In today’s talking points; China: opportunities for investment in Chinese health care market; Aussie study: Chemicals used in cookware linked to higher birth weights; Australia’s methamphetamine use peaks
China: opportunities for investment in Chinese health care market
China’s urban population is projected to reach one billion by 2030 with more than 185 million residents over the age of 60. Health care challenges appeared because of the high-density environment, lifestyle and diet. The growing number of senior population and the abandon of one child policy drive demand for independent medical facilities, age-related healthcare services to tackle diabetes, hypertension, cancer and respiratory illness. Although Chinese government has been increasing efforts to enhance affordable and accessible medical care, there is still a huge potential for foreign investment on private health care facilities encouraged by the government. Foreign capital participation is a key lever to achieving international quality standards and practices. According to Dealogic, 11 inbound investment transactions happened in China’s hospital sector in 2016 despite the restriction on wholly-foreign owned enterprises hospitals (WFOE). However, the effective administrative controls streamlined the regulatory approval regime in recent years. The liberalization of policy provided Chinese companies with greater control and flexibility over outbound investments and greatly reduced bureaucratic red tape.
Read more at Mondaq News.
Aussie study: Chemicals used in cookware linked to higher birth weights
Anna Callan, the leading Australian researcher of the study from Western Australia’s Edith Cowan University (ECU) has said that chemical, Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAA), used in cookware is associated with chronic diseases later in life time. For example, an increased birth weights for babies contributes to an increased risk of childhood obesity. It emphasizes the potential effects between chemicals used in industrial processes and human. In addition, some of those chemicals will persist in our bodies for decades and they are commonly used in the production of stain repellent, fire-fighting foam and water resistant clothing.
Read more at Xinhua.
Australia’s methamphetamine use peaks
According to Odyssey House, one of Australia’s largest drug rehabilitation organisations, released that the number of people using amphetamine soared by 53% in 2016, with two thirds of them over the age of 30. Users intoxicated in the first time has much younger age than ten years ago. The growth in ice addiction means that federal authorities need to increase long-term funding to fight against the drug addiction as well as providing more relevant facilities, such as trained staff and other rehabilitation to help them get back on track.
Read more at Xinhua.