Kazakhstan-made CT scanner presented at medical equipment exhibition in Almaty

The 20th Kazakhstan International Healthcare Exhibition KIHE-2013 was held in Almaty on May 15-17, Tengrinews.kz reports. Over 250 companies from 20 countries demonstrated advanced medical equipment for diagnostics, prevention and treatment of diseases. According to the event's organizers, foreign companies covered over a half of the exhibition area. 40 percent of the exhibits were represented by Kazakhstan medical equipment producers. One of the biggest exhibition stands was that of AktyubRentgen company. The plant is located in Aktobe and has been functioning for over 71 years. It is the only local producer of X-rays equipment. According to the company's representative Vladimir Krasnopolskiy, the plant was transferred to Kazakhstan from Moscow during the war time. Back then the company produced military goods. Later the company established production of X-rays and photofluorographic units, CT scanners, as well as mobile medical rooms for rural areas. The national producer of X-rays equipment presented its new development: 16-slice CT scanner produced in the framework of the program called Development of import-replacing production of medical X-rays equipment in Kazakhstan. Localization of medical X-rays equipment production in Kazakhstan. This model is distinguished by its cost that is 30-40 percent lower than that of the foreign-made equipment. To achieve this result the company expanded its production facility, purchased additional production equipment and increased its personnel. "We hope that the Healthcare Ministry and Kazakhstan Government will support our costly project. This will help save the unique facility and invaluable experience that the plant has accumulated over 71 years of work in Aktobe. It is quite difficult to produce medical equipment in Kazakhstan and not many companies choose this path. We have fully performed our part of the President's instruction, now it's the government's turn to act," Krasnopolskiy said. According to him, the company is currently exporting its goods to several CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States). The mobile X-rays diagnostics unit Arman-2 has the European quality mark and is already exported to European and CIS countries. AktyubRentgen plans to continue expanding its presence at the European market. Other Kazakhstan companies producing medical equipment also presented their goods at the exhibition in Almaty. Shymkent producer of medical furniture and tools KazMedPribor demonstrated its tables and furniture. MedRemZavod group of companies has been producing surgery tables and surgical lights since 1965. Dosfarm company opened 12 years ago and produces liquid medicines, such as eye drops, nose and throat drops and sprays, antiseptics, etc. Dosfarm's goods currently cover around 70 percent of the market. EcoFarm International is another representative of Kazakhstan pharmaceutical and medical industry. The plant is based in Shymkent and produces vacuum test tubes for medical facilities, first aid kits, textile goods for medical personnel and different herbal medicines. By Vladimir Prokopenko