20-Oct-16 Singapore's Health Ministry has launched a manpower plan to attract more Singaporeans to take up careers in the healthcare industry. The Ministry estimates that 30,000 more healthcare workers would be needed by 2020 to meet the demands of an ageing population. More doctors are also being trained, with a 30 percent increase in family medicine trainees expected by 2019. [image: Sherlyn Goh / Channel News Asia]

20-Oct-16  Indonesia is at risk of being unable to cater for growing demand for healthcare, as most hospitals have yet to meet service-quality requirements. Only 308 hospitals in Indonesia, or 20.8 percent of the total nationwide, have been accredited by the National Hospital Accreditation Committee (KARS) since 2012, when accreditation was introduced.  [image: Wikipedia]

20-Oct-16 The first Japanese private hospital has opened in Cambodia, aimed to reduce the flow of Cambodian patients to neighboring countries. The hospital provides a 52-bed health service with more than 100 staff, of whom 30% are Japanese. Some 150,000 Cambodians travel abroad annually for health treatment, spending around USD600 mn. Vietnam and Thailand are their main destinations. [image: KYODO / The Japan Times]

17-Oct-16 Global medical devices manufacturer Boston Scientific is set to expand in Asia Pacific and has embarked on its first manufacturing site in Asia, in Penang. The 375,000 square feet facility at the Batu Kawan Industrial Park is expected to be completed in Q4 2017. [image: SME Magazine]

13-Oct-16 The Philippines is short of 15,000 doctors to be able to adequately meet the health needs of Filipinos. It currently has one doctor for every 33,000 persons. The Health Secretary said there is a lack of volunteers willing to go to rural areas. The Doctors to the Barrios program can accommodate 398 doctors. However, 116 posts remain vacant. [image: CNN Philippines]