Project HOPE and RAD-AID, with Support from Philips, Begin Work to Bring Radiology to Medically-Underserved Areas
Project HOPE and RAD-AID International, today announced a strategic collaboration to improve access to medical imaging services for people in medically-underserved areas of emerging and developing countries. The project, supported by Philips, begins with an assessment in northern India and western China, where there is limited access to advanced medical technologies and services.
“Project HOPE has a deep commitment to improving health in the world’s two most populous countries, and we are grateful to have the support and engagement of RAD-AID International and Philips in this new endeavor,” said John P. Howe III, M.D., president and CEO of Project HOPE. “Both RAD-AID and Philips bring valuable expertise and resources in the area of radiology and medical imaging. Together, we are confident that we can help identify critical facility needs, and develop solutions for improving access to care.”
The initiative utilizes RAD-AID’s Radiology-ReadinessTM framework – a structured multidisciplinary approach addressing economic development, technology implementation and optimized clinical applications, for assessing and planning sustainable long-term medical imaging in communities with limited health care resources.
The partnership, which focuses on health facilities with which Project HOPE has relationships, is designed to expand and optimize vital medical imaging services as a component of HOPE’s health care programs. The initiative serves as a model public-private partnership leveraging the expertise of Philips with two global nonprofit organizations for developing innovative approaches to health care development.
“We are committed to enhancing patient care everywhere and proud to help develop and facilitate access to sustainable imaging services in underserved areas,” said Diego Olego, senior vice president and chief technology officer, Philips Healthcare. “Supporting this effort provides an opportunity to help improve the quality of people’s lives and underscores Philips’ dedication to health and well-being.”
About Project HOPE:
Founded in 1958, Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere) is dedicated to providing lasting solutions to health problems with the mission of helping people to help themselves. Identifiable to many by the SS HOPE, the world’s first peacetime hospital ship, Project HOPE now provides medical training and health education, as well as conducts humanitarian assistance programs in more than 35 countries. Project HOPE has served multiple regions of China since 1983 including health services, medical education, and disaster response, including Shanghai, Beijing and Wuhan. Project HOPE has served India since 2008 with activities in Mumbai, Bangalore, New Delhi, and Kolkata. To learn more about Project HOPE, please visit www.projecthope.org.
About RAD-AID International:
RAD-AID is a nonprofit organization with the mission of improving and optimizing radiology in limited resource regions of the developing world, through education, economic development, health care delivery, and public health projects. Radiology (such as x-ray radiography, CT, MRI, ultrasound, and molecular imaging) is a vital component of patient care for diagnosing illness, early disease detection, screening, assessing therapeutic response, and monitoring public health threats. RAD-AID’s programs include educational activities, conferences, health care assistance, public health, and international policy research. For more information about RAD-AID, please visit www.RAD-AID.org or email [email protected].