VB Weekly 1228: Overshadowed by Santa, Drowned in Emojis and IPO Filings

Events & Perspectives

The editor just wants to ask one question: Has everyone already attended their Christmas parties? BAT, Microsoft, IBM... Not a single one is missing!

Leaving me, the editor, alone to crawl all over the entire screen., yet the outcome earned by this humble web scraper, comparable to a crawler, is...

Anyway, after covering this issue, the editor will not be doing any more in-depth analyses for the rest of the year. Feel free to PA as you wish.

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Last week, the internet healthcare sector was unusually tranquil and peaceful. Apart from one or two companies aiming for listing on the New Third Board, only a handful of others were actively making strategic moves.

Mobile Healthcare Platform Zhenlipai Applies for Listing on the New Third Board.

On December 25, Ningbo Zhenlipai Software Information Co., Ltd. formally applied for listing on the National Equities Exchange and Quotations (NEEQ), with its listing materials disclosed on the National Share Transfer System on December 23. Established on November 7, 2012, Zhenlipai completed its joint-stock reform on November 20, 2015. Chairman Tu Honggang, Director and General Manager Zhang Fanfan, and Shanghai Yize collectively hold 53.87% of the shares, serving as the company’s actual controllers.

According to available data, Zhenlipai’s core business involves leveraging a mobile internet platform that aggregates physician user resources to provide marketing and promotional services to other mobile health enterprises within the same industry.

Zhenlipai’s main products and services include the Zhenlipai App, the Medi Family series of physician websites, and Yiku Media.

In addition, Xinlianda has applied for listing on the New Third Board.

On December 25, it was reported that Xinlianda Information Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. has formally applied for listing on the New Third Board. Its listing materials were publicly disclosed on the official website of the National Equities Exchange and Quotations (NEEQ) on November 30. Founded on March 26, 2010, Xinlianda completed its joint-stock reform on October 23, 2015. Chairman Yang Hongqiao and Deputy General Manager Chen Hang collectively hold a 49.92% stake, serving as the joint actual controllers.

Xinlianda specializes in providing comprehensive technical solutions for mobile healthcare and smart healthcare. It has successfully implemented projects such as mobile nursing workstations, hospital communications, and patient management for large and medium-sized hospitals across China.

Based on its mobile workstation system, Xinlianda enables physicians to carry only a tablet during ward rounds, allowing them to review patients’ medical histories, examine test results, view high-resolution medical images, and enter medical orders via voice recognition at the bedside. Meanwhile, by mobilizing processes such as medication review, dispensing, and treatment administration, the system not only ensures medication safety but also enhances nurses’ work efficiency.

Then, it is...

Samsung Files New Patent, Aiming to Enter the Hearing Aid Market

Rumors have long circulated that Samsung will soon begin selling hearing aids, though concrete evidence has been scarce. Now, definitive proof has emerged with the disclosure of Samsung’s hearing aid patent.

Not long ago, Samsung registered the trademark “Earcle” in South Korea, hinting that the company is indeed set to launch hearing assistance devices. Now, a device with the model number SM-R790 has appeared in the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) database and is rumored to be released soon. The documentation describes the device as the “Samsung Bluetooth Hearing Aid,” confirming that its launch is all but certain.

Meanwhile, Samsung is currently developing multiple hearing-assist software applications. One of them, named “Sound Radar,” allows users to select a specific sound source and amplify it, similar to the radar speed guns used by police. It remains unclear whether Samsung’s hearing-assist devices will support this feature, but it at least confirms that Samsung is actively working on its development.

Are the rest of you also going all out, poised and ready to strike, just like Samsung? The editor doesn’t buy it—you’ve simply been bought off by Santa Claus’s gifts.

The Last Holdout: 111.com.

Recently, “111.com”Launched the pharmaceutical B2B e-commerce platform “Fangkuai 1” and simultaneously released the “Fangkuai 1” App.

Previously (on November 23, 2015), 111.com changed its name from “Yi Yao Wang” to its current name; at the same time, it also renamed its mobile healthcare platform “Yi Zhen” to “1 Zhen.” Today, together with Fangkuai 1, the three will jointly form a “tripod” strategy.

Yu Gang has previously stated that 111.com (Yi Yao Wang) is a B2C online pharmacy targeting general consumers; Yi Zhen is a mobile healthcare platform for general users, offering online doctor consultations and lightweight virtual diagnoses, while integrating with 111.com to provide comprehensive medical consultation and pharmaceutical services; Fang Kuai 1 is a B2B pharmaceutical platform designed for pharmaceutical manufacturers and upstream wholesalers, as well as retail pharmacies and small-to-medium-sized medical institutions.

.. That’s all for last week’s events. Don’t ask why there are so few; ask yourselves.

