]

19-Jul-16 Adoption of EHR in India is inconsistent and more prevalent in private hospitals. Systems not always meeting interoperability norms, and incomplete coverage of Aadhar (ID numbers) pose significant issues. 35% of people rely on private points of care which often do not adopt EHR due to the cost, and connectivity in rural health centres also remains poor. [image: The Hindu]

11-Jul-16 Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Health has encouraged public hospitals to begin preparing for full financial and managerial autonomy. Financial autonomy among hospitals is designed to help reduce state expenditures so that funds can be diverted to preventive medicine and targeted community-care programmes. [image: Phương Vy]