Customdesigned Healthcare

African patients benefit from targeted high-quality made-in-china medical equipment

One of the most vulnerable sections of the population in Africa is pregnant women. The reasons for this come down to a range of issues, the most critical being local customs, poverty, and the remoteness of many villages. These women often lack even the most basic prenatal examinations, resulting in high newborn mortality rates. To address this challenge, advanced medical diagnostic techniques such as ultrasound are vitally needed in many areas on the continent.

Fortunately, Mindray Bio-medical Electronics Co., one of the leading global providers of medical devices and solutions headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, works with the Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society to deliver ultrasound devices along with educational and training sessions in support of prenatal clinics.

“Thanks to Mindray’s support, we are introducing local obstetricians to the field of ultrasound scanning. And with this initiative, we aim to provide mothers-to-be with early diagnosis and appropriate follow-up care,” said Sudhir Vinayak, President of the African Society of Radiology.

Mindray is just one example of the many Chinese medical equipment companies encouraged by the Chinese Government to invest in the African market.

China plans to help Africa improve the availability of health and diagnostic services and commodities, as well as improve Africa’s capacity for independent and sustainable development in the field of health and medical care, according to the Forum on China-africa Cooperation Johannesburg Action Plan (2016-18). Exchange and Cooperation Center (IHECC), an entity under China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission, Mindray joined hands with Chongqing Haifu Medical Technology Co., Shenyang-based Neusoft Medical Systems Co. and China-africa Development Fund to establish a special fund to finance Chinese medical equipment companies to invest in Africa.

“China has a lot of cost-effective and good-quality health products and devices, while Africa has a great demand for these products. We hope to build a platform for financing and information exchange to bridge the supply and demand and bring affordable medical products to benefit African patients,” said Gao Weizhong, Head of IHECC.

Investing in and extending services to the African continent for 15 years, Mindray has established four subsidiaries in South Africa, Kenya, Egypt and Nigeria, providing products and services to all African countries.

Ranging across three key lines - patient monitoring and life support, in-vitro diagnostic devices and medical imaging systems, Mindray’s products are widely used by both public and private hospitals, as well as some NGOS.

The company has participated in Kenyan government healthcare projects in around 100 hospitals across the country, offering services to 80