Financial support to for-profit hospitals in Germany and England during COVID-19 has come under scrutiny in both countries, with suggestions it did not represent value for money for the public payor.
With 125 million people - 80 million of whom live in the big four (Poland, Romania, Czechia and Hungary) - CEE is a large and diverse market. But is it a tempting one? HBI-365 members heard an expert panel in our CEE State of the Regions broadcast suggest that while COVID is creating huge problems across the world, it is also creating opportunities in Central and Eastern Europe.
The direct health impact of COVID-19 on sub-Saharan Africa has so far been significantly less than expected. But economic activity has fallen sharply and a vaccine impact is not expected until late next year. Panellists from Anadach, the IFC, Columbia Africa, AfyA Care and Nyaho Medical Centre talk about consolidation, supply chains and teledensity.
HBI 365's State of the Regions: Nordics panel found a lot of positives had come out of a difficult year. But better relationships with payors and public providers, and a vastly increased understanding and recognition of the benefits of digital clinics were tempered with the knowledge that, as the pandemic recedes, the new normal is likely to see some of these advances pull back - albeit not to pre COVID levels.
Private equity firm Bridgepoint has pulled the IPO of global renal care group Diaverum after "indications received did not fully reflect the fundamental value of the business".
HBI State of the Regions continued on Tuesday morning with a look at SE Asia. It's "overloaded" in some parts with "substantial coverage gaps" in others, with big provider/payor conflict in most. Eduardo Banzon from the Asian Development Bank, Cole Sirucek from DocDoc, and Angus Slater from Bupa talk about the biggest challenges and opportunities on the continent.
South African hospital group Life Healthcare has sold its Polish subsidiary Scanmed to CEE private equity investor Abris for PLN 340m ($91m) but has had to impair the asset by nearly half as the offer came in below the book value.
The world's second-largest economy will start its 14th 5-year plan next year. Panellists at HBI's State of the Region event discussed China's plan to onshore both physical and online healthcare services.
Why do the prices of medical procedures vary so much globally? We talk to Jussi Rantanen, CEO at Strand Medical, a consultancy that specialises in analysing the cost and the quality of care internationally. An orthopaedic surgeon, here is his take on the differences.
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