17-Mar-17 TPG, the US alternative-investment firm, sees opportunities in healthcare in Asia to meet untapped demand in some of the fastest-growing economies. The region is short of quality healthcare infrastructure, said Jim Coulter, co-CEO. TPG’s Asian investment arm manages USD6 bn in assets, including a stake in the United Family Healthcare chain of high-end Chinese hospitals. [image: Bloomberg]

17-Mar-17 Japan's medical equipment makers are stepping up efforts in the Middle East, where their presence has been small but where they see significant growth potential. Fujifilm will deliver over 200 units of its X-ray system to public hospitals in Saudi Arabia by the end of Mar-17, while Olympus is planning to begin sales at its new headquarters in Dubai. [image: Nikkei Asian Review]

16-Mar-17 Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand plans to introduce robots into the dispensing process at its pharmacies to improve accuracy in preparing patients' prescriptions, increasing patient safety, and speeding up the hospital's pharmacy services. Currently the hospital handles more than 2 mn lists of medicine per year for patients and is targeting zero errors after the robots are introduced. [image: Bangkok Post]

16-Mar-17 The USA has long been a top destination for travellers from Gulf Coast Countries seeking healthcare treatments abroad. Since Donald Trump's travel ban was announced, travel bookings from the countries covered have decreased by 80%. With Emiratis alone, travelling abroad for treatment spending USD250,000 per-visit, American specialist facilities are rightly concerned over the implications the ban might have. [image: Arab Health]

16-Mar-17 Malaysia’s medical tourism industry grew by almost 25% in 2016, raking in an estimated MYR1.15 bn (USD260 mn) in hospital revenue, revealed the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council. CEO Sherene Azli said medical tourists were the biggest spenders among tourists in the country. “Our medical tourists mostly come from Indonesia, China, India, Australia, the United Kingdom and the Middle East,” she said. [image: Free Malaysia Today]