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Press Releases: MIGA Backs Health Information Systems in Burundi |
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Thursday, 19 January 2012 |
WASHINGTON, DC, 18 January 2012 --- The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), the political risk insurance arm of the World Bank Group, will support an investment by Medical Exchange Solutions SA of Belgium (MXS) that will strengthen Burundi’s health care sector management and operations.
MXS is establishing a company called Open-IT in Burundi that will develop and implement health information management systems for health facilities and health-management organisations and deliver technical support and training. Open-IT will act as a medical information, communication, and technology solutions and consultancy service provider for the Burundian health care sector.
“This solution will improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of hospital operations,” says Frank Verbeke, Chief Executive Officer for MXS. “It will also support sharing of scarce medical knowledge in the region through medical information exchange. Data hosted by Open-IT applications can be used for research, remote diagnosis and education as well as statistics and epidemiological input for local governments, non-governmental organisations, and others.”
Through its Small Investment Program, MIGA is providing USD700,000 of insurance to MXS covering its shareholder loan to Open-IT. MIGA’s coverage is for a period of up to 10 years against the risks of transfer restriction, expropriation, and war and civil disturbance.
“After a 12-year civil war, Burundi’s health care sector is facing serious resource constraints and the population has limited access to basic services‘,” notes MIGA’s Executive Vice President Izumi Kobayashi. “The private sector can play a key role in developing sustainable health care infrastructure and we are pleased to be able to offer a solution for companies venturing into challenging new markets.”
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