On June 1, 2004, Hong Kong’s Department of Health launched the Center for Health Protection (CHP) under the recommendation from the SARS Expert Committee Report. The CHP will help strengthen Hong Kong’s ability to prevent and control communicable diseases. In order to... Read More
In May 2004, Malaysia’s Ministry of Health announced the drafting of the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act. This Act will provide guidelines to better regulate traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) practices in Malaysia by integrating them into the country’s National Healthcare System.... Read More
The implementation of new information technology (IT) services in Korean hospitals enables patients to receive faster and more accurate diagnosis and treatment. These new IT services include the use of the Internet for remote diagnosis, teleconferencing, and the establishment of internal computer... Read More
In a move to ensure standards of quality, efficacy and safety in medical products, India’s Central Drug Standard Control Organization has revised its guidelines on bioequivalence and bioavailability for pharmaceuticals. The revisions will become part of Schedule Y of the Drugs and... Read More
The Ministry of Culture and Information and the Ministry of Health have jointly issued two updated guidelines on health and medical products advertising. The guidelines apply to advertisements for health-related matters, such as check-ups and treatment, medications, cosmetics that influence health, vaccines,... Read More
A Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) panel has recommended reclassifying 350 drugs and allowing them to be sold as over the counter (OTC) medications at convenience stores. Types of drugs include intestinal remedies, gargles, antiseptics, vitamin-based remedies and cough rubs.... Read More
The Singaporean government plans to institute new laws by the middle of 2004 to regulate the sale of health supplements in the country. This decision was made in response to two deaths, one of a local actress, occurring in 2002 as a... Read More
The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare recently announced in October 2003, their plan for a notification system for minor changes in approved medical products. The guidelines for the notification system will be included as part of the revised Pharmaceutical Affairs... Read More
While other countries debated questions of ethics dealing with genetic engineering and research, China has been seen as a country which welcomed any type of genetic research with no questions asked. However, this previously held belief is changing. On October 1, 2003,... Read More
Effective January 1, 2004, the Singapore Health Sciences Authority (HSA) launched a consolidated Center for Drug Administration (CDA). The center was formed as a result of a merger between two of HSA’s former professional centers responsible for the regulation and evaluation of... Read More