GE Healthcare has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Saudi German Hospitals Group (SGH), to provide diagnostic imaging equipment for not-for-profit hospitals in the Middle East and Africa region.

GE Healthcare is a $17 billion healthcare and life sciences solutions business of global major General Electric company (GE).

The initiative is in response to the strong demand for affordable, quality and readily available medical services within the Africa continent, a top official said.

“Plans are that these 5,000 sq m not-for-profit hospitals will have 50 beds each, to be located in remote areas in Africa and the Middle East. The vision is that these sites will provide more affordable, reliable and more accessible primary healthcare services to larger segments of society,” Isam Moursy, general manager at GE Healthcare for the Middle East region noted.

“Together, we’re developing innovative healthcare solutions to help address some of today’s most pressing healthcare issues such as improving access to quality care in rural communities and developing regions of the world and, in developed regions, shifting to an ‘early health’ model of care.”

“We are aware that minimal modifications might be implemented on the standard not-for-profit hospital design, subject to a specific healthcare needs existing within any of the selected countries,” he added.

Sobhi Batterjee, president and CEO, Saudi German Hospitals Group said the core success for the not-for-profit hospital model was based on delivering quality healthcare services for the needy, underserved segment of the population.

“In return, a subsidised user’s fee will secure the long term sustainability of each hospital as an independent entity, with no burden added on the selected countries for healthcare expenditures,” he observed.

SGH’s contribution is to design, construct, equip, operate, and co-finance these hospitals. GE Healthcare’s involvement is the donation of some of the necessary diagnostic imaging equipment including X-ray machines, ECG monitors, and ultrasound devices.-TradeArabia News Service