GE HealthCare steps up public welfare efforts in China

GE HealthCare, a leading global medical technology and digital solutions innovator, plans to carry out its 18th Pink Action in China from mid-October for breast cancer prevention and treatment and help raise women's health awareness.

Since 2006, GE HealthCare China has continued to carry out a series of public welfare activities for breast cancer prevention and treatment. It has called for greater attention to breast health through activities such as free clinical screenings and popularizing science education.

"So far, complimentary clinical screenings have benefited more than 58,000 women, and related public science education has helped over 100 million people nationwide," said Zhong Luyin, chief communications officer of GE HealthCare China.

Last year, together with the China Development Research Foundation, GE HealthCare provided support for a local maternity and children's hospital in Handan, Hebei province, and helped 1,006 local women carry out complimentary breast cancer diagnosis and screening.

GE HealthCare aims to create a diversified and female-friendly work environment. In its China unit, females account for 37.3 percent of total staff members, and women make up more than half of the total executive team. Last year, among candidates applying for jobs at GE HealthCare China, more than 70 percent were female candidates, according to the company's statistics.

Meanwhile, the company has indicated that it would continue to pay attention to small and medium-sized markets in China, with a particular focus on healthcare services at county level.

The company will actively promote the implementation of graded diagnosis and treatment, and help improve healthcare services at the grassroots level.

Currently, there are more than 2,800 counties, county-level cities and city districts and 6,000 county-level hospitals in China, serving a population of more than 900 million people, according to GE HealthCare and the National Bureau of Statistics. County-level medical care serves as an important foundation for ensuring people's health and wellness.

In addition, GE HealthCare is committed to various corporate social responsibility programs in China. For the past 20 years, founded by GE HealthCare China and the Beijing Yichuang Rural Women's Philanthropic Development Center, the Kindling Program has significantly supported the development of female teachers in remote areas of the country.

This year's program includes 106 participants from 15 provinces and autonomous regions, including the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region as well as the provinces of Anhui, Sichuan and Guizhou.

The weeklong training concluded in July. Participants were instructed in new approaches to teaching management and introduced to the latest scientific and technological developments, and a comprehensive training program related to women's physical and mental health with 12 theoretical and 10 practical courses was also added and highlighted this year, the company said.

"Over the years, GE HealthCare has placed a strong focus on grassroots development, empowering grassroots healthcare through localization and innovation. GE HealthCare remains dedicated to promoting the Kindling Program in all parts of the country to help the development of rural education and create a world where healthcare has no limits," said Chen Heqiang, general manager of China supply chain at GE HealthCare China.