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 News organizations have been furiously covering Zika virus, a mosquito-borne disease which reappeared in Brazil in late 2015 and has since resulted in over 1.6 mn cases. The World Health Organization declared Zika a public health emergency in Feb-16. From tracking the disease over time to visualizing the spread of mosquitoes, Zika has been covered in different compelling, visual ways. [image: Vox]

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 The Philippines’ oldest conglomerate Ayala Corp plans to expand its investments in the healthcare sector with the roll out of 100 retail clinics under the brand-name FamilyDoc over the next three years. So far, it has two FamilyDoc clinics located in Las Piñas and Imus, Cavite. The clinics will house a pharmacy, a diagnostic center, and physicians to handle consultations. [image: Retail News Asia]