Alcatel pictures improved healthcare

Alcatel today announced the signature of a three-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Global Imaging Online, a French company specialising in medical treatment and medical diagnostic imagery.

Alcatel announced today the signature of a three-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Global Imaging Online, a French company specialising in medical treatment and medical diagnostic imagery.

 

Global Imaging Online makes digital radiology machinery for remote patient diagnosis and monitoring over the Internet. It has a particular application in rural and isolated areas of Africa, where it used in the fight against certain pandemics such as tuberculosis linked to HIV/AIDS. The solution offers access through a web interface to a collection of medical images relating to the patient's file.

 

Alcatel says they will develop several projects with Global Imaging Online in African countries. They plan to adapt broadband Internet access, which will allow a medical centre in a rural area to send medical images to other competent centres. For those patients without an appropriate medical facility close to home, the remote diagnosis will be carried out in the principal hospitals of the country and if necessary, in hospitals situated abroad.


Thierry Albrand, Vice President of Digital Bridge for Alcatel, said, "Alcatel is committed to bridging the digital divide in underserved regions so that the local population can have access to value-added services, allowing them to improve the conditions of daily life such as access to health services.

"Also, we are delighted to announce this partnership with Global Imaging Online who have a high level of expertise in the area of the developing diagnostic imagery applications. This MOU will allow us demonstrate that high speed Internet isn't just a luxury that rich countries can afford and it can assure a better monitoring of patients' health in rural areas of Africa".