The UAE's explosive population growth has benefited many sectors of the economy. And the medical equipment industry is no exception. According to a government report, Dubai's population alone is expected to surge to 1.6 million by 2010 if current growth rates are maintained.
Experts have highlighted the need for a similarly expanding ambulance service equipped with high-tech machinery to resuscitate patients and keep them breathing en-route to the nearest hospital.
Two leaders in their respective fields, Dubai-based Neotech Medical Equipment and Canadian firm O-Two Medical Technologies, have signed an exclusive Middle East distribution deal aiming to meet demand for this equipment.
Under the agreement, healthcare solutions company Neotech will distribute O-Two's range of emergency care respiratory devices in eight Middle Eastern countries.
One of the first products expected to hit the market is O-Two's ventilator Smart Bag, which regulates the flow of oxygen rich gas into the body once a patient has been resuscitated. "It's absolutely crucial to have a police and ambulance service that matches the population. And the most critical items in ambulances are the ventilation and resuscitation equipment which keep people alive on the way to hospital," said Ron Birrell, vice president of sales and marketing at O-Two.
"We looked at our distribution plans for the Middle East and required a company which had the critical mass to drive market development. With Neotech we have found the right partner to service the region's booming healthcare industry," he said.
He added: "It's the first time in the history of the company that we have exclusively tied up a distributor to represent our product lines. We have nothing but high hopes for the deal."
Birrell said O-Two also supplies equipment for the military in countries such as Canada, France and Australia. Its products are currently used to treat soldiers in the field in Afghanistan and Iraq.
However, he said the pre-hospital care equipment market represents the company's biggest area of sales.
For Neotech, the agreement sees the addition of another name in its portfolio of principal medical equipment manufacturers.
The company was formed two years ago by ROC Group producers of gases, refrigerants and equipment as a medical equipment company in response to the constant demand of its customers to provide gas-driven equipment.
"Two years ago the group decided to move into more engineering applications and that was why went into distributing medical equipment. Initially we started off with gas operated equipment such anaesthesia machines and ventilators," said Abdullah Dalab, the company's general manager.
"Overall regional growth in the healthcare sector in is a direct function of people. The more people you have the more equipment you need to furnish the medical departments," he said. (Gulf News)
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