Global Health partners with Eira Hospital to start obesity treatment operations in Finland

Nov 11 2009

In collaboration with Eira Hospital in Helsinki, Global Health Partner (STO:GHP) has started up obesity treatment operations and the first bariatric surgery procedure has now been performed. Finland has the highest obesity prevalence in the Nordic countries. However, the number of bariatric surgery procedures has so far been very low. “We see Finland as a very exciting market with great potential and are happy to be doing this in collaboration with the well-reputed Eira Hospital,” says Per Båtelson, Global Health Partner’s CEO.

According to WHO the prevalence of obesity is 16% in the adult population (15-64 years of age) in Finland, which is higher than the level in Sweden (approx. 12.5%), Denmark (11.5%) and Norway (under 10%). Obesity comes with a number of co-morbidities such as diabetes type II, hypertension and infertility. Both the excessive weight as well as the co-morbidities cause patient suffering and high health care spending. Studies show that the only successful treatment for obesity is surgery. Despite the high prevalence of obesity in Finland, it is estimated that the number of operations was just over 400 during 2008 and just over 700 during 2009. The number of operations in Sweden is more than 3,000 per year.

In view of this, Global Health Partner has started collaboration with Eira Hospital in Helsinki. Eira Hospital is a private hospital, opened in 1905, with hospital services including orthopaedics, eye surgery and plastic surgery. Patients with obesity were first admitted to the hospital in September and the first operation has now been performed. The focus will be on the private market, where the price for a gastric by-pass procedure (method where a small stomach pouch is created and connected directly to the middle part of the small intestine) varies between approximately EUR 10,000 and 12,500.

Global Health Partner's ambition is to create a world-leading chain of clinics for the treatment of obesity, with the focus on surgery. Through strong specialisation, high volumes and co-operation between clinics and between different specialities within each clinic, superior quality and efficiency can be achieved, which is of value for both patients and payors. Global Health Partner already has clinics (Bariatric Centers) for the treatment of obesity in Stockholm and Skåne, in Bergen (Norway), Birmingham (England), and Cairo (Egypt) and also plans to soon perform obesity operations at the Bariatric and Diabetes Center in Ajman, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health in the United Arab Emirates.