VB Weekly No.1109: The 'Singles' Day' of Healthcare – Another Battle Ignites

Events & Perspectives

Last weekend, the first snowfall of 2015 arrived somewhat earlier than we had anticipated. The bustling city of Beijing finally transformed into Beiping after a winter snow.

Although fate may throw curveballs, it has done nothing to dampen the sustained enthusiasm on Zhongguancun Startup Street. The two-day “Star-Driven Medical Innovation” Venture Capital Bootcamp open course featured over 150 entrepreneurs from across China and more than 10 guest speakers, who delivered insightful presentations on current hot topics in internet healthcare. With so many revelations shared, we couldn’t resist sharing them—click here to find out more:The 100 Most Profound Insights for Internet Healthcare Startups (Part I)；The 100 Most Profound Pieces of Advice for Internet Healthcare Startups (Part II)。

Continuing the “exposés”...

First, let’s take in the scenery of Germany.

Practicing the "Belt and Road" Initiative, Hunan's First Overseas Hospital in Europe Opens in Germany.

Recently, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, located in Changsha, has partnered with the city of Dinkelsbühl, Germany, to establish a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinic within an overseas hospital, aiming to address local residents’ needs for TCM treatment and wellness care. The clinic is scheduled to be completed in 2016.

It is reported that the project has been preliminarily included in the “Hunan Province Belt and Road Initiative Traditional Chinese Medicine Cooperation Center Construction Plan.” The overseas clinic’s operations, management, and financial accounts are the responsibility of the German side, while the Chinese side is responsible for dispatching 6 to 8 TCM practitioners to the clinic, handling their compensation, and providing medicines and low-consumption medical supplies required during treatment, such as acupuncture needles and moxa sticks. The German side has partnered with local enterprises to finalize a clinic construction plan with a total investment of €4 million (approximately RMB 30 million), which will be used for the construction of new floors at the overseas hospital clinic.

Fly back to China,First Dermatology Physician Group Established; Offline Clinic to Open by Year-End.

Recently, the Xiu Zhong Dermatologist Group, China’s first dermatologist group, was officially established. It was jointly initiated by Zhang Jianzhong, Director of the Department of Dermatology at Peking University People’s Hospital, and Ma Lin, Director of the Department of Dermatology at Beijing Children’s Hospital, together with dermatology experts from more than 30 hospitals, including Peking Union Medical College Hospital and Beijing Chaoyang Hospital.

The services provided by this physician group include facilitating cross-regional and cross-institutional collaboration among dermatologists across China; strengthening continuing education and science popularization at the primary care level through initiatives such as grassroots lecture series to promote standardized treatment of skin diseases; and leveraging mobile internet platforms to enhance doctor-patient communication and management.

Compared to the above inspiring news, more comes from daily interactions.

CITIC Medical Partners with France’s MEDIAN to Enter the Field of Oncological Imaging

Last week, CITIC Medical and the French company MEDIAN Technologies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), under which both parties will launch a series of collaborations in the field of oncological imaging.

Regarding whether a brand-new oncology testing brand and platform will be established, Zhang Jisheng, head of CITIC Healthcare, stated that the introduced laboratory testing technologies would not conflict with the medical institutions under CITIC Healthcare but would serve as an effective complement. The existing segments of CITIC Healthcare, including comprehensive medical care, specialized medical care, and health management, have already established stable channels and a solid customer base, facilitating the seamless integration of these advanced laboratory testing technologies.

Electronic Medical Records Enter “Cloud Storage”.

Recently, TEDA International Cardiovascular Hospital signed a framework cooperation agreement with the National Supercomputing Center in Tianjin. The two parties will jointly build a “Cloud Center” for the hospital’s informatization infrastructure and engage in comprehensive collaboration in areas including medical big data application research and services, internet-based cloud healthcare services, mobile healthcare and health services, smart elderly care, and disaster recovery backup for systems and data. This initiative effectively introduces “electronic data preservation,” leveraging “cloud storage” to ensure the security, long-term integrity, and reliable archival of massive volumes of patients’ electronic medical records.

Quyi Network and Shihui Kang have jointly built a platform that provides users with appointment-based medical consultation services on television.

Recently, QuYi Network announced a partnership with ShiHuiKang, a provider of TV-based health applications. The two parties will jointly create a “Home Health Center” service platform based on smart TV terminals, offering users services such as appointment registration and establishing a health data and service center tailored for household users.

