With a firm handshake at the signing ceremony, Aleksandr Elinson, CEO of Electron and Ronald de Jong, CEO of Philips Healthcare Emerging Markets, launched a partnership to develop health care products in Russia.

"This is our first partnership of this kind in Russia. We believe this to be a strong combination of expertise," said Caroline Kamerbeek, director of healthcare communications for Royal Philips Electronics, Netherlands. "Philips brings in its global expertise in high tech equipment, while Electron is an innovative company as well, adding in-depth knowledge of the local customer needs, a vast distribution network and a solid manufacturing plant," she said.

The company will initially focus on developing computed tomography products and plans to work on MR, X-ray and ultrasound systems in the future. Royal Philips Electronics and Electron decided to work on developing a CT product first because there is a need for this kind of technology in Russia.

"Cardiovascular [disease] and cancer are the biggest contributors to Russia's high mortality rate," said Kamerbeek. "Three hundred thousand people per year die from cancer. Sixty percent are diagnosed with cancer in the third or fourth stage when treatment is less efficient. Early diagnosis by high tech CT scanners will help to decrease the mortality rate cause by heart disease and cancer," she said.

The two companies plan to work together on all levels of production, ranging from the development of technologies to facilitating nationwide training programs for medical professionals on the new equipment. The partnership also hopes to reduce Russia's dependency on imports of health care equipment. In three years, the companies hope to produce 51 percent of all high-tech components used in the manufacturing process locally in Russia.

"In this partnership Philips and Electron will develop, produce and deliver new technological health care solutions for the Russian market," said Kamerbeek. "The solutions will be developed for the specific needs of Russia and contribute to effective, affordable and high quality health care in Russia."

The companies plan to launch the first jointly-developed CT scanner later this year.

More Voices