Siemens Healthineers is a global leader in medical technology, driving innovation in healthcare through advanced diagnostic imaging, laboratory diagnostics, and digital health solutions. As a subsidiary of Siemens AG, the company provides cutting-edge medical equipment, AI-powered software, and value-based care solutions to enhance clinical decision-making and patient outcomes.
With a strong focus on precision medicine and digitalization, Siemens Healthineers offers technologies such as MRI, CT, ultrasound, and molecular diagnostics, supporting healthcare providers worldwide. Its AI-driven solutions improve workflow efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance diagnostic accuracy. The company also plays a key role in advancing minimally invasive therapies and robotic-assisted procedures, contributing to more effective treatments.
By integrating data-driven insights and innovative medical technologies, Siemens Healthineers is transforming healthcare delivery, making it more personalized and efficient. Through continuous research and development, the company remains at the forefront of shaping the future of patient care globally.
In conversation with Mediworld Middle East, Vivek Kanade, Managing Director at Siemens Healthineers, outlines the company’s innovative technologies targeting critical health challenges like cancer and stroke.
He emphasizes the importance of adapting Siemens Healthineers’ solutions to the diverse healthcare needs of the Middle East and Africa, considering the unique challenges of each country.
Looking ahead, Vivek sees a future driven by AI and digital tools, with Siemens Healthineers playing a central role in shaping healthcare evolution across the Middle East and Africa.
How long have you been in MEA region, and can you share more about your experience with Siemens Healthineers across different countries?
I have been based in Dubai for the past one and a half years. With over 31 years at Siemens Healthineers, my experience spans primarily in India, as well as in Germany, Singapore, and now in Dubai.
Reflecting on your journey with Siemens Healthineers, what are the key lessons you’ve learned, and how do they influence your vision for the future of healthcare in the Middle East and Africa?
My journey with Siemens Healthineers has been long but incredibly rewarding, especially when it comes to understanding the importance of access to healthcare. I’ve seen firsthand how the lack of access can deeply impact patient outcomes.
When I first started as a service engineer for X-rays in India, I traveled to small towns and villages, where I saw how the absence of even basic medical imaging could make a life-changing difference. I remember thinking—if only there was an X-ray machine available, so many fractured limbs could have healed correctly, and so many children and elderly patients could have lived a normal, pain-free life. That experience became my foundation and has stayed with me ever since.
Today, whenever we discuss strategies for a country, the patient’s needs are at the center of our decisions. We always ask: What are their pain points? How can we, as a company, create solutions to address them? The business side of things naturally follows when we focus on truly making a difference.
For me, the guiding principle has always been this: start with the patient’s challenges, help our customers address them, and everything else will fall into place. That’s the approach I live by.
With your extensive experience across various regions, how do you plan to leverage this background to address the unique healthcare challenges in the Middle East and Africa?
The Middle East and Africa might seem like just a three-letter acronym, but we’re actually talking about 69 countries—each with its own unique healthcare landscape. The region is incredibly diverse, not just in terms of socio-economic status but also in healthcare system maturity and cultural perspectives. This diversity makes the region highly complex, requiring a tailored approach to address its unique healthcare challenges effectively.
For instance, in some countries, the government is the primary provider of healthcare, so we align our solutions with their vision for public health. In others, the private sector dominates, requiring a different approach. Then, there are also countries where a significant portion of the population pays out of pocket for healthcare, making affordability a key consideration. And in countries with full insurance coverage, our focus shifts to ensuring accessibility while keeping costs manageable.
At Siemens Healthineers, we offer end-to-end solutions across the entire continuum of care—starting from prevention and diagnosis to treatment and follow-up. Think of a patient’s journey: when someone falls ill, they visit a general physician, undergo diagnosis, receive treatment, and then follow up on their progress. We are present at every critical touchpoint along that journey.
Siemens has launched two new products at Arab Health 2025. Can you tell us more about them?
