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BETHESDA, MARYLAND – October 1, 2002 – Chindex International, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHDX), the leading independent American company providing Western healthcare products distribution and medical services in the People’s Republic of China, today announced it had received the Secretary of State's Award for Corporate Excellence during a ceremony at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC.
"Chindex International has provided healthcare products and services in China since 1981. But Chindex does more than sell healthcare products and services. Chindex has brought the American spirit of volunteerism and corporate public service to China's healthcare sector, especially to Chinese orphans," Secretary of State Colin L. Powell stated.
Each year, the Secretary of State presents Awards for Corporate Excellence to U.S. companies – both large and small – to recognize exemplary practices, innovation and good corporate citizenship in their overseas operations. This year, nearly 60 companies were nominated. According to the State Department, “this award formally acknowledges the important role played by U.S. businesses in reinforcing our commitment to human rights, raising living standards, education, worker rights, environmental protection and ethical business practices.” With revenues of $56 million in 2001, Chindex won the award in the small-to-medium size category.
"On behalf of our more than 500 employees here in the United States and in China, I am pleased to join Executive Vice President and Co-founder Elyse Beth Silverberg in accepting this very prestigious award,” said Roberta Lipson, Chindex president and CEO. “Thanks to more than 20 years of hard work, we have played an important role in advancing the level of healthcare available to the Chinese people and created jobs for thousands of American workers. Moreover, we are proud to be corporate ambassadors for the United States and have strived to show the best America has to offer in the way we operate. I would like to acknowledge the support of the U.S. government, especially the Department of State, in making this happen."
The U.S. Embassy in Beijing officially nominated Chindex. In its application, the Embassy stated it was impressed with the “remarkable success” that the company achieved in China “by matching its unique understanding of China’s economic and cultural environment with the highest business and ethical standards expected of American companies."
The Embassy specifically cited Chindex’s contribution to the sustainable reform of China’s healthcare sector both through its sales of healthcare products and its provision of top-flight healthcare services along with its use of U.S. Export-Import Bank financing programs to greatly benefit the capital-starved medical industry in China. The nomination recognized the company’s significant philanthropic work in helping improve healthcare in China. The nomination highlighted two programs undertaken by Beijing United Family Hospital & Clinics, a joint venture of Chindex and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Through one program, the Hospital donates one percent of revenues to provide healthcare for Chinese orphans. Beijing United also organized the first-of-its-kind blood drive for foreigners in China in order to collect RH-negative blood (fewer than one percent of all Chinese have RH-negative blood, so supplies are hard-to-find). This is now a monthly event.
The nomination went on to note Chindex’s contribution to China’s science and technology policies, through Chindex’s formal and informal consultation with the Ministry of Health and the State Drug Administration prior to the drafting of new government regulations. The Embassy also cited the company’s promotion of exchanges between the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and its Chinese counterparts, as well as its sponsorship of Chinese Post Doctorate Fellows in the United States, numerous clinical training programs in the United States and investigative missions to the United States by public medical and education policy makers.
The nomination also cited Chindex’s business ethics and its policy of equal opportunity employment. For example, the Embassy recognized Chindex's insistence that its customers not only document their legal compliance with China's importation procedures, but also show evidence of payment of all relevant duties and fees, or their legal exemption from such fees. It noted Chindex’s commitment to promote local hires to managerial positions and ensuring they have access to extensive training and educational programs and free or discounted healthcare at Chindex medical facilities. It also mentioned that Chindex has received an award from the Chinese government for its employment policies for the disabled.
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 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). It also provides healthcare services through the operations of its private hospital corporation in China. With twenty years of experience, over 500 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.beijingunited.com.
The statements in this press release that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions, and on information currently available to management. These statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward looking statements. These factors include, among others, uncertainties relating to business, economic and political conditions in market in which the Company operates. 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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