GE Healthcare highlights commitment to localizing, scaling up and supporting infrastructure development at first Iraq Health Summit

GE Healthcare was one of the major sponsors of the event that brought together leading government representatives and a variety of industry stakeholders and influencers to address the state of Iraq's healthcare system, with discussions on key initiatives and strategies to further drive the growth of the country's healthcare sector.

In addition to showcasing GE Healthcare's experience in Iraq and across the Middle East, the company's leaders took part in presentations, emphasizing on healthymagination, GE's commitment to provide greater access to high quality healthcare to more people at lower costs. This further builds on GE's technology advances aimed at providing solutions that address the rising incidence of non-communicable and lifestyle diseases in Iraq, with a focus on cardiac care, diabetes, oncology and infant care.

Maher Abouzeid, President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Healthcare for the Middle East and Pakistan, said: "We are focused on further strengthening our local presence towards the revitalization of Iraq's healthcare infrastructure. Drawing on our direct participation and partnerships in the country's healthcare sector, we are building our footprint by investing in people and bringing our capabilities and solutions. This approach of localizing, scaling up our presence through direct investments and building long-term partnerships is central to our commitment to the country, which we highlighted at the Iraq Health Summit."

He added: "There are big opportunities for the development of healthcare infrastructure in Iraq and in supporting capacity building, in areas such as training. Furthermore, with an emphasis on providing early care, we believe GE's healthymagination commitment - aimed at increasing access to high quality healthcare at lower costs - is a perfect fit to the requirements of Iraq. Through our local offerings we remain committed to bringing relevant solutions to the Ministry of Health and to key private chain customers working closely with our valued distribution partners, aligning our efforts to respond to Iraq's healthcare needs."

A delegation of 20 GE Healthcare leaders including eight executives attended the Iraq Health Summit. At a panel discussion on women's health, Mr. Abouzeid shared insights on one of the company's newest Maternal and Infant Care technologies, the Giraffe Omnibed, a solution for transforming the neo natal intensive care unit.

He also underscored the importance of healthymagiantion through the example of Vscan, a pocket-sized visualization tool developed to provide physicians with imaging capabilities at the point-of-care, launched recently in the Middle East.

Skander Malcolm, President & CEO of GE Healthcare, Eastern & African growth markets, presented a keynote address on 'Partnership for the Development of Healthcare in Iraq'. Underlining the capabilities and footprint of the company across the region and in Iraq, Mr. Malcolm discussed the launch of the GE Healthcare Iraq Service Center in Baghdad.

Envisaged as one of the first-of-its-kind in Iraq, the GE Healthcare Service Center is specifically designed to meet the requirements of the MoH hospital network by bringing GE's global service capabilities and technology solutions to raise servicing standards in Iraq.

Today, GE is a leader in the provision of high quality cardiovascular, mammography and general imaging in the country. GE is also working with its partners to explore opportunities for education, training and knowledge transfer to local Iraqis.

GE Healthcare has provided healthcare infrastructure for several emergency hospitals and medical facilities including the Farouk Medical Center in Sulaimaniya, Azadi Hospital in Duhok, the Amal Cardiac Center and PAR hospital in Erbil in Northern Iraq. The company also leads the way in the provision of high quality cardiovascular and general imaging in Iraq and was selected to supply the country's first radiation therapy CT technology at Qirgah Hospital in Northern Iraq.

The Ministry of Health has selected GE Healthcare as the supplier of choice for patient ventilation systems and ECG systems for MoH hospitals across the country. Almoosawi Private Hospital in Basra also chose GE Healthcare to provide a wide range of technologies in diagnostic imaging, life care solutions, general ultrasound and echocardiography systems.

With over 40 years in Iraq and offices in Erbil, Baghdad and Basra, GE supports the country's infrastructure needs in power generation, oil & gas, water processing, aviation and healthcare, through the company's diversified multi-business solutions and growing local presence.