#healthcare

The Global Fight Against Cancer: Closing the Care Gap

by mariiabezpala February 6, 2024 Comments0

Each year, 10 million lives are claimed by cancer. It surpasses the combined toll of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. And the number is projected to rise to an appalling 13 million deaths by 2030. This takes aback even more when considering that one-third of cancer cases can be prevented, and another third can be cured with early detection and proper treatment.

So, where is the loophole that lets cancer spread and gain strength despite all the awe-inspiring technological advancements and medical discoveries?

These numbers reflect a huge gap in cancer care that needs to be bridged. People who need cancer treatment face numerous barriers on their way. According to the WHO, less than 15% of low-income countries have access to comprehensive therapy, compared to over 90% of high-income ones. However, even in higher-income countries, inequities persist. Education, where you live, and discrimination based on various factors like ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, and lifestyle can all contribute to poorer access to care. The impact of this gap is widespread.

Breaking Down Barriers

The 4^th of February marks World Cancer Day, and this year, it has also marked the final of the “Close the Care Gap” campaign led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). World Cancer Day serves as a global rallying point that encourages communities, organizations, and individuals from all corners of the world to unite under one voice, addressing one of the greatest challenges in history.

From year to year, Fujifilm proudly supports the initiative. By raising awareness, promoting public and political literacy, dispelling myths, and changing behaviors, we strive to close the care gap and advocate for equal access to prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care for all people, regardless of geography or socioeconomic background. Our commitment extends to investing in research and innovation, contributing to breakthroughs in medicine, diagnostics, and scientific knowledge.

We believe that everybody should have the same access to early detection tools, diagnostic facilities, and expert medical opinions. A patient’s geography or socioeconomic background should never determine the trajectory of their battle against cancer. To bridge this care gap, we need to stand together. Join us in the fight against cancer!

Filed under Blog Healthcare

10 Minutes To Save A Life: Make Your Blood Work

by mariiabezpala January 29, 2024 Comments0

You don’t need to be a superhero to save lives. Actually, all it takes is a mere 10 minutes of your time and donate just a pint of your blood, giving someone a chance for life. On Wednesday, our team rolled up our sleeves and took part in a local blood donation initiative in Ratingen supported by DKV Mobility, Barmer, EDEKA Kels, and DRK Blood Donor Service West.

A mobile donation station was set up for the campaign in the EDEKA Kels car park. Everybody could choose a convenient time slot and donate at three blood donation stations simultaneously at 10-minute intervals. A total of 40 donors took part, and we were happy to see that some of them were encouraged to donate for the very first time.

Every Drop Counts

It is so easy to become someone’s hero. So, why not? By supporting blood donation initiatives in your city, you can give hope and strength to people facing challenging medical circumstances and fighting for life. Every person counts, and every donation matters. Just one pint of your blood can be divided into three primary components — red blood cells, plasma, and platelets — saving up to 3 lives. It’s astonishing to think that even three teaspoons may be a lifeline for a premature baby – a small act that makes a big difference.

When you give blood, you contribute to saving lives, whether in routine or emergency situations. Only in Germany, 15 000 blood donations per day are needed for operations, to treat severe illnesses, such as cancer, and to help accident victims. It enables medical professionals to perform increasingly intricate medical and surgical procedures, giving hope and healing to those in critical need. It also has a huge impact on the overall quality of life for patients facing acute and chronic conditions.

Ensuring The Safety

Keeping people receiving this blood safe is of utmost importance. Thus, every blood donation must be screened. We strive to contribute to building a healthcare landscape that values patient-centric care and the continuous pursuit of excellence. In our commitment to making a positive impact, we created the DRI-CHEM NX600 — an automated clinical chemistry analyzer designed to streamline blood testing processes, ensuring their efficiency and accuracy.

Curious to know more? Check here.

Women4Women 7th: Stories of Women Shaping the Future of Global Healthcare

by mariiabezpala November 24, 2023 Comments0

From Helen Brooke Taussig, known as the founder of pediatric cardiology, to Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, or Marie Curie, whose pioneering work in radiology not only earned her Nobel Prizes but also paved the way for advancements in diagnostic medicine, – women have always been shattering glass ceilings, making strides that inspire us all. So do they now. Countless healthcare professionals in all corners of the world dedicate their lives to shaping the modern landscape of healthcare, being a beacon of compassion, resilience, and innovation.

