GE Healthcare has signed a partnership agreement with the Egypt Ministry of Health (MoH) to boost the country’s healthcare technology management system, with plans to establish a biomed center of excellence in the country.

The move is in line with the government’s focus on increasing access to quality and affordable healthcare for all Egyptians, said Dr Adel El Adawy, the minister of health, after signing the agreement with Farid Fezoua, the president and chief executive of GE Healthcare Africa, at the Egypt Economic Development Conference, in the presence of GE’s chairman and chief executive Jeffrey Immelt.

The effort, which is supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), has the potential to significantly enhance biomedical services across the country.

Covering a full spectrum of activities for the development and optimisation of Egypt’s healthcare technology system aimed at enhancing technology utilisation, performance and optimisation, the framework agreement provides scope for the development of new health technology policies; health technology assessments measuring clinical and productivity effectiveness of health technologies and a range of technology management services including a significant focus on education and training for localized skills development.

Under the terms of the agreement, a feasibility study for the establishment of a biomed center of excellence will be conducted in phase one, prior to the development of a strategic operating plan that will see the launch of the unit in phase two, to be run by the Ministry of Health & Planning in co-operation with GE and WHO.

“With a population of over 85 million people, healthcare is a major social and economic force for Egypt,” stated Dr El Adawy.

"Therefore, enhancing health technology management and governance systems, ensuring performance efficiency and capacity building by nurturing strong local expertise and maximizing the provision of continuing medical education are key pillars in the Ministry’s focus on health system strengthening to support the attainment of international health indicators in Egypt. We are confident in the competencies that GE can bring, and also help convene, in support of our comprehensive health technology management program," he stated.

On the deal, Fezoua said: "GE Healthcare is honoured to have been selected for this program and grateful for the trust of the Ministry of Health in line with the Ministry’s focus on transforming Egypt’s biomedical services through knowledge transfer and local capabilities building."

This program builds on the $100 million investment commitment announcement made by GE this past month at the Africa Health Summit in London to developing healthcare education and training in the emerging markets.

These new investments include the establishment of new healthcare training centers, locally configured curricula and a range of education partnerships with reputed regional academic institutions in Africa, Turkey & the Middle East and Russia & CIS by 2018, he noted.

According to him, the program draws upon GE’s broad expertise in this area across Africa, where similar programs have contributed to better health outcomes including improved equipment performance and asset management; enhanced patient services and the development of professional, local biomedical technicians.

"We look forward to working in close partnership with the Ministry and with the World Health Organization to see the realization of this important initiative," he added.-TradeArabia News Service