It is reported that leading Chinese television manufacturers, including TCL, Skyworth, Changhong, Konka, and Hisense, have already integrated the “Home Health Center” platform into their product lines.

iKang Group Joins Hands with “Dajia Yilian”

Recently, iKang Group announced a strategic partnership with “Dajia Yilian,” officially establishing and launching the “Beijing iKang Guoan Dajia Yilian Outpatient Center” to provide a comprehensive service system spanning from health check-ups to diagnosis, and from diagnosis to treatment.

Regarding the collaborative model between the two parties, Zhang Ligang, Chairman and CEO of iKang Group, stated that through its strategic partnership with the Dajia Yilian Physician Group, iKang Group will offer customers greater choices in service models. This includes expanded access to green-channel services such as outpatient consultations with renowned specialists from top-tier (Grade 3A) hospitals in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, multidisciplinary consultations, private physician services, and facilitated medical referrals and surgical arrangements. This initiative aims to provide Chinese families and corporate clients with seamless integration from comprehensive health screenings to diagnostic and therapeutic care.

Tongrentang Partners with 111.com to Pursue Strategic Transformation from Products to Services

Recently, Beijing Tongrentang Health Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced a strategic partnership with the online pharmacy 111.com (Yi Yao Wang). Effective immediately, Beijing Tongrentang Health Pharmaceutical has joined 111.com and launched the Tongrentang Brand Pavilion, marking the first traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) brand pavilion on the platform.

It is reported that the Tongrentang Brand Pavilion will be supported by a large, professional team of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) customer service representatives, as well as high-quality medicines sourced directly from manufacturers with a 100% authenticity guarantee. Meanwhile, 111.com (Yi Yao Wang) will provide ample inventory, a seamless logistics experience, and comprehensive after-sales service. Within the online Tongrentang Brand Pavilion on 111.com, patients can engage in online medical consultations with physicians, who can also recommend appropriate medications and issue prescription orders electronically. After patients place their orders, 111.com will handle delivery and follow-up services in accordance with the order details.

Pharmaceutical Giants Pfizer and Allergan Plot Merger.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the merger will add Allergan’s blockbuster drugs—including anti-wrinkle botulinum toxin and Restasis for dry eye treatment—to Pfizer’s pharmaceutical portfolio, while also helping Pfizer execute its long-considered spinoff plan. Allergan and Pfizer have peak market capitalizations of $113 billion and $219 billion, respectively; if the deal goes through, it will constitute a merger valued at over $332 billion.

Limei Pharmaceutical is also set to venture into telemedicine.

Recently, Lummy Pharmaceutical announced that its controlling subsidiary, Yunnan Lummy Biotechnology Co., Ltd., has signed an Investment Letter of Intent with Long Hongyuan and Chongqing Xintong Medical Information Service Co., Ltd. The company plans to inject RMB 30 million into Chongqing Xintong as a capital increase. Upon completion of the capital increase, Lummy Biotechnology will hold a 15% equity stake in Chongqing Xintong.

Chongqing Xintong is a telemedicine and healthcare services company. If both parties formally sign an investment framework agreement, it will mark Lamei Pharmaceutical’s official foray into the healthcare services sector.

In addition, a major piece of good news isBeijing Permits the Establishment of Foreign-Funded Specialized Health and Medical Insurance Institutions.

Recently, the Leading Group for Beijing’s Comprehensive Pilot Program on Expanding the Opening-up of the Service Sector held a press conference. Li Bin, Deputy Director of the Life Insurance Supervision Division of the Beijing Insurance Regulatory Bureau, stated that the measures related to the insurance industry under Beijing’s comprehensive pilot program primarily include permitting the establishment of foreign-funded specialized health and medical insurance institutions, with foreign ownership not exceeding 50%. In 2014, Beijing’s total premium income accounted for 5.7% of its GDP, with per capita premium expenditure reaching RMB 5,659.3 per person. The city’s insurance development level ranked first nationwide and was basically on par with the international average.

From the perspective of the health insurance sector, there are currently four insurance companies in Beijing that operate health insurance businesses, all of which are specialized health insurance companies. Among these, two have foreign equity participation.

Additionally, new products are being launched one after another.

