Healthcare is a growing business in China as Chinese are increasingly becoming health conscious. The health sector is also one among many that the government wants to reform and open further to foreign capital. With the future of healthcare being shaped by technology, like artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality and 3D printing, the role of the drugmaker is expanding in the healthcare loop as well.

In this context, CGTN brings you the second episode of BizTalk. Let's zoom in on AstraZeneca's Global Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pascal Soriot.

"We operate some physical companies with the emergence of digital technologies and AI. If you want to help patients treat their diseases better, if you want to also save money overall from the healthcare, I think you're willing to integrate digital technologies and pharmaceuticals that will help you diagnose diseases better," Soriot said. 

The CEO asserts that new technologies, such as AI, are not only changing what it means to be a pharmaceutical company, they are also redefining the doctor's role. 

"In fact, I would argue it makes the doctor's life more interesting because it engages them in a discussion with the patient," he said. 

He also advises that doctors should be "open-minded" and try to embrace digital tools. "Doctors will have to be open-minded, because patients are a lot more sophisticated today than before. Now they ask questions, and sometimes they google and challenge," he shared his idea. 

Meanwhile, China's innovative drug approvals have sped up, as part of the government's Healthy China 2030 policy. A McKinsey survey shows that in the last four years, China progressed on all major indicators, including regulations, talent and funding.  

The China growth bet is becoming more compelling and many global bio-pharmaceutical firms are expanding in the country. 

"China is more and more open to the world. And we even launch a law that protects foreign investment in China and approving new drugs much faster and providing access to of new medicine to patients also faster," said Leon Wang, executive vice president and international and China president of AstraZeneca. 

In 2018, AstraZeneca broke out China separately for the first time in its earnings, with sales totaling 3.8 billion U.S. dollars. In 2019, the first-half sales hit 2.4 billion U.S. dollars, making AstraZeneca the second-largest foreign drug-maker in the country.

BizTalk is a 30-minute business interview show that airs Saturdays from 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. BJT and rebroadcasts throughout the weekend. The show is also posted on social media platforms including Facebook and YouTube. 

Tune in the full episode on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. BJT.