In today’s talking points: China aims to increase life expectancy to 79 by 2030; Opening of China National GeneBank promising for advancements to global health; Prospering China’s Richest Healthcare Billionaires ; New Innovation Centre for Medicines Manufacturing opens in Melbourne China aims to increase life expectancy to 79 by 2030
China is aiming to create a comprehensive environmental monitoring system within the next decade and a half to boost its citizen’s health and increase life expectancy. The state council has said it would create the’ strictest environmental protection system’ to govern construction, noise pollution, atmospheric pollution amongst other environmental issues. Pollution has been identified as one of Chinas main issues in public health, with air pollution killing more than 1 million people in 2012 alone.
Read more at Reuters
Opening of China National GeneBank promising for advancements to global health
The official opening of the China National GeneBank last month in Shenzhen marks a new phase in Chinese International genomics collaboration. It will give scientists from around the world access to one of the most comprehensive and state of the art bio repositories. The billion-dollar gene bank covers more than 47,500 square meters with an integrated ‘Three Banks and Two Platforms’ structure. The opening of the CNGB come about after five years of development by the world’s largest genomics organization, BGI.
Read more at Bio IT World
Prospering China’s Richest Healthcare Billionaires
China has become the world’s second largest pharmaceutical market, thus providing opportunities for entrepreneurs in the sector to become billionaires. At least 30 people in the FORBES list of China’s 400 Richest made their fortunes purely in healthcare. It is expected that Chinese pharmaceutical market will grow from USD 108bn in 2015 to USD 167bn in 2020, a US report indicates that rising per capita incomes, an ageing population and greater access to healthcare are reasons for bigger spending on healthcare. Some of the billionaire-led Chinese pharma firms are involved in cross-border deals. While most of China’s healthcare billionaires are men, Lei Jufang stands to be the wealthiest woman in medicine. By selling Tibetan medicine, her company now worths USD 1.85bn.
Read more at Forbes
New Innovation Centre for Medicines Manufacturing opens in Melbourne
A new Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre (MMIC) will be established in Victoria to help the pharmaceutical industry create new products, grow exports and develop skills. Led by Monash University, supported by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and the Government of Victoria, MMIC will be Australia’s largest gathering of life sciences experts. The centre will also provide local medicines manufacturers with access to specialist scientific capabilities to solve technical challenges. In addition, it encourages investment in R&D, high-tech manufacturing, skills development and collaboration.
Read more at Invest in Australia