Given Japan’s conservative regulatory environment, it should come at no surprise that advertising and promotion of medical devices and pharmaceuticals in Japan is highly regulated and very restrictive. Without shonin, or “approval” of a product, advertising the name, manufacturing process, indications, effects,... Read More
Though most medicine manufactured by foreign joint ventures, large State-owned enterprises, or foreign manufacturers (including imports) is labeled correctly, much of what is manufactured by small domestic producers is not. Product information and labels on locally manufactured products often omits potentially negative... Read More
Once severely restrictive in practice and economically limited, markets in China are beginning to hold brighter prospects for successful entry by foreign manufacturers and suppliers. Medical product companies looking for product import, distribution and manufacturing opportunities in China will find promise in... Read More
Despite the damage from the Asian financial crisis, South Korea’s economy is moving ahead with a surge in imports and increased consumer confidence. The Korean pharmaceutical market is no exception to Korea’s economic boom. The Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare (MHW)... Read More
Clinical trials are essential in monitoring the safety and quality of all pharmaceuticals. Japan's Ministry of Health and Welfare (MHW) and the drug organization (KIKO) are working with the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Evaluation Center in Japan to guarantee that safety standards,... Read More
China's pharmaceutical market is the second largest in Asia, worth $22.5 billion, and will likely increase upon China's entrance into the WTO. In March 1998, the Chinese government created the State Drug Administration (SDA) to oversee drug importation, improving the enforcement and... Read More
While many countries are experiencing significant increases in medical costs, Taiwan has kept its healthcare expenditures to a minimum and is still able to provide services to over 96% of its citizens. Additionally, Taiwan’s Department of Health (DOH) is working to promote... Read More
Japan's recent economic recession has not slowed the great demand for technologically innovative products that are flooding the Western medical markets. The country's aging population and the government's efforts at deregulating the distribution process are some of the main factors pushing Japan's... Read More
As South Korea's economy rebounds from the Asian financial crisis, its pharmaceutical and medical device markets are also rebounding due to increased demand and consumption. Part of the Korean government's economic reforms include the deregulation of its markets and promoting of foreign... Read More
Thanks to significant government reform efforts since 1998, the Malaysian economy has been able to rebound from the Asian currency crisis of 1997. The costs of healthcare in Malaysia are on the rise and the government is looking to cut healthcare expenditure,... Read More