OPPORTUNITY

Asia: The Heart of the Future

Our interest in the Asian market stems from the region’s exceptional investment opportunity that includes a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease, this public’s desire for high quality care, substantial medical tourism initiatives and a public that is currently underserved in the cardiovascular specialty. Through Greenfield development, strategic partnerships and physician relationships we look forward to bringing a new level of cardiovascular care to these communities.

An Aging, Underserved Market

The Asian market is fertile ground for investment in the region’s healthcare infrastructure, especially in the area of cardiovascular care.

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among the Asian population
• Rapidly aging population is seeking high quality specialty care
• Current health infrastructure is overburdened and resulting in an underserved population
• Local governments encourage foreign investment to enhance primary care facilities
• Indigenous professional medical community has a strong desire to enhance their skills
• Geography can draw medical tourists in neighboring markets (Asia market projected to be a $40 billion industry by 2012)

A Worldwide Trend

Deaths due to cardiovascular disease have continued to trend upward since the beginning of the 20th century. Current estimates indicate that by the year 2020, CVD will be the leading cause of death worldwide due to a variety of factors:

• Increasing life expectancy
• Improvements in public health
  - Reducing rates of communicable disease, malnutrition, maternal and infant deaths
• Economic, social and cultural changes resulting in increases to CVD risk factors*

(Source: Preventive Cardiology 1/21/03)