GE Healthcare, the $18 billion healthcare arm of General Electric (GE), has just signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with Vinmec Healthcare System (under Vingroup).

The signing ceremony took place on Tuesday in Ha Noi with the aim of promoting the application of science and technology, optimising infrastructure as well as improving healthcare capacity tied to international best practices.

Vinmec will increase its presence to 10 hospitals by 2020, including opening the Vinmec University of Health Sciences (VUHS) in 2019.

To that end, the partnership between Vinmec and GE Healthcare will play a role in growing Viet Nam’s next generation of clinicians and establishing the teaching hospital as the standard for medical education.

In terms of technology, GE Healthcare is committed to continuously providing innovative medical equipment for imaging, nuclear medicine, ultrasound systems and anesthesia solutions to help Vinmec promote and optimise healthcare outcomes.

The capacity building programmes between the two sides will focus on cardiology and oncology, creating a solid foundation for Vinmec to lead in its key areas. Accordingly, GE Healthcare will play a significant role in nurturing a new generation of clinicians at VUHS, helping VUHS to become the standard for medical education in Viet Nam.

Terri Bresenham, CEO of GE Healthcare in South Asia, Africa and Southeast Asia, said her company had a long history of collaboration with Vinmec and would continue to support its future development.

“Medical education and capacity building are vitally important to a sustainable healthcare system and will have a long-term impact on healthcare access and quality for generations to come,” she said. — VNS