GE merges healthcare units with Wipro joint venture

GE-HealthcareBangalore, Oct 2 : Medical technologies and services major GE Healthcare has integrated its business units and manufacturing plants in India with its joint venture Wipro GE Healthcare to drive growth, the company said Friday.

"The strategic move is aimed at effective management and optimal utilisation of resources to help accelerate growth in regions where demand for healthcare is growing," GE Healthcare chief executive John Dineen said in a statement released here.

The joint venture distributes about 85 percent of the $17-billion GE Healthcare's products and solutions in India.

The business units integrated into the joint venture are GE Healthcare Life Sciences, GE Healthcare Medical Diagnostics and GE Medical Systems India.

The life sciences and diagnostics units distribute their products independently while medical systems unit manufactures X-ray products and some diagnostic imaging products and accessories to the parent firm for exports worldwide.

Post-integration, Wipro GE will be the exclusive entity for GE Healthcare activities in the Indian subcontinent. The new synergies will help the company to design in India and for India products and grow sales faster.

"This is a natural next step for the successful partnership we have had with Wipro in India. Simplifying our company structure will improve service for our customers and has the potential to accelerate the introduction of cost effective, affordable and quality healthcare solutions in South Asia," Dineen said.

Wipro GE chief executive V. Raja will continue to lead the expanded entity, which will include 1,200 employees from GE's three entities in India.

Wipro chairman Azim Premji said the consolidation would strengthen the relationship to provide world-class healthcare in South Asia.(IANS)