Så svarar Elekta på krisen

Hej Therese Lindé, Global Director Public Affairs på Elekta. Ni är en världsledande aktör inom strålbehandlingslösningar för att bekämpa cancer och neurologiska sjukdomar. Ni har ett brett utbud av avancerade lösningar för att leverera de mest effektiva strålbehandlingarna och är nummer 1 eller nummer 2 på alla geografiska marknader. Ni agerade snabbt i våras när covid-pandemin slog till, genom att driva digitaliseringsinitiativ som gjort det möjligt för era kunder att arbeta på distans. 

Berätta mer – hur påverkades Elekta i pandemins initiala skede och vad har ni gjort åt det? 

När covid-19 bröt ut fokuserade sjukhusen på behandling av covid-drabbade patienter vilket medförde att även strålterapibehandlingar sköts upp i viss omfattning. Möjligheten för oss att besöka våra kunder på sjukhusen för att sälja, installera eller serva vår utrustning blev stundvis nästan obefintlig, liksom att passera landsgränser. Precis som många andra företag flyttade vi över digitalt så mycket som möjligt inom en rad områden. För att nämna några exempel: genom vår digitalisering av serviceportföljen de senaste åren har vi nu kunnat lösa och kunnat supporta 60% av våra serviceärenden digitalt och på så vis kunnat hålla utrustningen igång trots att vi inte kunnat komma dit på plats. Vi har också mjukvarulösningar som möjliggjort för sjukhusens strålterapi-team att utveckla, dela och diskutera behandlingsplanerna på distans, tex hemifrån. Dessa licenser har vi erbjudit utan kostnad under pandemin. Vi har tillverkning framför allt i UK och Kina vilket gjorde att vi kunde upprätthålla produktionen hyfsat bra; då UK stängde ned hade Kina återgått till mer av ett normalläge.

Vilka hinder eller problem under utbrottet – i Sverige och i ert internationella arbete – har ni upplevt? Ser situationen likadan ut idag eller har det uppstått ett ”nytt normalt” läge?

Visst har vi anpassat oss till ett nytt läge. Covid-19 har medfört att den digitala transformationen tagit ordentlig fart i en ganska konservativ miljö som sjukvårdssystemen ofta är. Med det kommer nya möjligheter. Mässor och säljmöten sker på andra sätt, och kanske kommer det aldrig gå tillbaka som det var pre-covid.

Vi drabbas fortfarande av lockdowns; mer eller mindre stängda gränser, begränsade resmöjligheter och karantänperioder, vilket försvårar våra installationer runt om i världen. Här har vi fått god hjälp av de svenska ambassaderna och Business Sweden, vilket vi är väldigt tacksamma för.              

Framtidsspaning: Vilken effekt tror du att coronakrisen kommer ha på Elekta och ert arbete på längre sikt? Positivt och negativt? 

Strålterapin har under pandemin framkommit som den cancerbehandling med lägst påverkan på immunförsvaret, vilket är en fördel särskilt under dessa omständigheter. Att använda tekniker som medför kortare behandlingsserier, s.k. hyperfraktionering, har också fått fart. Dessa medför att patienterna behöver komma färre gånger till sjukhuset för behandling och det gynnar samtliga parter, framför allt patienterna. Så det finns en stark drivkraft för förändring, också utanför områden som resor och digitala möten och produktlanseringar. På den negativa sidan måste nämnas alla de cancerpatienter som inte fått diagnos eller behandling i samband med pandemins utbrott. Vårdskulden är stor i alla länder och dess sjukvårdsbudgetar begränsade – här gäller att hitta nya innovativa sätt att erbjuda vård och snabba upp inköpsprocesserna. 

Berätta mer om den nya strålbehandlingslösningen Elekta Harmony som ni introducerade den 15 september?

Elekta Harmony är det senaste tillskottet i vår portfölj av linjäracceleratorer. Den är speciellt utvecklad för att vara enklare att använda och installera men fortfarande kunna behandla de allra flesta former av cancer med precis lika hög precision som våra större system. Den tar både mindre plats och är snabbare, och kan både täcka ett stort behov i utvecklingsländer och vara en del av uppsättningen på mer avancerade sjukhus. Med Harmony kommer vi ett steg närmare vår vision om att alla skall ha tillgång till strålterapi.

