Philippines The election of maverick former mayor of Davao, Rodrigo Duterte to the Filipino presidency in May 2016 represented a dramatic departure from politics as usual and raised interesting questions about future health policy in south East Asia’s second most populous country. “A human approach to development that leaves no citizen…

Singapore Singapore’s location at the heart of the APAC region, expertise in logistics and cold chain management, and smart investment in infrastructure has helped make the Lion City an indisputable global heavyweight in pharma logistics. “From a logistics standpoint, Singapore serves as a pivotal gateway to the broader region—namely because of…

Singapore The Asia-Pacific region is a vast geographic area, home to almost half of the world’s population and numerous emerging and developed markets with great investment potential for healthcare and life sciences companies. However, the degree of diversity within Asia-Pacific creates formidable challenges for MNCs operating in the region. “APAC is…

Philippines Key executives and industry leaders convened in September in Manila to discuss the dynamic and evolving healthcare industry in the Philippines, and how QuintilesIMS’ expanding technological portfolio of services will best allow companies to drive their momentum in the future. Technology is also impacting other sectors in the country, including…

Healthcare The benefits of economic growth in the Philippines are slowly starting to trickle down to the poorest in society via a more inclusive and affordable healthcare system. Access to healthcare information is also improving, allowing Filipinos to better understand their health. “Better informed patients make better patients.” Noel Lantin, Medicomm Pacific You…

Pharma Singapore, though conscious of its limitations, has been able to leverage its key assets of location, infrastructure and local talent in order to become the business hub for the entire region, with pharma and biotech as key components in its success. Singapore is … an attractive investment destination, especially for the…

Pharma The expansion of universal healthcare coverage and significant growth in the use and acceptance of generics across the Philippines pose a significant challenge to the innovative medicines industry but also offers a wealth of opportunities for both international and domestic players. The Philippines now utilizes low-cost generics more than any…

Pharma Since gaining independence in 1965, Singapore has invested heavily in moving beyond being a mere supplier of low cost labor like many of its Asian neighbors and pivoting into a more knowledge-based and innovation-intensive economy. Chemicals, engineering, and electronics have always served as key manufacturing segments, but only starting from…

Thailand Thailand has long been an active participant in vaccine R&D and is increasingly aware of the importance of self-reliance in vaccine production. Through government support and regional cooperation, Thailand is now positioning itself as a regional hub for vaccine research and production.   I’m confident Thailand can become the vaccine…

Thailand Thailand’s healthcare system has been a shining example to its neighbours and ensures all Thai citizens have access to nearly-free basic coverage. However, the system has strained public finances and will be affected by a loosening of the state monopoly on pharma sales. This signals a new era in the…

Thailand Thailand, with its modern and relatively cheap healthcare, has become a major destination for medical tourism. This trend brings billions of dollars into the Thai economy but the higher wages on offer in the private sector lure medical professionals away from the already overburdened public sector. A tax on medical…

pharma   The Thai pharmaceutical market is growing due to an aging, wealthier local population and a large medical tourism sector. International companies must however adapt their strategies to suit the Thai market; as must domestic concerns. With an estimated value of USD 4.5 billion, Thailand is Southeast Asia’s second largest…