Solutions in Singapore
Inspirations in India
health
Patiënt migration
Favourable perception
Fast growing
Private investment
IO What sNewS Issue 4 'April 1999
For the third year, Singapore played
host to the Asian health care round-
table organized by Economist Conferences
in cooperation with Asia Health Ventures,
March 24-25. 'Health care solutions for a
region in crisis' was sponsored by
Rabobank International (RI) and
PriceWaterhouseCoopers who presented a
joint study entitled 'Impact of the Crisis;
immediate and long-term outlook for
Asian health care markets'. With approxi-
mately 160 attendees - not only health
care providers hut representatives from
the pharmaceutical and health insurance
segments as well - the event provided
valuahle exposure for us in the Asian
health care world.
The roundtable was co-chaired by Anne
I lockett of RI health care, Singapore, and
included such topics as health care
financing, public and private hospitals,
pharmaceutical industry, medical
equipment and 1T, and long-term
Rabobank
International
nocfctr<
Anne Hockett and Christopher Nailer
structural change. Hockett outlined the
situation in Asia. 'With no limitations to
accessing puhlic health care services,
rnany patients have migrated from costlier
treatments at private facilities towards
cheaper alternatives in the public sector.
Private providers are losing middle class
patients to the public sector, where care
may be obtained in over-crowded, ill-
equipped facilities,' she explained. 'A
number of private clients switched to
public resources, resulting in a 20-30
increase in volume while the occupancy
rate of private hospitals feil 30-50
According to the report, the timing of
recovery for the Asian health care market
is critically linked to overall economie
health - estimated to stabilize within two
to five years. The health care industry will
undoubtably be among the first to
rebuild. From an RI perspective, the con
ference was successful. We are favourably
perceived in the region as a serious
financial institution and not just out to
make a 'quick buck'. The industry study,
an accomplishment by Anne Hockett and
Christine Pillsbury, contributed to our fine
reputation in the sector as well.
Recently opened India branch - Rabo
India Finance Pvt. Ftd. - sponsored
an international conference on health
care together with the Confederation of
lndian Industry (CII) in Hyderabad
March 16-17. Health Care India '99
care professionals, heard
presentations from renowned
members of the health care
and biotechnology industries,
health insurance heads, and
fund managers.
From Ie ft to right: Ronil Sujan, Mark Lobo,
Narendranath, Karan Ahluwalia, chief minister
Chandrababu Naidu
provided a platform for industry leaders
to discuss strategie issues relating to the
development and future of the health
care industry in India. More than 400
delegates, including senior level health
Prominent speakers from
India included the chief
minister Chandrababu
Naidu and minister of
health and family
welfare, Dalit Ezhimalai. Sam Fazeli
Our own Gerard Gregg-
Smith, Head of M&A health care
in London, highlighted global
trends in M&A in the
pharmaceutical and health care
sectors. According to Gregg-Smith,
'the lndian pharma market is one of
the fastest growing in the world.
Contributing factors include
increase in population, expanding
middle class, changing disease profile
and aging population.' Sam Fazeli,
from our London health care equity
research team, spoke on trends and the
growing importance of biotech research
presents the latest on biotech research
in the health care sector, and Rana
Kapoor, managing director of Rabo
India summed up the presentations.
Other issues relating to national health
care policy were outlined with a recom-
mendation by the CII that infrastructure
industry status be conferred on the
health care sector. Resulting benefits
would help create a favourable policy
framework and environment thus
encouraging investments from the pri
vate sector, both foreign and domestic.
