Philips targets Saudi healthcare market

Royal Philips Electronics has signed an agreement with Al Faisaliah Medical Systems in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to set up a 50-50 joint venture to sell Philips Healthcare products and services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Arabian healthcare market is estimated to grow by 8 percent annually between 2013 and 2017, driven by targeted government spending on health services and hospital infrastructure, according a release from Philips. The joint venture is part of Philips' goal to serve the needs of local markets. Dedicated education and training programs for Saudi healthcare professionals will be facilitated through the agreement.

Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed. It is expected to close in the first half of 2013, subject to governmental approval and certain contractual and other closing conditions.

Evan Godt
Evan Godt, Writer

Evan joined TriMed in 2011, writing primarily for Health Imaging. Prior to diving into medical journalism, Evan worked for the Nine Network of Public Media in St. Louis. He also has worked in public relations and education. Evan studied journalism at the University of Missouri, with an emphasis on broadcast media.

Around the web

RBMA President Peter Moffatt discusses declining reimbursement rates, recruiting challenges and the role of artificial intelligence in transforming the industry.

Deepak Bhatt, MD, director of the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital and principal investigator of the TRANSFORM trial, explains an emerging technique for cardiac screening: combining coronary CT angiography with artificial intelligence for plaque analysis to create an approach similar to mammography.

A total of 16 cardiology practices from 12 states settled with the DOJ to resolve allegations they overbilled Medicare for imaging agents used to diagnose cardiovascular disease.