Cooperation with global pharmaceutical corporations should be intensified. It is important to attract investors, ensure the transfer of technology and the latest developments. It is necessary to expand the scope and range of off-take contracts with domestic manufacturers. The share of domestically produced medicines and medical products must be increased from the current 17 to 50% already in 2025.
K.K.Tokaev
Today in Astana, an agreement was signed between the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Royal Philips on their intentions to study the possibilities of localizing portable devices for ultrasound diagnostics Philips Lumify.
The meeting was held with the participation of the Vice Minister of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan Zhandos Burkitbayev, regional director of the ultrasound diagnostics division in growing markets of Philips Pim Prisman, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the Netherlands Askar Zhumagaliev, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Kazakhstan Nico Scheymers, representatives of Royal Philips and other companies from the Netherlands.
The health of the nation and accessibility to healthcare are fundamental priorities of the state. In modern realities, innovative high-tech medical equipment is the key to effective modern medicine.
Lumify is a mobile solution for internal medicine ultrasound that is easy to move around. The use of Philips Lumify portable ultrasound systems outside the walls of medical institutions can make it possible to quickly conduct high-quality medical diagnostics of patients and carry out telemedicine consultations in real time.
During the meeting, the parties noted that the development of such advanced medical technologies is especially important for providing quality care to residents of remote areas and villages, as well as in emergency situations.
“We are proud to have the opportunity to contribute to the development of healthcare infrastructure in Kazakhstan. Philips' mission is to improve people's health and well-being through meaningful innovation. We are committed to improving the lives of 2.5 billion people a year by 2030, including 400 million people who lack access to health care. The Lumify portable ultrasound system is not only a technological breakthrough, but above all a tool that helps save lives in critical situations. Our agreement reflects Philips’ desire for long-term cooperation with Kazakhstan” said Pim Prisman.
The Kazakhstan side, in turn, noted the importance of bilateral cooperation in the technology sector for joint growth and innovation.
“The decision of the Dutch technology giant to explore the possibility of localizing medical equipment in Kazakhstan underlines the strength of our partnership. We welcome this initiative as it correlates with the President's order to achieve 50% local production of medicines and medical equipment. We are pleased that Royal Philips is considering opportunities to support this vision, contributing not only to overall technological progress, but also to the improvement of the healthcare system” notes Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of the Netherlands Askar Zhumagaliev.
It is worth noting that the Unified Distributor takes an active position in cooperation with Philips, initiating a number of online and offline meetings. Over the past few years, the parties have discussed the prospects for localizing the production of Philips products in Kazakhstan together with Kazakh Invest.
Work on interaction with leading vendors began in the second half of 2021; about 50 requests were sent to leading foreign manufacturers of medical equipment, including the CEO of the company Frans van Hounten, G&PA Manager Jan-Willem Scheijgrond, as well as through diplomatic channels.
Along with this, to study the experience of localizing the production of medical equipment, representatives of the Unified Distributor visited the Philips production site located in the Moscow region.
In October 2022, as part of organizing a visit of Dutch companies to Kazakhstan, a meeting was held between Vice President of Philips Scheigrond and First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan R. Sklyar, where Royal Philips expressed its readiness to create the production of medical equipment in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as participate in other areas of cooperation in healthcare.
As a result of an integrated approach, in 2022, following the results of the Kazakh-Dutch investment round table, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Royal Philips, aimed at increasing the efficiency and quality of medical care and digital health services.
In addition, as part of discussions on areas of bilateral cooperation, Philips’ proposals for improving the organization of medical care within the framework of the “Health of the Nation” project - digitalization of oncology services, as well as the development of a concept for organizing primary medical care in the Republic of Kazakhstan were considered.
Also, in 2024, as part of the visit of the delegation of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Unified Distributor and NCME to the Netherlands, negotiations were held and the Philips production site in the city of Best was visited.
During the working trip, Philips announced plans to localize the production of the portable ultrasound diagnostic system Lumify in Kazakhstan. As a result of close cooperation between the Unified Distributor and Philips over the past years, yesterday’s initiative has become a reality today.
To further discuss the details of long-term cooperation after signing the agreement, a meeting of the joint working group of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Royal Philips company was held at the Unified Distributor site.
The working group from the Kazakh side included representatives of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan and its subordinate organizations, including the Unified Distributor and the National Center for Expertise of Medicines and Medical Devices.
At the end of the bilateral meetings, the parties voiced their full readiness to implement joint projects. Cooperation between Kazakhstan and world leaders in the field of equipping with medical equipment will definitely have a positive effect in improving the quality of domestic healthcare and will ensure the exchange of best practices.
For reference:
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading technology company dedicated to improving people's health and quality of life through meaningful innovation. Philips innovation is driven by cutting-edge engineering, deep clinical knowledge and an understanding of the needs of consumers and patients. All this helps the company create comprehensive solutions for a healthy lifestyle, as well as professional medical technologies for doctors and patients.
Philips headquarters are located in the Netherlands. The company is a leader in medical imaging, ultrasound systems, interventional radiology, patient monitoring and medical informatics, and personal care solutions. In 2023, Philips generated sales of €18.2 billion. The company has approximately 69,700 employees in more than 100 countries.
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