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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DECEMBER 18, 2003
Contact: Lawrence Pemble
Robert Goodwin
Chindex International, Inc.
(301) 215-7777
CHINDEX INTERNATIONAL
ANNOUNCES
Exclusive Supply Agreement with China’s Largest Hospital System
Siemens ACUSON Sequoia™ Ultrasound System Selected As Exclusive
Product
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, December
18, 2003 - Chindex International, Inc. (Nasdaq:CHDX), the
largest independent American distributor of Western healthcare products
and services in China, announced The People’s Liberation Army
(PLA) of the People’s Republic of China has signed an agreement
today to purchase 11 ACUSON Sequoia™ 512 ultrasound systems
manufactured by Siemens Medical Solutions, to be installed in PLA
hospitals throughout China. The agreement, which was signed by the
PLA, Siemens Medical Solutions and Chindex, covers the exclusive supply
of ultra-premium, whole-body, color Doppler ultrasound scanners for
the Chinese military hospital system throughout the 2003/2004 fiscal
year.
Signing the agreement today during
a ceremony held as part of a Chinese government trade mission were
Lt. Colonel Ji Chunlei and Colonel Zhou Dan from the General Logistics
Bureau of the PLA and the Army Central Hospital; David Amidei, from
the Siemens Medical Solutions Ultrasound Division; and Roberta Lipson,
president and CEO of Chindex International.
"Chindex has been providing
top tier Western medical technologies to the PLA hospital system for
more than 20 years. We consider the award of the contract to be a
tribute to both the excellent quality of the Siemens ACUSON Sequoia
ultrasound product as well as our long history of being a reliable
supplier and service provider to the PLA Hospital System. We expect
to ship these systems over the next few months,“ commented Roberta
Lipson at the conclusion of the ceremony.
F. Steven Feinberg, general manager
of Medical Solutions for Siemens Ltd. China, noted, "Siemens
Medical Solutions is committed to the development of the medical industry
in China. Siemens' advanced technology and understanding of the China
market's needs
are the major contributors to the winning of the PLA bid. Chindex
International, as the exclusive distributor for our color Doppler
ultrasound products in China, shares our dedication to the China medical
market and our close cooperation has resulted in the award of Siemens
ultrasound products by the PLA Bidding Committee. We look forward
to continuing our efforts to serve the medical needs of China."
John Pavlidis, president of the Siemens
Medical Solutions Ultrasound Division, says Siemens is honored to
provide its exceptional medical technology solutions to such a key
customer in China. "The ACUSON Sequoia platform has been the
worldwide technology leader since its original launch, and continues
to be the innovator in echocardiography and ultrasound imaging as
new features and system configurations continue to be introduced,"
said Pavlidis. "We believe the Sequoia 512 systems set the standard
for ultrasound imaging performance and will significantly contribute
to the excellent healthcare being provided by the PLA in China."
The contract was awarded to Chindex
for the supply of the Siemens ultrasound scanners through an annual
public tendering process conducted by the PLA Health Department. The
PLA hospital system is the largest centrally-administered hospital
network in China, comprising nearly 200 institutions. The 11 Siemens
ultrasound systems, equipped as shared service scanners, will be used
by the PLA for general care and research. The Sequoia 512 system provides
clinicians with maximized diagnostic information and increased exam
efficiency through a high density, front-end design, and advanced
acoustic imaging technologies.
Lt. Colonel Ji Chunlei, one of the
representatives from the PLA who signed the new agreement, added,
“Chindex and Siemens have been regular and reliable suppliers
to Chinese military hospitals for many years. We are happy to continue
this cooperation with them. Many of the hospitals that will receive
these products are repeat customers.“
About Chindex
Chindex is a leading American company
in healthcare in the Greater Chinese marketplace including Hong Kong.
It provides representative and distribution services to a number of
major multinational companies in the medical device industry including
Siemens AG (diagnostic color ultrasound scanners under the Acuson
and Siemens brand names), Becton-Dickinson (including vascular access,
infusion and critical care systems), Johnson & Johnson (clinical
chemistry analyzers), and Guidant (interventional cardiology products
including stents, balloon catheters, and guide wires). Its distribution
channels to the retail pharmacy industry in China have been developed
through a relationship with a major multinational cosmetics manufacturer.
It also provides healthcare services through the operations of its
private hospital corporation in China. With twenty-two years of experience,
over 600 employees, and operations in the United States, China and
Hong Kong, the Company’s strategy is to expand its cross-cultural
reach by providing leading edge technologies, quality products and
services to Greater China's professional communities. Further company
information may be found at the Company’s websites, www.chindex.com
and www.unitedfamilyhospitals.com.
About Siemens Medical
Solutions
Siemens Medical Solutions of Siemens
AG (NYSE: SI) with headquarters in Malvern, Pennsylvania and Erlangen,
Germany, is one of the largest suppliers to the healthcare industry
in the world. The company is known for bringing together innovative
medical technologies, healthcare information systems, management consulting,
and support services, to help customers achieve tangible, sustainable,
clinical and financial outcomes. Employing approximately 31,000 people
worldwide and operating in more than 120 countries, Siemens Medical
Solutions reported sales of 7.4 billion EUR, orders of 7.8 billion
EUR and group profit of 1.1 billion EUR for fiscal 2003. More information
can be found at www.usa.siemens.com/medicalpressroom.
# # #
The statements in this
press release that relate to future plans, events or performance are
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including
risks associated with uncertainties pertaining to the Company’s
(i) performance goals, including successful conclusion of efforts
to secure government-backed financing, (ii) future events and earnings,
including revenues from the Company’s developmental businesses
such as healthcare services, (iii) markets, including growth in demand
in China for the Company’s products and services, and (iv) proposed
new operations, including expansion of its healthcare services business.
Actual results, events and performance may differ materially. Readers
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes
no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these
forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances
after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated
events.
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