Kazakhstan -- the largest landlocked country in the world, and with a population of 19 million -- and GE HealthCare are entering into a framework agreement that will see investments of more than $60 billion across four areas, including localizing medical equipment production.
The agreement was signed during the meeting on 19 September between President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who was on a working visit to New York, and Rob Walton, president of GE HealthCare for Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Walton said the company plans to localize the production of ultrasound machines with subsequent production of CT scanners and angiography and mammography systems.
Tokayev also said that this initiative meets the goal of boosting domestic production of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment to 50% by 2025.
The company plans to establish a Centralized National Digital Archive of Clinical Images in Kazakhstan, with the goal of simplifying patient data management, according to Walton. He said the vendor plans to launch educational programs to improve the qualifications of healthcare personnel by opening GE HealthCare Academy based at Astana Medical University. The institution will be able to start operations in October.