Till sist, vilken typ av stöd från Swecare tror du behövs framöver?

Elekta har haft väldigt god nytta av Swecares aktiviteter under åren. Vi behöver framför allt hjälp med att få tillgång till relevanta beslutsfattare i olika länder och det har inte ändrats i och med covid-19. Vi ser fram emot fortsatt gott samarbete!

 Läs mer om Elekta

Rwanda & Uganda: Exploring East Africa - Part II

Diversity. The cross-section of Swedish society represented in our delegation surprised even us organizers. We came from government, agency, institutions, and private business; covering the domains of diplomacy, policy, financing, MedTech, pharma, eHealth, and consulting; with origins ranging from South Africa, Kenya, Bangladesh, China, and Germany; all of us representing and promoting Sweden - and Swedish expertise, with a goal to learn, collaborate, and strengthen our capacity. We were also joined by a representative from our EU-funded project Central Baltic Health Access, Piret Hirv from Tallinn Tehnopol Sience Park.

The objective of this delegation trip, like the one to Kenya and Tanzania in November, was to take a few companies, institutions, and state representatives to Rwanda and Uganda, to meet potential local collaborators with whom they can forge longlasting partnerships in order to expand, and/or establish, their presence in and across East Africa.

The delegation trip itself would not have come about without the close collaboration between Swecare Foundation, Business Sweden, and the Swedish Embassies in Kigali and Kampala as well as the CBHA. The visibility and credibility of the delegation increase significantly when we work towards a common goal while planning these visits.

Program Overview

The trip started with Monday morning with a briefing at the Swedish Embassy in Kigali, led by the Swedish Ambassador to Rwanda, Jenny Ohlsson. 

Site visits included a trip to the Military Hospital, which is in the process of installing an Elekta unit in their largely insurance-covered facilities. The delegation then met with the Director General of Clinical Services at the Rwandan Ministry of Health and got a first-hand account of the evolving state of the Rwandan healthcare systems at the sprawling Kigali University Teaching Hospital (CHUK). It was encouraging to hear about the amount of resources the Rwandan government devotes in ensuring that an increasing number of patients are covered by insurance. The day ended with a reception hosted at the Swedish Residence.

On our second day, we had the extraordinary privilege of attending the first African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCTA) Business Forum, one-day before the signing of this historic commitment. This was followed by our own East African Community Business & Investment Forum, an annual initiative by the Swedish East Africa Chamber of Commerce (SWEACC) with a focus on health this year. Despite strong competition from the much-larger coinciding event, we had a decent turnout (see picture above) and, more importantly, a couple of heated sessions on disease management and long-term financing solutions. The session included a welcome by Dr Jean-Pierre Nyamanzi, the Permanent Secretary at the Rwandan Ministry of Health, an introduction by our delegation leader Niclas Jacobson from Socialdepartmentet and a talk by an industry expert, Hans Winberg of the independent policy thinktank Leading Health Care. This was followed by B2B meetings for our private sector partners. 

After an early flight into Entebbe on our third day, we made a site visit to the National Medical Stores, which handles the procurement and distribution of goods for the public hospital system, before heading into Kampala, Uganda. The Swedish Embassy in Kampala organized an impressive networking reception which drew all the major actors in the Ugandan healthcare sector - a testament to the incredible relationship between our two countries. Such was the interest in our companies, that many of the delegates did not get a chance to sample any of the refreshments on offer. I am looking forward to seeing some of the contacts made that evening develop into concrete partnerships. Swecare and Tallinn Tehnopol Science Park took this opportunity to sign a MoU with the Ugandan Healthcare Federation in order to formalize the existing collaboration under the CBHA program.

Our big surprise the next day was a meeting with the Ugandan Minister of Health herself, the Honorable Minister Sarah Opendi, whom, we had been told, would be unable to meet with us. She went out of the way in order to make time to sit down with us to discuss taking projects and investments to the next stage. The delegation made site visits to the new maternity wing of Uganda's largest hospital, Mulago Referral Hospital, and its associated Ugandan Cancer Institute (UCI), which has also recently acquired an Elekta unit. After short meetings at the Joint Medical Stores and the new management at International Hospital Kampala, we said goodbye to much of the delegation as only a few of us stayed on for one last, optional, morning session at the UK-East Africa Health Improvement Summit.

