12-Jan-16 Samsung India and the Department of Health have signed an agreement to introduce the Samsung Smart Healthcare programme to Haryana. The initiative has been designed to provide government hospitals with state-of-the-art medical equipment with the aim of making affordable healthcare accessible to the large number of patients from Gurgaon and neighbouring localities, especially from the economically weaker sections. [image: Samsung]

07-Jan-16 With the addition of 25,000 hospital beds and a 5x increase in health budget, the health sector in West Bengal is on the verge of a turnaround. Sick newborn care units have increased to 45 from six, medicines have been made free for the poor, and a number of fair price diagnostic centres have been set up. [image: Hospital Directory Asia]

30-Dec-15 Bolivian President Evo Morales has announced investment of USD1.70 bn in the hospital sector as part of the 2016-2020 Social & Economic Development Plan. Four level-4 hospitals are planned, located in Cochabamba, Tarija, La Paz, and Santa Cruz, and specialising in oncology, cardiology, gastroenterology, and neurology respectively. Morales also confirmed the development of a universal healthcare system. [image: Plan Canada]

24-Dec-15 China's public insurance coverage is far less than adequate with low reimbursement rates – patented medicine and use of high-end medical devices are usually not covered. These gaps, together with China’s effort to boost investment in private healthcare insurance, have opened up attractive opportunities for foreign insurance companies, as the sector grows at over 40% annually. [image: China Briefing]

21-Dec-15 Australia's doctors lobby has warned the government not to allow health funds to price insurance based on factors such as age and lifestyle, while attacking "junk" policies that don't cover common procedures. Government budgets are under strain and surging costs have put pressure on premiums, prompting a federal review into private insurance and other reviews of the health system. [image: Andrew Meares / The Age]