Philips joins hands with China hospital on medical research

Dutch conglomerate Philips is expected to form a partnership on medical researches with the West China Hospital in Sichuan province, one of the most renowned hospitals in western China, marking the first time for multinational firms to ink such agreement in the nation.

The cooperation which focuses on heart disease and strokes which covers eight projects will last for seven years. It aims to help doctors interpret medical imagery and diagnose illnesses at an earlier stage, by developing an information system and devising quicker procedures. Meanwhile, the project will focus on finding biological indicators of mental illnesses.

Chengdu-based West China Hospital, also China's largest single building hospital, owns 4,300 beds and treats two million outpatients annually.

Philips is the world's third largest manufacturer of medical imaging equipment.