Asia Health and Wellness News Summary – April 2010

April 25, 2010 | Written by rfasia

Medical Reform

• Beijing completed the public review of the municipal medical reform plan. However, a commentator likens the provision to encourage specialists to voluntarily serve in Beijing’s community hospitals to using missiles for killing mosquitoes.
• On the issue of doctor-patient relations, a news media in Wuhan reported on the netizen-initiated action to rank good and bad doctors. Against this background, a training program is launched for hospital chief press officers.
• Minister of Health Chen Zhu reported that the medical reform has already made a significant impact, while citing other issues to be further studied. In the meantime, Li Ling, a professor of Beijing University, wrote on the public welfare nature of medical reforms. Separately, a review of the new book by Hu Suli, founder and ex-managing director of Caijing, cited Hu’s relatively more market-based solution for reforming healthcare.
• Shanghai to establish electronic medical health records for every resident in the city.

Business Initiative

• A research company reported that competition is intensifying among multinationals for the world’s largest diabetic market. Another article had a similar view in relation to the markets in Asia but titled the piece differently: Price Reductions by Leading Multinationals Are Only for Gaining Market Share in Developing Markets?
• GE targets community healthcare, and an analyst cautioned, “GE has to be careful in how it approaches these markets because they do not want to devalue the brand.” (Link to full English text)
• U.S. health insurer seeks to set up JV in China. (Link to full English text)

Health & Wellness

• Project for organ donors unveiled in S China’s Guangdong (Link to full English text)
• High early puberty rates in China alarm doctors (Link to full English text)
• 90% white-collar workers suffering from stress overload (Link to full English text)

Public Health

• Beijing health authorities: “Don’t panic” despite HFMD death (Link to full English text)
• Vaccines involved in 3 children’s illness (Link to full English text)
• MOH: Preventive Vaccines Most Effective Disease Control Measure
• China irreplaceable in the fight against cancer (Link to full English text)
• Experts warn of rising cancer trend in world (Link to full English text)
• Shanghai Ranked Highest for Incidence of Lung Cancer
• A media reports that the “66 Articles of Health” provides residents with standards for evaluating information accuracy. Separately, an online media portal launches a “Public Health Information Literacy Education” program.

Additional News from the Greater China and Other Markets:

Hong Kong

• Hong Kong Medical Insurance Impasse Resolved
• Healthcare in Freedom Land
• Studies from Chinese University of Hong Kong further understanding of health insurance
• Hong Kong hospitals seek international accreditation

Taiwan

• Carry on Cross Straits, Nurse
• Health minister to deliver speech at WHA meeting

Korea

• Medical Tourism War

Singapore

• Health-Care Reform Topic on a High
• 76% of patients satisfied with healthcare institutions in 2009 survey
• EDB launches new programme to expand talent pool for medtech sector
• Creating a Hassle-Free Healthcare System to Meet the Needs of Singaporeans
• Strong Bio-medical Production Boosted Singapore Industrial Output

Medical Reform

Beijing has completed the public review of the medical reform plan. According to the Legal Evening News:

• A dozen supplementary medical reform measures will be introduced before the unveiling of the final reform plan, including the establishment of a municipal hospital management bureau; reform and improvement of the emergency system; public hospital reform; and measures for encouraging and channeling private investments in hospitals, among others.
• The city will also be launching a number of pilot programs on the reform of institution-funded healthcare, reform of the medical insurance payment system, and others.
• Link to full Chinese text

……However, a commentator likens measures to encourage specialists to voluntarily serve in Beijing community hospitals to using missiles for killing mosquitoes:

• The shortage of qualified community doctors is due to the prolonged failure of the government to invest in grassroots health facilities. A competitive compensation structure is also critical for developing community doctors.
• Until these issues are addressed, relying on specialists to address the needs of community hospitals would be a waste of valuable resources and risks using “missiles to kill mosquitoes.”
• Link to full Chinese text

On the issue of doctor-patient relations, Cutian Golden News (Wuhan) reported on the netizen-initiated action to rank good and bad doctors:

• Commentary from a newspaper in Wuhan calling for the creation of lists of “good and bad doctors” has set off a media frenzy. A popular news program on CCTV has organized an online discussion. The Business Herald also wrote a commentary. Other netizens in other cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Jinan have initiated a campaign to “learn from Wuhan” by posting local “good and bad doctor” rankings.
• Most believe that the news and activities show that doctors and patients have yet to establish mutual trust. Some experts believe that a breakthrough on this issue would be an important area to be addressed in the medical reforms.
• An expert of hospital administration commented that the best way to address the strained doctor-patient relationship is by encouraging patients to seek initial diagnosis in community hospitals. However, in his view, the goal remains elusive.
• Link to full Chinese text

…….Against this background, a training program is launched for hospital chief press officers:

• The China Hospital Chief News Officer (CNO) Training Plan was officially launched recently. The training plan is organized jointly by the School of Journalism of China Renmin University and China Hospital Management University. The objective of the plan is to assist hospitals in building a constructive doctor-patient communications system, a system for positively guiding public opinion, and to build harmonious doctor-patient relations.
• The program has received guidance and support from the Press Office of the MOH, China Medical Association, the Center for Medical Dispute Mediation of the Beijing Medical Education Association, and the China Health and Medical Development Foundation.
• Link to full Chinese text

Minister of Health Chen Zhu reported that the medical reform has already made significant impact, while citing other issues to be further studied:

• The minister noted that the reform has received a high level of consensus from the public.
• Issues to be further explored include how to realize fair and efficient healthcare resource allocation and how to further improve policies for grassroots medical staff while investments in medical infrastructure continue.
• Link to full Chinese text

……..In the meantime, Li Ling, professor of Beijing University’s China Economic Research Center, wrote on the public welfare nature of medical reforms:

• This round of medical reform confirmed public welfare as the guiding ideology of the reform. Public welfare is determined on the idea that health is a basic right. The key difference between health and other commercial products is that health and survival are basic human rights. Globally, many countries have already followed the principle of inclusivity and public welfare for allocating medical and healthcare resources.
• How would the new medical reform achieve the mission of public welfare? The first is by ensuring that everyone can afford care. The second is by ensuring that everyone can have healthcare. Lastly, medical workers are the key force for realizing the public welfare nature of healthcare.
• The critical key is for the government to fulfill its function. It is the people, through the political processes, who have entrusted the responsibility for implementing public welfare work. The government needs to increase financing, provide supervision, and plan for realizing the public welfare nature of healthcare.
• Link to full Chinese text

…….Separately, a review of the new book by Hu Suli, founder and ex-managing director of Caijing, cited Hu’s relatively more market-based solution for reforming healthcare:

• The Nanfang Metropolitant News published a book review titled “Is She Really the Most Dangerous Woman in China?”
• Many of the problems she wrote about over a 10-year period continue to grow today. On the issue of medical reform, Suli predicted that “allowing those doctors who possess business talents to enter the market, give them free reign to start businesses, and become the core force in driving medical business sytem innovations, would bring about a solution of multiple wins.”
• Link to full Chinese text.

Shanghai announced that an electronic health record will be established for every resident in the city:

• The system will allow every Shanghai resident to seek care in any hospital. Such a system would be effective against repeat prescriptions and examinations. Moreover, the system will promote utilization of best resources for patients.
• For example, biopsy results of breast cancer patients will all be transmitted to Shanghai Oncology Hospital, which has the most advanced diagnostic capability. This will significantly improve the quality of healthcare services and volume.
• Link to full Chinese text

Business Initiative

A research company reported that competition is intensifying among multinationals for the world’s largest diabetic market with over 92 million patients:

• Nova Nordisk, the current market leader with over 60% of the market, is expected to expand its staff size by 50% to reach 3,000.
• Sanofi Aventis recently revealed that the company will provide 20 million yuan to sponsor a “China Type II Diabetes Research Project” under the China Diabetic Medical Association.
• Since 2007, Eli Lilly has invested 1.8 million euro in research on diabetes in China. In 2009, Eli Lilly announced the launch of Byetta in China.
• Bayer Schering has bought the exclusive right to market SciLin insulin in China. Currently, Acarbose is one of the key products for treating type II diabetes and the reason for Bayer’s growth in China. With SciLin, Bayer will be able expand its therapy offerings and consolidate its positioning in the market.
• Recently, MSD announced that the SFDA in China has approved sitagliptin (Januvia) for launch in China. The therapy is the first type of DPP-4 inhibitor available in China.
• Link to full Chinese text

Another article reported on similar strategies by multinationals for the markets in Asia but titled the piece differently—Price Reductions by Leading Multinationals Are Only for Gaining Market Share in Developing Markets:

• According to IMS data, 87% of global pharmaceutical sales came from the U.S., Europe, and Japan in 2008. However, sales growth in these markets has stagnated. Asia, excluding Japan, represents the potential growth market for the multinational pharmaceutical companies. For most tens of millions of Asians, however, the biggest problem is that many cannot afford the cost of healthcare.
• Eisai, GSK, Sanofi Aventis, and others have already lowered their posture and lowered prices in order to stimulate demands in these markets.
• However, a coordinator of the WHO’s non-infectious disease prevention program said these measures are negligible for ensuring public health because the impact of price reduction only affects a small portion of people.
• Link to full Chinese text

Public Health

MOH: Preventive Vaccines Most Effective Disease Control Measure

• The MOH published a notification on its website requesting offices throughout the nation to implement the vaccination work in 2010. The notification pointed out that preventive vaccines are the most effective measure for disease control and have enjoyed a widespread public foundation.
• Link to full Chinese text

Shanghai Ranks Highest for Incidence of Lung Cancer

• According to Shanghai Disease Control and Prevention Center, in recent years, incidences and mortality for cardiovascular diseases and cancer have exceeded the national average. Lung cancer in particular represents 30% of all cancer incidences, ranking Shanghai a municipality with the highest rate of lung cancer.
• During the launch of GE CT and the 10^th CT Summit, the director of radiology at Ruijing Hospital revealed that cardiovascular diseases and cancer have become the most serious threats to Shanghai public health. He urges early diagnosis as a way to promote better health, lower medical costs, and improve medical quality.
• Link to full Chinese text

A media reports that the “66 Articles of Health” provide residents with standards for evaluating information accuracy

• The spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and director of the China Health Education Center, Mao Anqun, spoke during the 2010 Chinese Medical Association’s Health Lecture held at the Great Hall of the People.
• Mao reported on key findings from the 2009 Health Literacy Survey and talked about specific details of the 66 Articles of Health, which are part of the government’s effort to promote health literacy.
• He said emphatically that each person is the first responsible party for his or her health.
• Link to full Chinese text

…….Separately, an online media portal launches a “Public Health Information Literacy Education” program

• In response to the low health literacy rating for Chinese residents, Wanfang Med Online, an online medical portal, has launched a “Public Health Information Literacy Education Program.”
• The program will include a series of health information literacy education activities, including feature stories on health, monitoring of information literacy, and a literacy development plan.
• According to the news report, a 2007 study revealed that 84.7% of the public are most interested in medical and health information. However, according to the first survey on health literacy in China, the health literacy level of residents is only 6.48%. The survey showed that residents scored especially low on the question concerning “knowing how to acquire health information and knowledge.”
• Link to full Chinese text

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