19-Oct-15 Korea's "Third Basic Plan on Low Fertility and Aging Society” is intended to raise the country’s fertility rate from 1.2 to 1.5 by 2020. The plan includes housing assistance measures for the younger generation and the newly married. Medical expenses relating to pregnancy are to be reduced, and medical procedures for fertility are to be covered by national health insurance. [image: Business Korea]

22-Oct-15 Although growth in emerging markets is slowing, Abbott CEO Miles White remains upbeat about the prospects in countries like China. During 3Q 2015, Abbott saw revenue in emerging markets soar 21%. “Policies focused on expanding access to care and favorable trends, including increasing birth rates, aging populations, and adoption of Western standards and technologies, are all driving growth,” said White. [image: MD + DI].

22-Oct-15 Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Health has launched an online database for treatment regimens for professionals to refer to. The website, pddt.medinet.org.vn, lists 2,366 treatment regimens which are in use at 21 leading infirmaries in the city. [image: Tuoi Tre News]

22-Oct-15 China's recently-announced reform of county-level hospitals is seriously underfunded, according to experts. Fudan University professor Hu Shanlian said "Now that hospitals are no longer allowed to mark up drugs, the drop in their revenue is huge". Hospitals are expected to raise service fees to compensate, however this may also raise expenses for patients, defeating the purpose of the reforms. [image: South China Morning Post]

21-Oct-15 GlaxoSmithKline's chief executive is joining a new panel to promote trade between Britain and China, just over a year after the drugmaker was handed a record fine of nearly USD500 mn (GBP323 mn ) for bribing Chinese doctors. The group has since been rebuilding its position in China. [image: Reuters / Luke Macgregor]