There is a saying,

Full of drive and ambition.

iHealth Launches New Smartphone-Connected Blood Pressure Monitor, Ease.

iHealth Labs has released a new version of its smartphone-connected blood pressure monitor, priced at just $39.99. The company’s two existing blood pressure monitors are currently sold for $79.95 and $99.95, respectively. The new device, named iHealth Ease, uses a traditional upper-arm cuff and docking interface. It improves measurement accuracy by averaging three consecutive readings, with a blood pressure error rate of less than 3% and a pulse error rate of less than 5%.

Like other iHealth devices, Ease will connect to iHealth’s free MyVitals app. The app can monitor for abnormal heart rates and supports multiple user profiles.

The World’s First Endovascular Neuromodulation Device Successfully Implanted in Human Body.

Today, Enopace Biomedical, a company developing minimally invasive implantable endovascular neuromodulation therapies for heart failure patients, announced that its Harmony system has been successfully implanted in a human patient for the first time. The procedure was performed by Professor Davor Milicic, Head of the Department of Cardiology at the University of Zagreb School of Medicine, and his team, on a patient with NYHA Class III heart failure. The corresponding clinical study is progressing toward obtaining CE marking for commercial sales, and additional patients are being enrolled at other leading hospitals across Europe.

The Harmony System is a catheter-based neurostimulator device that helps treat patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Heart failure is currently a major unmet clinical need, representing the greatest therapeutic demand and incurring the highest healthcare costs among cardiovascular diseases today.

Yale University’s Second ResearchKit App: Studying and Preventing Miscarriage

The second ResearchKit study, led by Dr. Harvey J. Kliman, Director of the Reproductive and Placental Research Unit at Yale School of Medicine, has been released. The study aims to reduce the risk of miscarriage caused by an undersized placenta. According to Yale data, there are 30,000 stillbirths among pregnant women in the United States each year.

Female participants were required to use an app to measure the width, height, and thickness of the placenta after ultrasound examination, thereby tracking and estimating the estimated placental volume (EPV). At the end of pregnancy, the subjects used the app to record pregnancy outcomes.

Kliman’s objective is to use the data from this study to determine whether EPV can influence pregnancy outcomes. If the researchers find an association between the two, they will attempt to collect sufficient data to demonstrate that incorporating EPV measurements into routine prenatal care is meaningful.

Samsung Develops Wearable Device Chip Capable of Monitoring Human Health

Samsung Electronics’ semiconductor division announced last Thursday that the company has developed a Bio Processor chip for wearable devices. Reportedly, the sensors embedded in the Bio Processor can not only monitor an individual’s health status but also help safeguard information security. Since each person has a unique heart rate pattern, this biometric feature can be used to lock data.

Fujian Mobile Boosts the Information Construction of “Smart Healthcare”

Recently, Fujian Mobile officially signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, the largest Grade A tertiary general hospital in Southwest Fujian, to comprehensively advance the process of medical informatization. Among the initiatives, the “Wireless Ward Round” system has garnered significant attention as a major highlight of this strategic partnership.

It is understood that the “Wireless Ward Round” system is an application based on China Mobile’s 4G private network or WLAN wireless broadband. Medical staff can seamlessly access the hospital’s HIS (Hospital Information System) via WiFi using handheld mobile terminal devices, enabling operations such as medical record registration, medical history inquiry, vital signs management, and report viewing. This reduces the daily ward round time by 60% compared to previous practices.

Finally, the most critical major event of this week,

Amid escalating tensions in the retail sector, major e-commerce platforms such as Tmall and JD.com, along with mobile terminal providers, have intensified their efforts by launching a variety of promotional campaigns. In addition to traditional categories like apparel and home goods,The new landscape, in which health product companies and pharmaceutical e-commerce platforms are actively “entering the fray,” has also drawn significant attention. In recent days, numerous pharmaceutical manufacturers and “time-honored Chinese pharmaceutical brands” have accelerated their strategic deployments, successively launching “Double 11” promotional campaigns on their own platforms or third-party marketplaces.

