By: Ames Gross and Catherine Matacic
February 6, 2013
Published by Pacific Bridge Medical
Thailand's medical device market was worth more than $850 million in 2012 and is set to expand at 7.5 percent annually over the next several years. The medical device market in Thailand continues to boast strong economic growth, even in the face of a global slowdown. As the country continues to develop, demand for better healthcare is likely to increase as well.
By: Ames Gross
February 1, 2012
Published by Pacific Bridge Medical
Although still heavily reliant on drug imports, Thailand's domestic pharmaceutical market is steadily growing. The Thai pharmaceutical market is currently valued at about $4.3 billion. The Thai generic sector is expanding as the government is encouraging the use of generic drugs over patented drugs to cut costs.
By: Ames Gross and John Minot
February 1, 2009
Published in MPO
Navigating global regulatory markets can be a challenge, particularly when multiple countries in a region differ in their rules. Playing by a common set of rules for medtech regulation is about to get a little easier in Southeast Asia, as a group of countries prepares to unveil a more unified approach to oversight.
Webcast by Pacific Bridge Medical
Pacific Bridge Medical presents Managing Asian Cultural/Business Diversity, a 2008 webcast/webinar on cross-cultural issues for Western companies doing business in Asia.
Webcast by Pacific Bridge Medical
Pacific Bridge Medical presents ASEAN Medical Device Harmonization Trends, a webcast/webinar on the medical device regulatory environment in the Southeast Asian nations, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
By: Ames Gross and John Minot
November 1, 2007
Published in RA Focus
This report helps medical device manufacturers and distributors better understand how to source from Asia. Topics covered include: how to identify manufacturers, how to perform due diligence, what to look for during factory visits, contract negotiations, regulatory requirements, logistics, quality control, and other issues related to the sourcing equation. This report will also offer advice on how to avoid and troubleshoot problems and pitfalls that may arise in the course of the sourcing process, as well as information about insurance, payment arrangements, freight forwarding, and customs.
Furthermore, we will include Microsoft Excel spreadsheet templates on CD-ROM with this report that will facilitate your transportation and shipping decisions when dealing with multiple SKUs being shipped in one container.
By: Ames Gross and Rachel Weintraub
July 1, 2005
Published by Pacific Bridge Medical
The Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), is responsible for protecting the health of consumers by ensuring the safety, quality and efficacy of health products, including food, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and cosmetics, in Thailand. The FDA has five main areas of focus: (1) pre-marketing, (2) post-marketing, (3) product surveillance, (4) product education for the consumer and (5) cooperation with other health-related agencies. Presently, the FDA has close to 500 staff members who run the agency, including pharmacists, nutritionists, lawyers and other health professionals.
By: Ames Gross
August 1, 2001
Presentation at Regulatory Affairs Professional Society (RAPS) Conference
Despite sluggish economies in some countries, Asia still represents future growth opportunities in healthcare products. Over the next 20 years, Asian healthcare markets are expected to grow at a rate two and a half times that of the West. A rising standard of living throughout the region means patients will have the resources to acquire modern medical devices and pharmaceuticals. As the globalization of healthcare continues, regulatory practices for pharmaceuticals and medical devices will be further harmonized. This report examines emerging regulatory trends and issues in China, Japan, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
By: Ames Gross and Gayatri B. Koolwal
July 1, 1999
Published in Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry Magazine
Recovering economies throughout Asia offer promising markets for foreign medical device firms as well as opportunities for local product development and manufacturing. Before the Asian financial crisis, regional medical device markets grew at double-digit rates. Patients wanted the technologically innovative, cost-effective devices that foreign medical manufactures could provide. Many Asian countries became dependent on imports. Those factors strong demand and lack of domestic competition remained after the crisis. Furthermore, currency depreciation made it cheaper to establish local facilities for manufacturing and product development. This article features examinations of Japan, China, Singapore, Taiwan, India, Thailand and Malaysia.
By: Ames Gross
March 1, 1999
Published by Pacific Bridge Medical
Despite the harsh effects of the Asian financial crisis, pharmaceutical markets in Asia still have a bright future. Thailand’s pharmaceutical market suffered drops in 1997 and 1998 but renewed consumer demand and increased incomes are helping rebound the Thai pharmaceutical market growth rate. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), is working to revise the regulatory situation for pharmaceuticals entering the Thai market. The MOPH is making an effort to revise its drug classification system, regulatory procedures, pricing and competition controls, marketing regulations, and intellectual property protections in order to liberalize the market and minimize corruption. This article discusses the reform trends in Thailand’s pharmaceutical market that will most likely ease the obstacles that foreign companies face in this dynamic drug market.
By: Ames Gross and Gayatri B. Koolwal
July 1, 1998
Published in Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry Magazine
Despite its currency crisis, Asia still offers manufacturers many opportunities.
Asia's recent currency crisis has caused some U.S. medical device companies to wonder whether there is still a market for their products and services. Concern has risen that Asians have lost their purchasing power, meaning a decrease in U.S. exports to Asia and an unstable economic environment in which to invest. However, not all manufacturers have fled the region. Several companies feel that the crisis has opened new opportunities for manufacturing in Southeast Asia.
By: Ames Gross
January 1, 1997
Published in Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry
As aging populations continue to expand in Asian nations, governments are keen to revise their healthcare systems to accommodate this growth. While Thailand’s medical device market expands, opportunities for U.S. and foreign medical device manufacturers will continue to flourish. Like most developed nations, Thailand’s citizens are afflicted with cancer, strokes, cardiovascular diseases and traffic accidents. These illnesses and hazards mean that more advanced medical device technology will be in great demand over the next several years. This article highlights Thailand’s healthcare system and spending, as well as the marketing of medical products in Thailand and new medical device regulations. Recent success stories by foreign companies in Thailand, including BioWhittaker, Inc., are also discussed.
By: Ames Gross
October 1, 1993
Published in Medical Industry Executive
This article is an overview of business opportunities for medical product manufacturers in the Asia Pacific region. Topics include Japan's import requirements, registration procedures, and the keiretsu system; Chinas slow decentralization of its healthcare system; the market growth of Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan; and business relationships between Western and Asian partners.
By: Ames Gross
January 1, 1992
Published by Pacific Bridge Medical
A basic guide to conducting business in China, Japan and Southeast Asia. Topics include personal and business relationships, negotiating, gift-giving, body language, introductions and language and cultural differences.
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