Siemens Healthineers has launched a family of high-end CT scanners, the NAEOTOM® Alpha class, featuring photon counting technology, which is a game-changer in medical imaging. It’s comparable to the shift we saw two decades ago when CT scanners evolved from sequential single-slice scanning to spiral scanning—completely transforming patient diagnosis.
With photon counting, we’re seeing a similar revolutionary leap, especially for cardiac patients. For example, traditionally, if a patient had a high calcium score—meaning significant calcification in the arteries—it was incredibly difficult to get a clear image of the arteries and detect blockages. In such cases, patients would have to undergo an invasive angiography. But with photon counting CT, imaging becomes much sharper and more precise, regardless of calcium buildup. This means patients can now undergo non-invasive screening with far greater accuracy, significantly improving cardiac diagnostics.
The second product is equally exciting, especially for areas with limited healthcare access—the MAGNETOM Flow. Platform. This is a 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner equipped with groundbreaking DryCool technology.
Traditional MRI machines require huge amounts of liquid helium—about 1,000 liters—to keep the system cooled to -273°C. This requires complex infrastructure, including chillers, power backup, and quench pipes, making it difficult to install MRIs in rural areas. But with MAGNETOM Flow. Platform, we’ve reduced helium consumption to just 700 ml—less than a bottle of water—and it’s completely sealed for life, meaning no refills or maintenance are needed.
This dramatically lowers the machine’s weight and installation requirements. Now, an MRI can be set up in a small 25-square-meter space, making it possible to bring advanced imaging to smaller towns and remote regions. Plus, with AI-enabled features, operation is much easier, allowing more patients to access MRI scans without having to travel long distances.
Both of these innovations are all about making healthcare more advanced, more accessible, and more efficient—which is exactly what we aim for.
With the rapid evolution of medical technologies, how does Siemens Healthineers ensure its solutions stay adaptable and relevant to the unique needs of healthcare markets?
Siemens Healthineers takes a global yet highly localized approach to innovation. We have four major innovation hubs worldwide, strategically positioned to develop technologies that address diverse healthcare needs. These hubs work together, supported by smaller satellite centers, to ensure our solutions are tailored to different regions.
Ultimately, our innovation strategy is deeply rooted in listening to our customers and understanding their challenges. With our global innovation network, we’re not just keeping pace with industry advancements—we’re staying two steps ahead, whether in imaging, lab diagnostics, or cancer care.
What are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the healthcare sector in the Middle East and Africa?
Honestly, we don’t face any major country-specific regulatory hurdles or man-made challenges in this region. The real challenge—and our biggest opportunity—is ensuring access to quality healthcare for everyone.
Right now, more than 3.5 billion people worldwide lack proper healthcare access, and addressing this gap is at the core of our mission. It’s not just about technology; it’s about making healthcare available to everyone, everywhere—regardless of their financial status, insurance coverage, or whether they live in a developed or developing country.
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Our purpose statement is clear: “We pioneer breakthroughs in healthcare for everyone, everywhere. Sustainably.” That means we are constantly working to develop solutions that address real-world healthcare challenges and make a meaningful impact on this underserved population. And we’re fully committed to that journey.
How do you see the future of healthcare evolving in the Middle East and Africa, and what role will Siemens Healthineers play in shaping it?
Looking ahead, I believe healthcare will become increasingly software-driven, with hardware playing a more standardized role. This shift is a natural progression—we’re already seeing it unfold. While physical medical equipment will still be essential, the real transformation will come from advancements in software, artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics.
AI, especially in imaging and diagnostics, will continue to make huge leaps forward, but it won’t replace medical professionals. Instead, it will act as a powerful tool to enhance their work, making processes faster, more efficient, and more precise.
Another major change will be the sheer volume of connected healthcare data. The real challenge won’t be collecting data—it will be about interpreting it effectively. Individual data points are valuable, but the real impact comes from identifying patterns and trends that help shape future medical decisions.
At Siemens Healthineers, our focus will be on helping healthcare providers navigate this data revolution, ensuring that AI and digital solutions are used in a way that truly enhances patient care and drives better outcomes.
