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BETHESDA, MD (August
5, 2003) - Chindex International, Inc. (Nasdaq:CHDX), the
largest independent American distributor of Western healthcare products
and services in the People's Republic of China played a key role in
the fight against the atypical pneumonia (SARS) epidemic in Beijing
earlier this year. Chindex’s contribution to the Beijing municipal
effort in the fight against SARS was acknowledged last week in a ceremony
at the Great Hall of the People. Chindex’s Beijing United Family
Hospital was the only foreign healthcare group to receive recognition.
The ceremony was held on July 25 to
honor more than 6,000 healthcare workers from the Beijing area who
were instrumental in fighting and ultimately containing the SARS virus.
Ms. Roberta Lipson, the President and CEO of Chindex and the Chairman
of Chindex’s Beijing United Family Hospital (BJU) was recognized
among them. Ms. Lipson, along with Dr. Sarah Borwein and Dr. Alan
Mease, led a key working group of physicians and administrators at
BJU to coordinate SARS related information and procedures as well
as procurement groups at Chindex which supplied critical SARS related
emergency products to the Beijing Municipal Government throughout
the crisis.
Lipson, a 24-year resident of Beijing,
spoke about the SARS experience and the recognition of the Beijing
government: “The SARS experience was one of the most demanding
periods of my life in China. Daily life and business operations have
largely returned to normal now. The epidemic in April, May and June
impacted every aspect of our lives. I am very proud to have worked
alongside my colleagues at BJU and Chindex to provide critical services
to the community in two areas. At BJU we served as the authoritative
SARS information center for the international community - early
on, we established a 24-hour a day hotline which was used by both
expatriate and local Chinese communities. At Chindex we sourced emergency
products for the Beijing Ministry of Health on a worldwide basis.
While our overall business operations were certainly impacted during
that period, the work we were called to do as key players in the Chinese
healthcare industry was important and needed. The recognition of our
efforts by the Beijing Municipal Government last week was a tribute
to everyone at Chindex and BJU who was involved in our tremendous
efforts over those weeks. ”
Certain sales of non-SARS
related capital equipment were delayed during the SARS period, but
a spokesman for the company said that the delayed sales are likely
to ship in the current quarter and the company expects a continued
increased demand in product areas related to ongoing infection control
improvement efforts.
Chindex is a leading American company in healthcare in the Chinese
marketplace including Hong Kong. It provides representative and distribution
services to a number of major multinational companies in the medical
device industry including Siemens AG (diagnostic color ultrasound
scanners under the Acuson and Siemens brand names), Becton-Dickinson
(including vascular access, infusion and critical care systems), Johnson
& Johnson (clinical chemistry analyzers), and Guidant (interventional
cardiology products including stents, balloon catheters, and guide
wires). Its distribution channels to the retail pharmacy industry
in China have been developed through a relationship with a major multinational
cosmetics manufacturer. It also provides healthcare services through
the operations of its private hospital corporation in China. With
twenty-two years of experience, over 600 employees, and operations
in the United States, China and Hong Kong, the Company’s strategy
is to expand its cross-cultural reach by providing leading edge healthcare
technologies, quality products and services to China's professional
communities. Further company information may be found at the Company’s
websites, www.chindex.com and www.unitedfamilyhospitals.com.
The statements in this press release that relate to future plans,
events or performance are forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with uncertainties
pertaining to the Company’s (i) performance goals, including
successful conclusion of efforts to secure government-backed financing,
(ii) future events and earnings, including revenues from the Company’s
developmental businesses such as healthcare services, (iii) markets,
including growth in demand in China for the Company’s products
and services, and (iv) proposed new operations, including expansion
of its healthcare services business. Actual results, events and performance
may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance
on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date
hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly the
result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may
be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or
to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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