Industry insiders have noted that, judging by the promotional campaigns of major e-commerce platforms, pharmaceutical e-commerce companies are genuinely ramping up their efforts for this year’s “Double 11” shopping festival. Both third-party marketplaces and self-operated official websites have rolled out a variety of more “substantial” promotional strategies. “Double 11” has become a crucial opportunity that “slow-burn” e-commerce sectors, such as pharmaceutical e-commerce, are unwilling to miss. The pharmaceutical e-commerce industry is currently in a phase of intense competition. To build a brand with distinct competitive advantages, companies will need to adjust and upgrade their products, service systems, financial strength, and even the entire industrial chain.

Coincidentally,JD Health City, under the domain name “yao.jd.com,” has quietly relaunched as the Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Cloud Health Flagship Store. Its homepage prominently features the tagline “B2B Newly Launched” and categorizes offerings by region, resembling the layout of pharmaceutical B2B e-commerce websites. However, the absence of buyer qualification verification has caused JD to cross a regulatory red line.

"Hey, even if you're rushing, you should still carry yourself with confidence. Now it's even better—there are people to keep an eye on you."

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Healthcare Reform

★National Health and Family Planning Commission: Building a Credit System for Medical Institutions and Physicians

The National Health and Family Planning Commission issued the "Notice on Strengthening the Maintenance and Use of the Networked Registration Management System for Medical Institutions and Physicians," requiring health and family planning administrative departments at all levels, as well as traditional Chinese medicine management departments, to use the improvement of the registration system as a starting point to gradually establish a credit system for medical institutions and physicians. This involves implementing internal credit classification management, improving systems for legal integrity incentives and negative information disclosure, clearly distinguishing between good and poor credit records, warning against medical risks, purifying the medical environment, shaping a positive industry image, safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of patients, and promoting the development of the healthcare sector.

The Notice further stipulates that health and family planning administrative departments and traditional Chinese medicine management authorities at all levels must complete the verification, cleanup, supplementation, and correction of information on medical institutions and physicians within their respective jurisdictions by December 15, 2015, and submit such data in real time through the registration system. Meanwhile, these authorities shall publicly disclose the basic registration information of medical institutions and physicians within their jurisdictions on their official websites, thereby enabling inquiries, review, and oversight by all sectors of society and the general public.

★Reform of County-Level Public Hospitals in Hubei: Treatment Fees for Large Medical Equipment Reduced by 20%

To comprehensively advance healthcare reform and eliminate the mechanism of “subsidizing medical services with drug profits,” the Hubei Provincial Price Bureau, the Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission, and the Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security issued guidance on adjusting medical service prices. Effective October 30, more than 100 county-level public hospitals participating in the comprehensive reform pilot across 64 counties (county-level cities) in the province will fully abolish drug markups and implement new pricing for medical services. Among these changes, prices for 86 items involving large-scale medical equipment examinations and treatments, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and radiation therapy, will be reduced by 20%.

★Five Departments Issue Document: Strictly Control the Rapid Growth of Medical Expenses in Public Hospitals

The National Health and Family Planning Commission, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine jointly issued the "Several Opinions on Controlling Unreasonable Growth in Medical Expenses at Public Hospitals."

The Opinion outlines requirements in eight key areas, primarily including: standardizing the clinical practices of medical personnel, with a focus on strengthening oversight of prescription drug use, medical consumables, and large-scale medical examinations; reducing artificially inflated prices of drugs and consumables, improving centralized tendering and procurement for pharmaceuticals, and implementing transparent procurement for high-value medical consumables; advancing reforms in health insurance payment methods to establish intrinsic incentive mechanisms that encourage standardized clinical practices by medical institutions and staff; and eliminating the practice of subsidizing medical services through drug markups by establishing a scientific compensation mechanism for public hospitals.

★Maternal and Child Health Association Releases "Guidelines for Postpartum Mother-and-Infant Recovery Institutions," Highlighting the Rights and Interests of Mothers and Infants

The Chinese Maternal and Child Health Association has released the "Guidelines for Postpartum Mother-and-Infant Rehabilitation Institutions," which prominently emphasizes the rights and interests of mothers and infants. The Guidelines provide detailed definitions of the organizational structure, service systems, and operational content of maternal and infant rehabilitation and healthcare institutions; specify the frequency of postpartum mother-and-infant monitoring and the process management for neonatal trace element supplementation; introduce new assessment criteria for breast engorgement and establishment standards for medical clinics within postpartum mother-and-infant rehabilitation institutions; and offer more meticulous and rigorous elaborations on mother-infant contact, neonatal feeding, neonatal skin care, facilities and equipment, disinfection and isolation, and infection control in public areas.