Despite these strides, women across the globe still face numerous challenges like gender disparities within healthcare organizations. According to the report “The State of Women and Leadership in Global Health” published in 2023 by the Women in Global Health, the female part of frontline healthcare workers takes 70%, but only 25% of them hold leadership positions. Women play a major role in healthcare, providing assistance to around 5 billion people, however, they still are excessively confined to fields considered to be traditionally female, such as nursing or midwifery.

Today we’re launching the 7^th issue of our Women4Women magazine dedicated to the transformative power of women in healthcare. There, you’ll find sincere stories and experiences of more than 20 women from around the world, who has placed the care of people and society at the very core of their life’s work. By sharing these stories, we shed light on their tireless effort, challenges they’ve faced and the impact they’ve had, bridging the gap to the recognition they rightfully deserve. You’ll hear the voices of those fighting against diseases like TB and breast cancer, as well as those who are on the front line, providing humanitarian aid in war areas or territories damaged by inequality. They inspire and resonate with the shared commitment to a healthier, more compassionate world.

“We cannot think of a global health system that goes on and corrects its route autonomously: faced with the 40 million new jobs that will be necessary in the health sector by 2030, the talents and ideas of female human capital are resources to be safeguarded, enhanced and promoted. From the experiences of this Women4Women seventh issue rise courage, creativity, vision and competence. Today more than ever we need these women outside the mainstream to improve the experience of care, to innovate processes and solutions, in a word to inspire everyone’s well-being with their stories,”
Luana Porfido, European Head of Corporate Communication and ESG Management FUJIFILM Europe GmbH.

Join us in celebrating the new Women4Women edition on November 23, in our new Exhibition Centre in Ratingen HQ, with a dedicated photo exhibition. In the first photo gallery, you can also explore impressive series of works ‘Sense of Wonder’, captured by the X-photographer Yuriko Nakao. Don’t miss the opportunity to discover the ordinary miracles of life through an unexpected lens, and see familiar things as something completely new and fascinating.

See you there!

Filed under Interviews

Namibia implements Fujifilm Synapse RIS/PACS system

by maurice kammholz July 2, 2023 Comments0

The moment we realize that not everyone has the same fortunate and lives the same life as we do, projects like this seem so much more important as we might have imagined in the first place.

On June 27, 2023, Fujifilm South Africa and medical distributor Uni Medical Supplies have implemented a significant project in Windhoek, Namibia, aiming to improve healthcare across the country. By implementing Fujifilm’s Synapse RIS/PACS system, together with Uni Medical Supplies, we have been able to connect five state hospitals across the nation, allowing for the remote diagnosis of patient data. The commissioning ceremony was The event was held at the Mercure Hotel, Windhoek and was attended by numerous dignitaries, including Dr. Kalumbi Shangula, Namibia’s Minister of Health and Social Services.

The Fujifilm Synapse RIS (Radiology Information System) and PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) platform ensures the efficient management of information related to radiological examinations across hospitals. The RIS platform helps with the scheduling and reporting of radiology appointments, whereas imagery acquired from there, whether CT scans or x-rays, is then digitally stored on the PACS system. Through the Fujifilm Synapse RIS/PACS system, all the data and imagery doctors need can be viewed digitally almost immediately, allowing for the ability to remotely diagnose patients from outlying areas. This not only shortens the time frame for treatment, but also addresses the availability of healthcare for remote patients.

Filed under Blog Business

Girls’Day2023 – 12 Girls, 12 INSTAX cameras and many new Experiences

by maurice kammholz April 28, 2023 Comments0

Girls'Day FUJIFILM EMEA Fujifilm Healthcare Empowerment Empowering Women STEM professions

Empowering women in a male-dominated sector such as healthcare and science in general is one of our goals at Fujiflm Europe because we believe in the power of diversity and inclusivity at the workplace.

Therefore, we can proudly share that we welcomed 12 young girls between 12 and 15 years old at our Fujifilm Europe Headquarters in Ratingen, Germany for Girls’Day 2023. The goal was to inspire and motivate the next generation of female leaders to break the gender gap in technical and scientific fields, the so-called STEM (science, technology, engineering & mathematics) professions.

