15-Sep-16 The Australian government has announced it will speed up the approval process for new medicines so that Australians can gain faster access to drugs. Currently, Australians are forced to wait up to two years longer than in other nations, but the new rules will allow drugs to be "fast-tracked" if approved by a regulator such as the USFDA. [image: News Corp Australia]

13-Sep-16 Intermountain Precision Genomics of the US and Singapore-based Asia Genomics are joining forces to deliver personalized medicine. First up is a test in Southeast Asia. Under the collaboration deal, the first for Intermountain outside the US, the firms are contracting to offer ICG100 testing. [image: Healthcare IT News]

13-Sep-16 The US’s Quantus Inc is planning to invest in a hi-tech hospital at Saigon Hi-Tech Park in Vietnam. The project will have 25-storey and 12-storey buildings, with a hi-tech hospital, a life science research and development institute, a residential area for patients' relatives, a VIP area, and a trade center. [image: SHTP]

12-Sep-16 Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has introduced health packages to support the country’s medical tourism marketing campaign. Called “Visit Thailand Enhance Your Healthy Life”, the project is expected to gain the support of 70 hospitals and clinics certified by JCI international standards. Three health packages are on offer including medical check-ups, dental service and infertility treatment. [image: TTR Weekly]

12-Sep-16 Hong Kong’s overburdened public hospitals will have to cope with a massive rise in patient admissions by 2041, with the number of inpatient days almost doubling, a study has predicted. The elderly would account for 76% of the increase in inpatient days, up from 62% per cent in 2022. Researchers called the rise “predictable but inevitable”. [image: South China Morning Post]