On February 14, 2019, as part of the Russian Investment Forum, a Rosatom company, JSC Rusatom Healthcare (RHC, an integrator in the field of radiation technologies in medicine and industry) and GE Healthcare signed a roadmap to create local production of high-technology medical equipment to cater to the growing need of the residents of Russia’s regions in high-quality medical diagnostics and cancer treatment.

The roadmap was signed by director general of JSC Rusatom Healthcare Aleksandr Shibanov and the chief executive officer of GE Healthcare in Russia/C.I.S. Nina Kandelaki. The document was signed in the presence of the First Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Sergey Tsyb.

The roadmap sets forth joint actions for the next year and half to localize PET/CT production in Russia with the view of having an opportunity to further expand the product list. Before 2020, it is planned to start assembling MRI scanners to plan beam therapy (CT for RT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and combined single-photon emission CT scanners. The document provides for setting up a working team, the development of a licensing agreement package, servicing conditions, and quality management programs. It also defines dates and sets out the procedure for designing the production site in accordance with the specifications and the quality standards of GE Healthcare, Rosatom’s production system, and Russian regulations.

According to director general of JSC Rusatom Healthcare Aleksandr Shibanov, for Rosatom, the production launch of high-tech diagnostics equipment in Russia is a matter that lies not only in the business plane but in the plane of social responsibility. He said, “The project will be implemented in accordance with Order no. 204 of May 7, 2018 “Concerning national goals and strategic tasks of Russia’s development until 2024.” The goal of this project is Rosatom’s participation through JSC RHC in the national “Healthcare” project in 2019-2024 as a supplier of X-ray diagnostic and therapy equipment produced in Russia to fit Russian healthcare centers. Therefore, the joint production line will become a new driver of growth for Russia’s medical industry through stage-by-stage deepening of localization and development of domestic production of components.”

“The development and implementation of innovations in cancer diagnostic is the key area of investment for GE Healthcare. For 10 years already we have implemented complex projects in the field of oncology in Russia and actively participate in nuclear medicine development. The agreement we signed today is the first important step for the development of innovative medical equipment production in Russia and will facilitate solving the most important tasks of Russia’s healthcare: access to high-quality medical treatment and reduction of fatalities due to cancer,” Nina Kandelaki, chief executive officer of GE Healthcare in Russia/C.I.S., noted.

Today, the technology of positron emission tomography (PET/CT) is one of the most actively developing ways of detecting malign tumors and controlling the efficiency of cancer treatment. The studies report that Russia has only 0.36 PET scanners per one million people, while in Europe that number is at 1.1, in Japan at 3.7, and in the U.S. at 7.11.