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Healthcare Reform

The Universal Two-Child Policy to Be Officially Implemented Next Year

The 18th Session of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People’s Congress reviewed and approved the Draft Amendment to the Population and Family Planning Law of the People’s Republic of China. The draft specifies that,

① The universal two-child policy will be officially implemented starting January 1, 2016. This means that second children born after New Year’s Day of the following year will be considered legitimate; ② Couples who give birth to one or two children are both eligible for rewards in the form of extended maternity leave; ③ Families who have lost their only child and were entitled to assistance under regulations prior to the legal amendment will continue to receive such support.

CFDA: Home Medical Devices Prohibited from Using the Term "Best"

Recently, the China Food and Drug Administration issued the "Rules for the Naming of Generic Names of Medical Devices," which will come into effect on April 1, 2016.

The Rules explicitly stipulate that, in addition to complying with the corresponding requirements set forth therein, the generic names of medical devices must not contain any of the nine prohibited elements, such as “model or specification,” “personal names, enterprise names, registered trademarks, or other similar names,” “superlative, unique, precise, or exclusive terms,” and “statements indicating efficacy or cure rates.”

MOHRSS: To Abolish the “Two Designated” System for Medical Insurance by Year-End

On December 21, the National Health and Family Planning Commission, in conjunction with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Ministry of Finance, and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, issued the "Guiding Opinions on Strengthening Performance Evaluation of Public Medical and Health Institutions." The document explicitly requires that all pooled insurance regions across China fully abolish the "dual-designated" qualification reviews—namely, the "qualification review for designated basic medical insurance medical institutions" and the "qualification review for designated basic medical insurance retail pharmacies"—conducted by social insurance administrative departments by the end of 2015. Concurrently, agreement-based management between social insurance agencies and medical/pharmaceutical institutions shall be improved to enhance service management standards and the efficiency of fund utilization.

The “Opinions” set forth clear requirements on improving agreement-based management following the abolition of the “two-designated” qualification review previously administered by social security administrative departments. All legally established medical and pharmaceutical institutions, regardless of their level, category, or ownership structure, may voluntarily apply to social security agencies to become designated providers under the basic medical insurance scheme, provided they meet the specified criteria; prior approval by social security administrative departments is no longer required. Meanwhile, social security agencies shall establish open and transparent evaluation mechanisms, explore assessment approaches such as third-party evaluations, and negotiate and sign service agreements with medical and pharmaceutical institutions that demonstrate high-quality services, reasonable pricing, and standardized management.

Kunming: In-House Hospital Preparations Included in Medical Insurance Reimbursement Coverage

On December 22, the 105th Executive Meeting of the Kunming Municipal People’s Government reviewed and approved in principle the “Action Plan for Accelerating the Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Kunming (2016–2020).”

The meeting clarified that a stable compensation mechanism for public traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) medical institutions should be established, and the policy of prioritizing investment in public TCM hospitals under the healthcare reform should be effectively implemented. First, priority support should be given to infrastructure development in public TCM hospitals, with increased assistance for TCM-related infrastructure and accelerated progress of relevant construction projects. Second, the reimbursement rate for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by patients using TCM decoction pieces and TCM techniques during hospitalization at public TCM hospitals, after initial coverage by medical insurance, should be raised from 20% to 50%. In-hospital preparations should be included in the medical insurance reimbursement scope in accordance with regulations, and restrictions on the proportion of TCM services used in community health service centers and township health centers should be abolished. Third, government funding policies for public hospitals should be fully implemented, and diverse forms of support policies for TCM development should be explored.

Zhejiang Includes ALS and Other Rare Diseases in Medical Insurance Coverage

The "Notice on Strengthening Medical Security for Rare Diseases," jointly issued by the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security, the Provincial Department of Civil Affairs, the Provincial Department of Finance, and the Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission, stated that, effective January 1, 2016, Gaucher disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and phenylketonuria were included in the scope of diseases covered by medical security for rare diseases.

It is understood that the eligible beneficiaries include patients who are currently enrolled in the provincial basic medical insurance and have held Zhejiang household registration (hukou) for at least five years; or Zhejiang-hukou patients who are enrolled in the provincial basic medical insurance, are under five years of age, and have at least one parent who has held Zhejiang household registration (hukou) for at least five years.

Data

Only 84.2% of registered pharmacies in China are actually operational

According to statistics from the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA), the total number of registered pharmacies nationwide in 2014 was 434,920. Due to imperfect management mechanisms, information on pharmacies that did not actually operate after registration, closed down due to relocation of business premises, or went out of business due to poor management was not cancelled in a timely manner, resulting in the actual number of operating pharmacies being less than the number of registered pharmacies. According to monitoring by the Zhongkang Smart Terminal Management System, the total number of actually operating pharmacies nationwide in 2014 was 366,280, accounting for only 84.2% of the total number of registered pharmacies.

