The Japanese government is planning to set up a taskforce to promote the export of medical technologies and services to five Mekong basin countries in Southeast Asia.
The entity involving both public and private sectors will be tasked with accelerating the export of Japan's advanced medical facilities and insurance system to Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and Laos, Kyodo news agency reported on November 25.
This is part of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic growth strategy, it said.
Tokyo aims to sign a memorandum of understanding on expanding cooperation in the medical sector with the five Mekong countries when it hosts a special summit between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Tokyo from December 13-15, marking the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.
ASEAN groups the five Mekong nations plus Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore.
The taskforce will consist of officials from Japan's foreign and economy, trade and industry ministries, as well as hospital managers and representatives from insurance companies and medical equipment manufacturers, according to Kyodo.
During his visit to Phnom Penh earlier this month, Abe told Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen that Japan will launch a hospital providing emergency care in the country in March 2015.
The Japanese government will supply medicines and medical equipment to the Mekong nations, he added.
Japan is also set to support the training of medical workers and provide know-how on hospital management in Laos, and help establish hospitals in Myanmar.
It will later consider how to boost cooperation in the medical sector with Thailand and Vietnam.
Under the growth strategy, Japan will expand medical service exports and set up 10 medical institutions in emerging nations by 2020.-VNA
The entity involving both public and private sectors will be tasked with accelerating the export of Japan's advanced medical facilities and insurance system to Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and Laos, Kyodo news agency reported on November 25.
This is part of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic growth strategy, it said.
Tokyo aims to sign a memorandum of understanding on expanding cooperation in the medical sector with the five Mekong countries when it hosts a special summit between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Tokyo from December 13-15, marking the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.
ASEAN groups the five Mekong nations plus Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore.
The taskforce will consist of officials from Japan's foreign and economy, trade and industry ministries, as well as hospital managers and representatives from insurance companies and medical equipment manufacturers, according to Kyodo.
During his visit to Phnom Penh earlier this month, Abe told Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen that Japan will launch a hospital providing emergency care in the country in March 2015.
The Japanese government will supply medicines and medical equipment to the Mekong nations, he added.
Japan is also set to support the training of medical workers and provide know-how on hospital management in Laos, and help establish hospitals in Myanmar.
It will later consider how to boost cooperation in the medical sector with Thailand and Vietnam.
Under the growth strategy, Japan will expand medical service exports and set up 10 medical institutions in emerging nations by 2020.-VNA