★The State Council Issued the "Overall Plan for Coordinated Promotion of World-Class Universities and First-Class Disciplines"

The State Council has officially released the Overall Plan for Coordinating the Development of World-Class Universities and First-Class Disciplines. The plan proposes that, in accordance with the central government’s “Four Comprehensives” strategic layout, with Chinese characteristics and world-class standards as the core, moral education as the fundamental task, and support for the innovation-driven development strategy and service to economic and social development as the orientation, a number of high-level universities and disciplines should be promoted to enter the ranks or forefront of world-class institutions.

★Hubei Fully Eliminates Drug Markups and Moderately Raises Medical Service Prices

The Hubei Provincial Price Bureau, the Health and Family Planning Commission, and the Department of Human Resources and Social Security recently issued a joint notice stating that, effective October 30, county-level public hospitals implementing comprehensive reforms across the province will abolish drug markups, reduce prices for examinations and treatments using large-scale medical equipment as well as laboratory tests, and reasonably increase prices for medical services such as diagnosis and treatment, surgery, nursing, and traditional Chinese medicine to better reflect the technical and labor value of healthcare professionals.

★Public Release of the Draft Regulations: Health and Family Planning Authorities Shall Conduct On-Site Coordination for Major Medical Disputes

On the 30th, the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council solicited public comments on the "Regulations on the Prevention and Handling of Medical Disputes (Draft for Review)." The draft stipulates that medical institutions shall report to the local health and family planning administrative department within 12 hours in the event of major medical negligence or any illegal or criminal cases related to healthcare triggered by medical disputes.

It is emphasized that any entity or individual is prohibited from engaging in acts that endanger the personal safety of patients and medical personnel or disrupt the normal order of medical institutions. It is strictly forbidden for any entity or individual to tamper with, forge, conceal, destroy, or seize medical records.

Data

◆Global smartphone shipments reached 355.2 million units in the third quarter

Global smartphone shipments totaled 355.2 million units in the third quarter of this year, according to the latest report from market research firm IDC. This represents a 6.8% increase compared with the 332.6 million units shipped in the third quarter of 2014. Although total smartphone shipments rose significantly in the third quarter of this year, they remained below IDC’s forecast of 363.8 million units.

As for individual smartphone manufacturers, Samsung once again topped the list with 84.5 million units shipped, a 6.1% increase from the previous year. Apple ranked second, with total shipments reaching 48 million units, representing a 22.2% growth compared to last year’s 39.3 million. Following closely were Chinese companies Huawei, Lenovo, and Xiaomi. It is worth noting that IDC estimated Huawei’s third-quarter shipments at 26.5 million units, which is lower than the 27.4 million announced by the Chinese company yesterday.

◆In 2014, the total number of outpatient visits in China increased by 290 million, with a growth rate lower than that of previous years.

In 2014, the total number of outpatient visits increased by 290 million (a 4.0% growth) compared to the previous year, which was lower than the average annual growth rate of 8.3% over the preceding five years. The total number of hospitalizations increased by 12.26 million (a 7.6% growth) compared to the previous year, which was lower than the average annual growth rate of 10.8% over the preceding five years. The average number of medical consultations per resident per year rose from 5.4 in 2013 to 5.6 in 2014, and the annual hospitalization rate increased from 14.1 per 100 residents in 2013 to 14.9 per 100 residents in 2014.

◆56,000 Chinese Travelers Went to South Korea for Plastic Surgery Last Year

According to official South Korean statistics, 56,000 Chinese citizens traveled to South Korea for cosmetic surgery last year. Incidents and disputes related to botched procedures are on the rise; incomplete statistics indicate that the failure rate is increasing by 10% to 15% annually.

◆U.S. User Data Research Firm Says Female Console Gamers Outnumber Males

Last week, the Pew Research Center released the results of a survey on electronic device ownership in the United States. The data showed that 90% of respondents owned mobile phones, laptops, and game consoles. Notably, the number of women owning gaming consoles exceeded that of men. Meanwhile, the Entertainment Software Alliance and other research institutions have confirmed that there is a substantial female player base in the console gaming market, although their estimates of the specific gender ratio vary.