Girls’ Day is an annual event that aims to increase the proportion of women in male-dominated fields and reduce the shortage of skilled workers in the industry. It is a day that is designed to provide young girls with the opportunity to explore a variety of STEM careers, interact with female role models, and gain hands-on experience in technology and science.

Through small games, test and feel of some of our products, especially those from our healthcare department, as well as a few theoretical background information, we wanted to show these girls what a career in this field could entail. Of course, they also had the opportunity to get an exclusive tour of our Open Innovation Hub to learn more about Fujifilm’s evolution from a camera-based company to shifting its focus to the healthcare sector.

It was not only a new and great experience for us as a company, but also our young visitors have made some unique experiences which might help them to decide which career path they would like to choose in the future.

Filed under Be Inspired Blog

Fujifilm’s success at the European Congress of Radiology 2023

by Giulia Grassi March 29, 2023 Comments0

In early March we attended the European Congress of Radiology (ECR) 2023, and it was a pleasure to see you all in Vienna, sharing the latest innovations and news from the world of imaging. The exhibition was a great success, and it was great to see delegates returning in good numbers to this renowned radiology event.

We welcomed a high number of delegates onto the Fujifilm’s booth, where we showcased several new additions to our imaging and healthcare IT portfolio, launching products that spanned an increasing range of clinical areas and technologies. Throughout the event, on-site application specialists and product managers offered interactive demonstrations of our comprehensive portfolio such as the newly released advanced ultrasound system – the ARIETTA™ 750 DeepInsight™ .

The event was also the perfect opportunity for Fujifilm to highlight and demonstrate features of products that will be arriving soon. For example, the visitors to the booth could learn how the next-generation ECHELON™ Synergy MRI scanner uses AI technology to rapidly obtain high quality images. Also, they could learn about the SCENARIA™ View Focus Edition CT scanner, which is equipped with the workflow accelerating SynergyDrive™ automation suite. Additionally, it is equipped with an advanced cardiac motion correction feature that helps clinicians obtain clearer images of the heart, even with the most challenging rhythms.

Our general x-ray digital modalities area also got their share of attention, with live demonstrations of the FDR Cross hybrid c-arm, a solution for Fluoroscopy and Radiography in a single platform. The FDR D-EVO III G80i digital X-ray Longview detector that improves efficiency and effectiveness in orthopaedic and spinal procedures, thanks to its ultra-lightweight, long image area and wireless capabilities. A comprehensive range of modality AI support tools were also on display, showing how AI at the point of x-ray can improve decision-making and allow improved triage of patients, allowing more effective and efficient use of resources.

Over in the booth’s Ultrasound Corner, attendees of our ‘Meet the experts’ events enjoyed first-class talks hosted by field specialists, covering topics such as the clinical usefulness of new ultrasound technologies in radiology. Here the benefits of the DeepInsight™ range were revealed, as well as ultrasound imaging techniques for the assessment of diffuse liver disease. The Women’s Health Corner was equally full of activity, with regular discussions on recent advances in mammography screening and Fujifilm’s new Comfort Comp feature – an innovation that provides a more comfortable breast imaging experience – for the Amulet™ Innovality™ mammography system.

The Fujifilm satellite MR symposium also proved a hit, with the audience treated to leading experts exploring the latest opportunities provided by cutting-edge MRI technologies. Prof. Dr. med. Jürgen Biederer – a thought leader in this area – chaired thrilling discussions on topics such as the widespread benefits of open scanners, and the safe management of patients with passive implants on vertical field scanners.

ECR 2023 saw a special visit from Teiichi Goto, President and Chief Executive Officer at FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, to the Fujifilm booth. Goto-san saw the hard work and dedication that went into every aspect of our presence at ECR 2023, and even enjoyed touring the booth to receive an overview of the portfolio and key products on display.

Bring on ECR 2024, where we will be exhibiting the diagnostic imaging solutions we are continually developing and adapting to address ever-evolving issues in the healthcare sector. With a commitment to taking on healthcare challenges together, we are already looking forward to bringing our future innovations back to Vienna next year.

Filed under Blog Healthcare

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