Philips 2009 Annual Report Download - page 46

3 Our planet, our partners, our people 3.3 - 3.3
46 Philips Annual Report 2009
Improving people’s health –
and healthcare
Philips and Project HOPE are partnering
to improve chronic disease management
and patient outcomes in China, and
reduce the burden on the country’s
healthcare system.
Launched in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Wuhan, this program is the first
of its kind to target three chronic disease areas in China: heart disease, stroke
and respiratory disease. It will link leading hospitals, community healthcare
centers and home-based rehabilitative services in those four cities to enhance
the care patients receive locally.
Chronic diseases are major causes of death and disability in China, and their
related healthcare services account for a significant portion of total healthcare
expenditures. On average, chronic disease patients visit doctors three times a
year. About 55% of them choose municipal hospitals, which are relatively
crowded, inconvenient and expensive, while only 25% choose community
healthcare centers.
Sharing expertise, providing affordable care
“By participating in the program, we hope to transfer our clinical expertise to
community healthcare centers and enhance communication between big
hospitals, secondary hospitals and community healthcare centers,” says
Professor Deng Weiwu, Chief Physician, Honorable Director, Institute of Ruijin
Infectious and Respiratory Diseases, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of
Medicine.
“Under the new integrated model, patients will receive better education for
self-care and risk factor reduction, in addition to easy access to more efficient
and affordable care at community healthcare centers,” he explains.
Philips will provide funding and technical support to this three-year program,
announced in June 2009. Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People
Everywhere) will bring to the team more than 50 years of experience in
international public health and developing healthcare training programs.