Achieve an Interconnected Population Health Informatics Network System by 2020

At the inaugural (2015) Sichuan “Internet+” Health Services Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference, Zhang Feng, Deputy Director of the Department of Planning and Information under the National Health and Family Planning Commission, revealed that by 2020, China would establish an interconnected informatization network system for population health information. The goal was to ensure that every household had access to a qualified full-time physician, and that each resident maintained standardized electronic health records as well as comprehensive personal health files.

◆Next 5 Years: Anti-Cancer Drugs Near ¥150 Billion

Over the next five years, the global pharmaceutical market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4%–7%, reaching $1.27 trillion by 2018. Within this, the generic drug market is expected to expand at a rate of 7%–10%, attaining a value of $606 billion by 2018 and accounting for 48% of the total pharmaceutical market size.

Last year, the anticancer drug market generated $100 billion in revenue. By 2018, the market for anticancer drugs is projected to reach $147 billion, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.6%, indicating that the research and development of anticancer drugs can yield substantial profits.

The clinical program encompasses two therapeutic modalities: one involves pharmacological targeting to eradicate cancer cells, while the other employs immunotherapeutic approaches for cancer treatment.

◆Costa Rica's Medical Device Exports Rose 28% in the First Three Quarters of This Year

Data from the Costa Rican Chamber of Commerce shows that in the first three quarters of this year, Costa Rica's medical equipment exports reached US$1.527 billion, a 28% increase compared to the same period last year. Costa Rica has become the second-largest exporter of medical equipment in Latin America, after Mexico. If the average export volume of the first three quarters is maintained in the fourth quarter, the total export value of medical devices this year will reach US$2.037 billion. In the first three quarters of 2015, Costa Rica's exports decreased by 16.7% year-on-year, dropping from US$8.73 billion last year to US$7.273 billion this year. Excluding the electronics and electrical industry affected by Intel, exports increased by 2.3% year-on-year. In addition, coffee exports grew by 17%, with a growth rate second only to that of medical equipment.

A total of 65 companies in Colombia are engaged in the export of medical devices, with diversification evident in both product types and destination countries. In 2014, 77% of medical device exports were directed to the United States; this year, that proportion has declined to 72%, while export shares to Belgium, Japan, France, Canada, and China have increased. Currently, 80% of the industry’s workforce comprises graduates from public or technical universities, and 54% of employees are women.

◆Statistical Bulletin on the Development of Health and Family Planning in China, 2014

Recently, the National Health and Family Planning Commission released the "2014 Statistical Bulletin on the Development of Health and Family Planning in China." The bulletin showed that the proportion of beds in private hospitals among all hospital beds increased from 15.6% in 2013 to 16.8% in 2014, with the growth rate of beds in private hospitals (17.1%) outpacing that of public hospitals (6.7%).

◆Japan’s Hospital Losses Widen, with Average Deficit Reaching ¥120 Million in Fiscal 2014

According to a report by Japan’s Jiji Press, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare released on the 4th data on the operational status of hospitals and clinics nationwide. The survey results showed that in fiscal year 2014, the average deficit for general hospitals across the country reached ¥117.78 million (approximately RMB 6.3 million), nearly double the figure from the previous year (¥61.91 million).

In general hospitals, private non-public hospitals are in a surplus position, while national and public hospitals are facing severe deficit crises. Additionally, although the revenue of general clinics has shrunk, they remain profitable.

Regarding physicians’ income, the average annual income of directors of private hospitals was JPY 29.304 million (approximately RMB 1.533 million), a year-on-year increase of 0.1%. The average annual income of physicians in private hospitals was JPY 15.444 million (approximately RMB 808,000), a year-on-year decrease of 2.1%. The average annual income of physicians in national hospitals was JPY 14.253 million (approximately RMB 745,000), a year-on-year increase of 1.9%. Physicians in public hospitals earned an average annual income of JPY 14.940 million (approximately RMB 781,000), a year-on-year increase of 1.0%. In addition, the average annual income of privately practicing physicians (directors of general clinics) decreased by 0.5% to JPY 29.135 million (approximately RMB 1.524 million).

The survey was conducted among hospitals and clinics across Japan, yielding valid responses from 1,365 hospitals and 1,637 clinics.

