18-Nov-15 According to the Malaysian Healthcare Travel Council, Malaysia attracted 880,000 medical tourists in 2014 and wants to boost these numbers by 10% in 2015 and eventually cross the 1 mn mark by 2016. The MHTC is now focusing more intensely on “halal health treatments” to entice medical travellers from Muslim countries, such as those in the Gulf Cooperation Council. [image: Global Health and Travel]

18-Nov-15 The Brazilian São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) and UK pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced that they will be working together on the creation of two clinical research centres at educational and R&D institutions in the state of São Paulo. This project will require BRL88 mn, of which the FAPESP and GSK will share BRL35 mn. [image: GSK]

16-Nov-15 Japan, with sales of USD115, accounts for 10% of the global pharma market, compared with 38% for the US and 21% for Europe. Lupin is the only Indian company in Japan's generics market. But now Sun Pharmaceuticals is planning to acquire Novartis' Japanese drug portfolio. Other Indian generics makers, including Dr Reddy’s and Glenmark, are also exploring options. [image: Bloomberg]

12-Nov-15 Myanmar's public hospitals are now permitted to procure pharmaceuticals through a tender system. In 2014, the volume of drugs available at public hospitals was 35 times higher than in 2011. The tender system is expected to reduce the surpluses and shortages that were common under the former rationing system. [image: Taipei Times]

18-Nov-15 In its second collaboration with the Mexican government this month, Novartis has signed a letter of intent with Mexico's Ministry of Health (Secretaría de Salud) aimed at intensifying co-operation in clinical research and joint solutions for health services. Novartis will invest USD50 mn in clinical research over the next half-decade. [image: Mexico News Daily]