MOSCOW-- GE Healthcare and a leading Russian medical imaging manufacturer, Medical Technologies Limited (MTL), announced in November 2009 a strategic partnership to manufacture diagnostic imaging products in Russia, starting with GE Healthcare's CT BrightSpeed™ Elite system, in line with GE's healthymagination strategy. The partnership will see Russia's first locally manufactured advanced 16-slice computed tomography (CT).

The company noted in a press release that 75% of the Russian diagnostic imaging market is supplied by imports, amounting $1,472.5 million (US) in 2007. Estimates are that the Russian diagnostic imaging market will grow on average by 5.5% over the next few years, according to the World Medical Device Market Report from Espicom Business Intelligence.

GE Healthcare's first Russian localization project is aimed at bringing accessible, innovative and modern healthcare technologies to support government programs modernizing healthcare infrastructure for stroke, oncology and emergency care. Consistent with GE's global healthymagination strategy, it will help Russian medical professionals deliver better quality care to more people at lower cost.
Under this initiative, MTL, a leading Russian manufacturer specializing in development and manufacturing of x-ray, mammography, and healthcare information technology solutions, will, together with GE Healthcare, localize, manufacture and distribute GE Healthcare diagnostic imaging technologies in Russia.

GE Healthcare's also announced the opening in Moscow of the 'GE Healthcare Academy' that will provide access to technical knowledge and education for a wide range of diagnostic imaging specialists in Moscow and the Russian regions. In addition to delivering up to 100 training courses at various levels every year, the GE Healthcare Academy will also host conferences and seminars.

About GE Healthcare
GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services that are shaping a new age of patient care. Our broad expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies, performance improvement and performance solutions services help our customers to deliver better care to more people around the world at a lower cost. In addition, we partner with healthcare leaders, striving to leverage the global policy change necessary to implement a successful shift to sustainable healthcare systems. Our "healthymagination" vision for the future invites the world to join us on our journey as we continuously develop innovations focused on reducing costs, increasing access and improving quality and efficiency around the world. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, GE Healthcare is a $17 billion unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE). Worldwide, GE Healthcare employs more than 46,000 people committed to serving healthcare professionals and their patients in more than 100 countries. For more information about GE Healthcare, visit our website www.gehealthcare.com.

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