It recently announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Wadi Jeddah, a Saudi Arabia-based organization focused on knowledge-based investments, to set up the facility.
David Carr, general manager — Molecular Imaging of GE Healthcare, and Dr. Turky Abdulmajeed, chief executive officer of Wadi Jeddah, announced the partnership on the sidelines of Arab Health 2012, a major health care exhibition in Dubai.
As per the agreement, the radiopharmaceutical plant and PET imaging services facility will be set up on the Wadi Jeddah lands located within King Abdul Aziz University Hospital campus in Jeddah.
GE will extend its expertise in radiopharmaceutical site planning design, supply advanced healthcare equipment for the facility, provide GMP certification support and deliver a comprehensive clinical education solution.
As part of the agreement, Wadi Jeddah will place the first order for GE's new Discovery PET/CT 710 in the Middle East region.
David Carr said: "GE is the largest manufacturer of cyclotrons globally, and through our strategic partnership with Wadi Jeddah, we can contribute to developing the market for radiopharmaceutical FDG products in the Western region of the Kingdom.”
Carr added: “The partnership also complements our healthy imagination commitment, which aims to provide greater access to high quality medical care for more people at lower costs."
Turky Abdulmajeed said: "The MoU will elevate the level of medical care that we can provide here, especially to address the incidence of lifestyle diseases through early diagnosis and treatment. Wadi Jeddah is going to establish its first Cyclotron and PET center in Jeddah and is planning to expand further in to other regions such as Makkah, Madinah, Abha, Taif, and Tabuk.  It is Wadi Jeddah's goal to support all interested health care facilities in the region."