Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare

Taiwan - Medical-device Production Value to Rise 9.35%

Source: Taiwan Economic News, 24 November 2009

Taiwan's medical device sector seems to be unaffected by the global downturn and enhanced by the fear factor of H1N1 to fan demand. The production value of the sector is expected to increase 9.35% year-on-year to NT$58.5 billion (about US$1.8 billion). The Industrial Economics & Knowledge Center under the Industrial Technology Research Institute (IEK-ITIS) estimated the production value was about NT$14.7 billion (US$452.3 million) in 3Q 2009, with such figure to rise to NT$15.8 billion (US$486.2 million).

With joint efforts by the government and private makers, IEK-ITIS pointed out that Taiwan’s medical-device makers have been moving upmarket by making value-added items. The island exported NT$8.3 billion (US$255.4 million) of medical devices in 3Q 2009, up 2.3% quarter-on-quarter and 3.6% year-on-year, with total export likely to reach NT$32.5 billion (US$1 billion) in 2009.

Vietnam - Drug industry targets growth

Source: Thai News Service, 30 November 2009

The Vietnam’s pharmaceutical industry targets to meet 60% of market demand by 2010, by producing specialised medicine and improving its distribution network. Currently, domestic companies meet 53% of local drugs demand, while importers account for the remaining 47%. With a population of more than 80 million, industry representatives expected the potential growth was high. They expected the local drug sales per capita could achieve US$12-15 by 2010.

As domestic pharmaceutical companies are unable to comply with World Trade Organisation regulations, they have had difficulty competing with foreign pharmaceutical companies. In order to maintain market share, pharmaceutical authorities have recommended that the industry produce specialised medicine for the treatment of pneumonia, heart disease, rheumatism and diabetes.

Japan - Medical equipment makers boosting Chinese output

Source: Nikkei Report, 01 December 2009

Japanese medical equipment manufacturers are expanding production in China, looking to capitalize on expected growth in demand there and expand their export products to other emerging markets. Hitachi Medical Corp. has invested RMB200 million (US$29.3 million) to add production equipment at subsidiary Hitachi Medical Systems (Suzhou) Corp., with a plant to double output at the Chinese unit in fiscal 2010.

Nihon Kohden Corp. will release its new models of easier-to-operate bedside monitors for measuring patients' heart rates and respiration in China as early as fiscal 2010, and its local subsidiary Shanghai Kohden Medical Electronic Instrument Corp. will begin developing products for the Chinese market with a sales target of RMB10 billion (US$1465 million) in fiscal 2015. Asahi Kasei Corp’s subsidiary Asahi Kasei Kuraray Medical Co. is planning to manufacture dialysis machines in China.

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