The deal is part of a larger initiative begun over a decade ago to collaborate with international partners, as a means to broaden global recognition for Partners institutions, which include Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospitals, and receive international referrals.

“We’re one of the few American academic medical centers that has developed traction in this huge market of 1.4 billion people,” said Gilbert Mudge, CEO of Partners HealthCare International. “It gives us an enormous amount of expertise in China healthcare where we can begin to explore the research and clinical potential. We’re seeing a growing number of patients coming from China to the MGH and Brigham for their healthcare. It gives us a way to develop a more meaningful footprint in China.”

Mudge also said the relationship will give Partners physicians access to alternative therapies and new ways of coordinating care.

The announcement builds off of a similar partnership announced with JIH in October, when Massachusetts General Hospital signed an agreement with Jiaheu International Hospital (JIH) to provide oversight into the hospital’s oncology programs.

The goal has been to transform oncology care into a multi-specialty program in China, initially focused on breast cancer, but soon moving to colorectal cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, thyroid cancer and eventually lung cancer, Mudge said.

The latest agreement calls for the Brigham to look at an integrated health care program around women’s health, looking at the primary problems of late-stage diagnosis of breast cancer and cervical cancer, and the unique differences between men and female around cardiovascular disease.

The Brigham will also be charged with developing obstetric, gynecology, in vitro fertilization programs and neonatal ICU programs.

Local ties extend even further; Mudge said the design elements around the project came out of architectural firms from Boston.

While Partners will have a large role in how the hospital develops, it won’t be a marquee name on the building.

The global focus is also one that isn’t new, and hasn’t been influenced by Partners recent struggles to expand its footprint in Massachusetts, Mudge said.

The organization has been collaborating with partners in several places in India for years, on both direct clinical care as well as a broad program around nursing education. Programs are also underway in Qatar working on quality improvement, physician leadership, disaster management and more.

It has taken time to move into China’s market, but the potential was worth the wait, given the size of the population, the commitment of the government to reorganizing health care, and the potential research into disease sets that differ greatly from the U.S.

Making headway was difficult given the challenges coordinating with groups that could suddenly be replaced by the government. But three-and-a-half years ago, a company founded out of New York City moved to Hong Kong to develop a large health care initiative.

“They sought us out to help them in this, and it’s been a successful relationship,” Mudge said.

Partners is far from done looking abroad. Mudge said his organization is continuing to define opportunities abroad. In China specifically, he’d like to develop five or six projects within the next two years.

“There are so many dimensions to what we can do,” he said.

The facility will be built on the current site of the hospital at Rochestown Avenue in Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin. A hospital facility has been at that site since 1918.

Planning permission was granted by An Bord Pleanála earlier this year.

The hospital was the first major healthcare project to be granted planning approval through the fast-track Strategic Infrastructural Development process.

The development, a partnership between the HSE and the hospital foundation, will see the existing wards replaced by a new facility that includes integrated therapy services for patients requiring complex ehabilitation.

The new hospital is expected to be ready in 2017, but services will continue at the existing level while the development is ongoing.
According to local Labour TD Eamon Gilmore, there had been “a need for a long period of time” to develop a new rehab facility.

“The hospital recently secured planning permission for the new development,” Mr Gilmore said. “There was, however, a shortfall in the original estimate for the work.

“The €15 million allocated funds will bridge that shortfall and will enable the HSE and the hospital to proceed with the work.”

The company, which is a subsidiary of Illinois-based Banner Service Corporation, will construct a state-of-the-art, 43,000-square-foot material processing center at the Warsaw Technology Park. With its new acility, the company will deliver medical grade materials and unique value-added services with efficiency, allowing for lower inventory levels, shorter lead times and reduced supply chain complexity for ocal and regional customers in the medical device industry.

“Warsaw, Indiana is an integral part of our growth strategy, and we look forward to further serving existing and potential new customers in the region through this facility,” said Mark Redding,

President/CEO of Banner Service Corporation. “Banner Medical will offer the best total solution through material accessibility, services offered and customer intimacy to the medical device industry that esides in Warsaw and the region.”

Construction on the site, which may accommodate future expansions up to 110,000 square feet, will start Sept. 1, with plans to begin Indiana operations by early 2016. Banner Service Corporation currently lans to begin hiring for machine operators, quality/compliance, sales and general administrative positions for its Indiana facility in the fall.

As an incentive the Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Banner Medical Innovations Inc. up to $725,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $25,000 in training grants based on the ompany's job creation plans. These incentives are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The city of Warsaw approved additional incentives at the request of the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation.

“When the world demands a medical device, Hoosiers supply,” said Governor Mike Pence. “The Indiana life science industry has a $59 billion impact on our economy, and we're second in the nation when it comes to the industry’s exports. Indiana is committed to helping medical device companies continue to grow, and we’re always happy to welcome Illinois businesses like Banner Medical to Indiana.”

“Banner Medical brings a reputation of innovation and advanced technology into our community,” said Mayor Joe Thallemer. “Locating in the new Warsaw Technology Park gives Banner local access to over thirty of its existing customers creating a synergy that can only be found in our community of advanced orthopedic manufacturing. We are excited to welcome Banner to Warsaw".

The acquisition is the second investment of the Dubai-based firm’s Anatolia Growth Capital Fund. Abraaj did not disclose the size of the stake or the value of the deal.

Yu-Ce Medical produces medical gauze, medical sponge and surgical sutures.

Turkey’s disposable medical supplies market has grown 11 per cent annually over the past five years and makes up 22 per cent of the country’s medical equipment and supplies market, according to Abraaj.

“The Turkish market is primed for further growth driven by attractive demographics, rising per capita income levels, growing expenditure on health care and increasing demand for high-quality healthcare services,” Abraaj said.

“This demand has been further accelerated by growing penetration in the private medical insurance sector and a surge in medical tourism, with Turkey being ranked among the top 10 medical tourism destinations globally.”

Abraaj, in partnership with Yu-Ce Medical’s founding Balcik family, will work on expanding the company’s production capacity and increasing its product offering. The Anatolia Growth Capital Fund invests in high-growth companies focusing on Anatolia’s developing provinces and regions.

In January, Abraaj bought a stake in the Turkish mattress maker BRN Sleep Products, its first investment from the fund.

Abraaj has invested more than US$900 million on 28 healthcare companies globally.

It has a diversified portfolio of investments in Turkey, which includes the e-commerce business Hepsiburada and dairy manufacturer Yorsan Group.

With assets of $9 billion, Abraaj owns stakes in several high-profile companies that include the low-cost carrier Air Arabia and the supermarket chasin Spinneys.