NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

MUNICH–(Business Wire)–In a continued effort to expand global access to and consistency of healthcare, Brainlab today announced the launch of the Right.Brain Foundation, which will provide medical technology and education to selected hospitals and public institutions in Southeast Asia, Africa, Central and South America.

Countries were reviewed carefully and selected based on several criteria including: per capita income, reliable energy supply, adequately trained healthcare professionals; keeping in mind the distribution of wealth, political stability and safety of the country as well as where patients may be able to benefit the most from providing treatment.

“We understand and acknowledge the World Health Organization’s principles for a good medical equipment donation,” said Stefan Vilsmeier, President and CEO, Brainlab.

“The Right.Brain Foundation, which provides the equipment and trained personnel to the hospitals in need, also includes personnel training at the local hospital level. This helps further their education, provide hope for their country, and raise the bar in academic achievements for residents and studying physicians.”

The Right.Brain Foundation purpose, “Together we provide medical technology to create opportunities for a better world,” dovetails perfectly with the Brainlab vision to increase access to and consistency of treatment for patients everywhere. Brainlab is committed to supporting Right.Brain by providing on-point, frugal technologies that will make the most impact in the countries to be served. The technology that will be loaned to the hospitals is Kick Purely Navigation, a robust, reliable and minimalist image guided surgery system that is compact and can be easily shipped. Engineered with focused functionality, Kick is small but powerful and supports and advances neurosurgery efforts in developing countries.

Right.Brain will partner with hospitals and physicians in North America and Europe, building an exchange program to help teach the physicans in developing countries how to use the technology effectively. Furthermore, Brainlab employees will volunteer their vacation time to Right.Brain to provide additional on-site training and support to the local hospitals.