In terms of store density, based on China's national population of 1.368 billion in 2014, the density of registered pharmacies was calculated at 3,145 people per store, while the density of actually operating pharmacies was 3,734 people per store.

Significant Increase in Health Index in Western China

The 2015 China Development Index (RCDI) report, released by Renmin University of China on the 23rd, shows that China’s health index has steadily improved. The top five regions are Shanghai, Beijing, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, and Sichuan, with significant growth observed in the western region.

Data shows that western provinces and regions such as Qinghai, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Shaanxi have recorded higher growth rates in their health indices.

Furthermore, over the past decade, the health status of China’s population has steadily improved, with significant downward trends in the infant mortality rate, under-five mortality rate, and maternal mortality ratio, while the urban-rural disparities are gradually narrowing.

Medical Expenses Rise by Nearly 20% Annually Over Five Years, Reaching 708.3 Billion Yuan

The “Annual Report on the Development of China’s Social Insurance (2014),” recently released by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, shows that in 2014, medical expenses for employees covered by basic medical insurance totaled RMB 708.3 billion, a year-on-year increase of 15.2%, an increase of RMB 421.8 billion compared with 2009, and an average annual growth rate of 19.9%.

Specifically, the average cost per general outpatient (including emergency) visit was 157 yuan, an increase of 6 yuan from the previous year and 44 yuan from 2009, representing an average annual growth rate of 6.8%. The average cost per outpatient visit for major diseases was 466 yuan, an increase of 3 yuan from the previous year and 68 yuan from 2009, with an average annual growth rate of 3.2%. The average cost per inpatient admission was 10,095 yuan, an increase of 402 yuan from the previous year and 2,465 yuan from 2009.

New Technologies

Zhejiang University and Hangzhou Dianzi University Teams Jointly Invent China’s First Neuromorphic Chip “Darwin”

Scientists from Zhejiang University and Hangzhou Dianzi University have developed a chip named “Darwin,” with an area of 25 square millimeters—equivalent to half the size of a girl’s little fingernail.

This neuromorphic chip is China’s first of its kind, capable of simulating 2,048 neurons and up to 4 million synaptic connections between them, enabling brain-like cognitive processing. These research findings were just published online in the English edition of *Science China: Information Sciences*.

It is reported that Darwin currently possesses visual capabilities and can perform image recognition—for example, identifying car patterns from a collection of images.

Furthermore, it can be equipped with a head-mounted device and robotic limbs for individuals with mobility impairments. The Darwin chip analyzes electroencephalogram (EEG) signals to extract information and generate precise commands, enabling the robotic arms or limbs to perform tasks on their behalf.

According to researchers, Darwin chips will possess additional sensory capabilities in the future, enabling them to perform more complex tasks such as perception, interaction, and recognition. For instance, they can detect the scent of toxic gases among various odors and issue timely alerts; additionally, they can record and report data—including temperature, pressure, wave height, acoustic signals, and tidal patterns—to monitor global water supply conditions.

Japan Develops Adorable Seal-Type Robot PARO for Treating Patients with Dementia

Recently, a seal-type robot named “PARO” appeared at the Japan Medical Imaging and Industrial Systems Association exhibition.

It is claimed that this type of robot aids in the care of patients with dementia. Through physical contact, it can evoke memories of raising children and keeping pets from their past.

PARO has been certified by the U.S. FDA as a medical device. A total of 4,000 PARO units have been deployed worldwide.

Scientists Create the World’s First Biodynamic Computer Chip

Recently, engineering researchers at Columbia University have successfully developed solid-state CMOS integrated circuits by harnessing the process of biochemical energy generation in living organisms.

It is reported that this is the world’s first integrated circuit powered by chemical energy generated through biocontainment.

The underlying principle involves leveraging the transfer of chemical energy within biological cells to create a process analogous to photosynthesis or cellular respiration. During this process, cells generate chemical energy, which can then be harvested and converted into electrical energy. To achieve this, scientists have employed a newly developed ion pump.

However, for the time being, this technology still faces certain challenges that need to be addressed, such as how to reduce the system’s footprint and identify methods to control biological degradation.

This New Robotic Glove Allows the Blind to “See” Objects

Researchers from the University of Nevada and the University of Arkansas have recently jointly developed a novel wearable mechanical technology, purported to improve the quality of life for individuals with visual impairments. By simply wearing the device on their hands, users can identify objects in their surrounding environment or manipulate them by hand.

According to the introduction, researchers will design a customized, lightweight glove embedded with cameras, mechanical sensors, and electronic sensors. This combination of sensors, cameras, and actuators enables users to perceive the size, shape, and position of objects and grasp them accordingly.

Capital

That’s all the rations I have. How am I supposed to get through this weekend? Don’t ask me how I can still show up on Monday—because I ate...... Grains (ying) and Miscellaneous Cereals (guang)"2015 Internet Healthcare Industry Awards”。