22-Feb-16 The healthcare sector is expected to invest VND1.8 tn (USD81 mn) in IT in 2016-20, according to a plan approved by the Ministry of Health. There will be 33 IT projects in the next five years, including building a database on human resources, constructing infrastructure for the ministry’s data center, and developing an integrated information system for the ministry’s leadership. [image: Le Toan / Vietnam Investment Review]

21-Feb-16 Iran and Russia have inked three memoranda of understanding to boost medical cooperation, ranging from exchanging knowledge and technology to importing and exporting medications. Iranian pharma companies are eager to export their products to Russia and Russian officials are optimistic. [image: Tehran Times]

19-Feb-16 Non-emergency patients will soon have to make advance appointments to attend 22 major hospitals under the Beijing Municipal Commission of Health & Family Planning. The hospitals will stop issuing registration tickets on arrival and patients will have to make appointments online, by phone or at ticket machines in the hospitals. The measure is hoped to reduce excessive crowds. [image: Xinhua]

18-Feb-16 Australia's Telstra will continue to invest in its Telstra Health division to allow it to grow in scale, capability and reputation, Telstra said as it released its half-year financial results, which showed net profit USD2.1 bn. Activities in the half included acquiring Health IQ, which supplies patient flow software, and community care software firm EOS Technologies. [image: Pulse + IT]

17-Feb-16 The Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia has granted Abbott approval for its new glucose monitoring system, FreeStyle Libre. The technology removes the need for finger pricks and monitors glucose levels through a device worn on the back of the arm and secured by an adhesive pad. A handheld reader is scanned over the sensor to get a glucose result. [image: Abbott]