Getinge partners with IFC to help increase access to medical equipment across Africa
Getinge is now joining the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) initiative to help health care providers in East and West Africa get better access to life-saving equipment.
Getting medical equipment into Africa can be challenging. Hence, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) is partnering with medtech suppliers worldwide in an initiative called the Africa Medical Equipment Facility (AMEF), to help small and medium-sized health care providers in East and West Africa secure local-currency loans to purchase or lease needed medical equipment.
“Getinge joining this initiative means better opportunities for medical clinics and hospitals in Africa to obtain and service medical equipment, including devices that are essential for life-saving surgeries and administering intensive care,” says Samuel Dzotefe, IFC's Acting Regional Industry Director for Manufacturing, Agribusiness, and Services in Africa.
Smaller health care institutions in Africa often struggle to obtain financing to buy or rent advanced medical equipment because of the perceived high investment risk, limiting the ability to obtain critical equipment. In addition to enabling affordable, long-term fundings available, IFC and their partners in the AMEF initiative also provide clinics and hospitals with training to improve their financial management and medical equipment procurement strategies, as well as training and servicing for equipment obtained during the deal.
"Our goal is to save lives by developing innovative ways to finance the delivery of critical medical equipment – and follow up with the services that will make them most impactful,” says Dzotefe.
The partnership is part of Getinge’s efforts to contribute to a more sustainable society where people get access to equal care.
“We are proud to be part of this initiative that helps patients and medical staff by ensuring the supply of critical equipment where it’s urgently needed,” says Sebastien Blanche, Global Head Getinge Financial Services at Getinge. “In this joint effort we will not only make the devices more affordable, but also help build sustainable service plans for their continued use.”
IFC’s AMEF initiative is currently active in the countries of Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Cameroon, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria, and Ghana. Partnering financial institutions currently include the Co-operative Bank of Kenya and NSIA Banque Côte d'Ivoire.
Getinge Financial Services is a dedicated team of experts at Getinge with a passion for enabling health care projects through creative acquisition models. Through a wide range of innovative and smart financing solutions, they help health care providers access medical technology and solutions needed to provide quality care to patients and run operations efficiently.
About IFC
IFC – a member of the World Bank Group – is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2020, we invested $22 billion in private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity.