GE Healthcare launches infant jaundice treatment equipment

Bangalore, Nov 12 (UNI) GE Healthcare the global major in healthcare and life sciences solutions today launched Lullaby, a CFL based phototherapy system designed and developed in India, for treatment of indirect hyperbilirubinemia or jaundice in newborn.

The product designed and developed in the company's city-based R and D Centre, was part of the GE's 'In India, for India' programme to make high end technology more affordable, reliable and more accessible to larger sections of society.

Briefing newspersons on the new product, Omar Ishrak, President and CEO of GE's Healthcare Clinical Systems business the company planned to export Lullaby to Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Asia Pacific. It also planned to roll out new maternal infant care (MIC) during the early next year.

Asia President and CEO V Raja said that as part of the company's overall business strategy, GE Healthcare planned to tie-up and acquire products in varied segments to become a complete solutions provider in healthcare and lifesciences space. "We are expanding out MIC and imaging products to achieve 800 million revenue by 2010 in India," he said.

As per a GE study many of the birthing centres did not have a phototherapy system to cope with newborn jaundice. Non treatment could result in serious brain damage, paralysis, deafness and even death. According to WHO India accounted for 54 deaths for every 1000 babies born, he said.

Mr Raja said that Lullaby was a unique phototherapy system that combines high levels of clinical performance with a simple and flexible design. It met all international Electrotechnical Commission and Electronic Magnetic Compatibility regulatory standards for safe operation, he added.

UNI