Most common requests:

• More frequent visits
• Clear follow-up
• Financing solutions
• Technician training

Participating Companies

Much of the reason for the success of this delegation trip rests with the participants - a dedicated set of smart, funny, and flexible individuals. Thank you for coming!

• Getinge
• Elekta
• Doctrin
• Luco Holding
• AstraZeneca
• Swedfund
• MedCardApps (MCA)

For those who were not with us this time, do look into joining us on one of our upcoming trips: Swecare Events.

Kenya & Tanzania: Exploring East Africa - Part I

Samarbete - Collaboration. A concept which sounds deceptively simple. The objective of this delegation trip was to take a limited number of Swedish companies (and in this case one institution) to Kenya and Tanzania in order to meet potential local collaborators with whom they can forge longlasting partnerships in order to expand, and/or establish, their presence in East Africa.

The delegation trip itself would not have come about without the close collaboration between Swecare Foundation and Business Sweden. After the phenomenal initial interest which surprised even us, it seemed that the trip might not even take place. We were obliged to wait for the political situation in Kenya to stabilize before we could confirm the program and bookings with our delegates. By this time, the uncertainty had caused a few of the interested actors to back out. Although we had always wanted a small delegation, one or two companies would not be enough to capture the interest of local partners, nor would it have been financially viable. It had to be lagom. But as is often the case, things have a way of working out at the last minute and we ended up with 15 people from seven Swedish companies participating. And the 19-23 November trip was quite the success.

Program Overview

Anna Jardfelt welcoming the delegation

The trip started with a short but extremely productive cocktail at the Swedish Residence in Nairobi on Monday, presided over by the Swedish Ambassador to Kenya, Anna Jardfelt, and the United Nations' Resident Coordinator, Siddarth Chatterjee. Networking had already started and meetings were arranged even before the program had properly begun. 

Representatives from the Kenyan Ministry of Health, the country manager of PharmAccess, and our own Hans Winberg from Leading Health Care spoke to a targeted Kenyan audience and the delegation during the morning seminar on Tuesday. The Swedish companies also got a chance to present themselves in order to clarify their vision and the types of partnerships they seek. The theme, loosely defined, was increasing efficiency through regional partnership and collaboration, with a focus on the most immediate healthcare challenges in East Africa.

As inspiring as talks were, what our delegation appreciated the most were the B2B meetings arranged in the afternoon. Keeping the group small meant that instead of the quick 10 minute chats one usually has during these sessions, our participants could spend up to 30 minutes on each meeting if it was going well. The value of such meetings cannot be overestimated. The key to successful collaborations often hinges on the unlikeliest of factors - do you actually get along? Do you enjoy the time you spend together? We all know that in our personal lives respect and affinity are the basis of all good partnerships, but we often dismiss this while making professional choices. Don't. Spend the time necessary to get to know each other. We hope and suspect that many left the day's events not only with business cards, but with potential friends.

Part of the delegation during the Coptic Hospital visit in Nairobi

Site visits in Nairobi took place on Wednesday before the evening flight to Dar es Salaam. The delegation received a warm welcome at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital, and Coptic Hospital. Most common requests:

• Longterm financing solutions for equipment
• capacity building & skill transfer
• local market presence

Our day in Dar es Salaam took the shape of a Road Show which started with a meeting with representatives from the Tanzanian Ministry of Health at the Swedish Embassy. This was a good lead for a number of companies in the delegation who felt that success in Tanzania would very much depend on the goodwill of the government as they crack down on corruption. This meeting was followed by site visits to Medical Stores Department, Muhimbili National Hospital, and Ocean Road Cancer Institute and ended with a reception hosted by the Ambassador of Sweden to Tanzania, Katarina Rangnitt, at her Residence.

Participating Companies

Much of the reason for the success of this delegation trip rests with the participants - a dedicated set of highly intelligent, passionate, and fun individuals. Thank you for coming!

• AstraZeneca - Health Heart Africa
• East Africa Technologies, Medtech, Pharmaceuticals, and Medical Supplies (EATMPS)
• Elekta
• HemoCue
• Karolinska Universitetssjukhus
• MedCardApps (MCA)
• Pansanté
• Systemair

Interested in learning more about our leads in East Africa? Email us and plan to join us in Rwanda and Uganda for Part II of this delegation, 19-22 March, 2018.