31-Mar-15 The healthcare unit of infrastructure giant Metro Pacific Investments Corp (MPIC) is set to build the Philippines' largest private hospital in the Zamboanga Peninsula. MPIC said it has signed a long term lease agreement with Western Mindanao Medical Center, a hospital with a 25-year history of service in Zamboanga. [image: The Philippine Star]

31-Mar-15 One out of five patients in Malaysia's private hospitals is expected to turn to the overburdened public healthcare system after a new Goods & Services Tax (GST) is implemented on 1-Apr-15. The Malaysian Medical Association stressed that the shift is expected to be a temporary one lasting three to four months, pending medical insurance top-ups. [image: Saw Siow Feng / Malay Mail Online]

27-Mar-15 In the wake of PT Mitra Keluarga Karyasehat's successful IPO in Jakarta, financial analysts in Indonesia say that publicly-traded companies in the healthcare and hospital sector are set to see a brighter business outlook, as Indonesians are increasingly becoming more concerned about their health, especially the growing middle classes. This trend is supported by various government initiatives. [image: Tempo]

26-Mar-15 Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has said drastic measures to facilitate the development of private healthcare are needed, including removing "all obstacles", in an effort to reduce patient overload. The PM also encouraged IT and technology in medical examinations, hospital management, medical records and health insurance. [image: VNA]

20-Mar-15 Hanoi's Bach Mai Hospital and GE Healthcare have signed an MOU to introduce a new training programme aimed at improving patient connectivity and clinical decision making. USD250,000 worth of patient monitors provided by GE Healthcare will be used to help train clinicians across the country, in the ER and ICU. [image: Vietnam Investment Review]