Siemens innovations in technology tackle healthcare challenges in a rapidly developing Middle East

Though the healthcare sector in the Middle East is growing at a fast pace, per capita expenditure even in the most developed Middle Eastern countries still lags significantly behind other developed countries.

According to figures released by the World Health Organization, the per capita healthcare expenditure amounted to EUR6,400 in the United States versus EUR460 in the Middle East in 2010.

Waclaw Lukowicz, CEO of Siemens Healthcare Middle East, said: "The main drivers behind the regional healthcare sector's expansion are increasingly similar to other countries, but while the vast majority of the population in the Middle East is still young, it will become older, placing greater demand on the region's healthcare systems. At the same time, many countries are witnessing a rapid increase in lifestyle-related diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension and coronary diseases."

Today, most countries face one of two key challenges which can be addressed by innovative technological solutions: countries whose populations have access to comprehensive healthcare but are faced with the ever-increasing cost of that care; or countries whose populations require better and improved access to healthcare, which in turn requires increased spending.

"It is crucial that new technologies make healthcare more accessible, affordable and efficient," said Lukowicz.

"This is particularly relevant at a time when the Middle East's healthcare sector is undergoing a phase of rapid growth, in turn requiring large investments to meet rising demand. To prevent cost from spiraling and stay on top of the latest technological advances at the same time, innovations that provide increased efficiency and enable early detection while improving workflows will play an ever more important role in the future."

At the core of Siemens is a deep commitment to innovation, with investments in research and development (R&D) in fiscal 2012 alone at EUR4.2bn, equivalent to 5.4% of revenues.

The company has been committed to advancing healthcare and combating lifestyle-related diseases both locally and regionally for many decades. For example, the Tawam Molecular Imaging Center in the UAE, which was awarded to Siemens, is a turnkey project focused on "patient-centric care" - clinical care provided in a comfortable, non-clinical environment.

In Egypt, Siemens was the medical equipment contractual partner for the Children's Cancer Hospital - a Middle East center of excellence for diagnostics and treatment of cancer for children of all children at no charge, funded completely by charity institutions.

Here, Siemens was responsible for the supervision, supply, integration, and handling warranty of all equipment allowing efficient and comfortable workflow, among other key responsibilities.

Another example is the Heart Hospital in Qatar - part of Hamad Medical Corporation mandated by the Qatar Ministry of Health, under the guidance of the Supreme Council of Health. This dedicated cardiovascular care facility received the region's first multi-axis Angio system to aid in cardiothoracic procedures and is the only standalone facility in Qatar to integrate all cardiothoracic medical and surgical services within one building.

Siemens Healthcare showcased its latest cutting-edge and cost-effective healthcare technologies for the first time in the Middle East this week at Arab Health, the region's largest healthcare event.

Among the latest innovations being showcased are the world's first wireless ultrasound system, the Acuson Freestyle; revolutionary new X-ray tube and detector technology in the Artis Q and Artis Q.zen angiography systems, developed by Siemens Healthcare to improve minimally-invasive therapy of diseases such as coronary artery disease, stroke and cancer; and the Mammomat Inspiration Prime Edition, which lowers patient dose up to 30% without compromising image quality.