◆Number of People in China Diagnosed with Different Cancers within 5 Years and Still Alive (Thousands) and Age Group Composition Ratio (2011)

A survey shows that among cancer patients in China who were diagnosed within the past five years and are still alive, female breast cancer patients account for the largest number, reaching 1.02 million; followed by colorectal cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, and esophageal cancer. These five common cancers constitute 56.1% of the total.

Data show that the cancer incidence rate is lower in women than in men, yet the 5-year cancer prevalence is higher in women. This may be because the five most common cancers among male patients are gastric cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, and liver cancer, whereas the most prevalent cancers in women are breast cancer, colorectal cancer, cervical cancer, thyroid cancer, and lung cancer, with thyroid cancer and breast cancer both having high survival rates.

New Technologies

◆Japan Develops World’s Thinnest Artificial Blood Vessel: Just 0.6 Millimeters

Japan’s National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center recently announced that its researchers have successfully developed an artificial blood vessel with a diameter of just 0.6 millimeters. This is currently the world’s thinnest artificial blood vessel and holds promise for applications in fields such as cerebral and coronary artery bypass grafting.

The research team plans to initiate clinical trials within one to two years, with widespread adoption anticipated within five years. By then, these artificial blood vessels are expected to be utilized in transplant surgeries for organs requiring very fine vasculature, such as the brain and heart.

◆Tsinghua University Develops 3D-Printed Embryonic Stem Cell Module Technology

Recently, scientists from Tsinghua University and Drexel University in the United States have developed a 3D printing method capable of producing highly uniform “modules” of embryonic stem cells. These cells, which can differentiate into all cell types in the human body, can serve as “Lego bricks” to construct tissue structures, larger tissue assemblies, and even micro-organs. The relevant findings were published in the November 4 issue of the journal Biofabrication.

◆One Drop of Blood for Cancer Diagnosis

Researchers at the VUMC Cancer Center in Amsterdam have mastered a breakthrough technology—detecting different types of cancer in the early stages through a single drop of blood.

Researchers analyzed blood samples from more than 200 cancer patients. Following various diagnostic and predictive assessments, they were able to determine not only the presence of cancer cells in the body but also the specific type of cancer and whether it had metastasized to other sites.

◆3D-Printed Portable Device + Smartphone Can Detect Sickle Cell Disease

Recently, a research team comprising scientists from the University of Connecticut, Yale University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University developed a 3D-printed testing platform capable of diagnosing and monitoring sickle cell disease using only a few drops of blood. According to Savas Tasoglu, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Connecticut and leader of the team, this tool is not only cost-effective but also user-friendly, allowing individuals without medical knowledge or expertise to use it with ease.

◆Australian-New Zealand Technology Can Predict Death Up to 14 Years in Advance

Scientists from Australia and Finland have discovered in a joint study that individuals with elevated levels of certain common proteins in their blood are at a higher risk of death from severe infections compared to others, and that the likelihood of dying from such infections can be predicted up to 14 years in advance. This means that a simple blood test can determine an individual’s risk of dying from severe infectious diseases, such as sepsis or hepatitis, well before they occur.

◆Heating “Nano Grenades” Can Destroy Cancer Cells!

Researchers at the University of Manchester have created “nanogrenades” that can deliver drugs into cancer cell tissues and destroy them. The “nanogrenades” are based on adipose tissue (a specialized connective tissue composed of large aggregates of adipocytes, with loose connective tissue separating the clustered adipocytes into numerous lobules).

◆New Invention by U.S. National Academy of Engineering Member: Skin Patch with Embedded Sensors for Blood Flow Monitoring

John Rogers, a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), has led his team in developing a novel wearable device capable of real-time measurement of blood flow and other data during normal activities. This flexible, thin patch can be applied to the skin surface and utilizes thermal sensors to accurately measure blood flow in vessels, promising to provide physicians with real-time, highly accurate hemodynamic indicators.

◆Blood Test Can Predict Kidney Disease 5 Years in Advance

A recent study shows that by detecting soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) in the blood, people can predict the risk of harm caused by chronic kidney disease five years in advance.

Researchers analyzed renal function and conducted blood tests on 2,292 participants enrolled in the Emory Cardiovascular Biobank between 2003 and 2009. The mean age of the cohort was 63 years, with 65% being male. The study results showed that 40% of subjects with elevated suPAR levels developed kidney disease within five years, compared to only 10% of those with low suPAR levels.

Capital