Varian Medical Systems Signs Long-Term, Multi Million-Dollar Contract For Radiotherapy Systems And Services In Northern Ireland | Varian

{ "pageType": "news-article", "title": "Varian Medical Systems Signs Long-Term, Multi Million-Dollar Contract For Radiotherapy Systems And Services In Northern Ireland", "articleDate": "May 15, 2003", "introText": "", "category": "Oncology" }

Varian Medical Systems Signs Long-Term, Multi Million-Dollar Contract For Radiotherapy Systems And Services In Northern Ireland

Palo Alto, CA - May 15, 2003 - Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (NYSE:VAR),the world's leading manufacturer of integrated systems for radiation therapy,
today announced it has signed a long-term agreement to supply radiotherapy
equipment and services for a new cancer center at the Belfast City
Hospital.  The new integrated system will enable Belfast City Hospital to
offer patients in Northern Ireland the most advanced forms of radiotherapy,
including Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT).

As part of a public private finance initiative agreement with Partners in
Healthcare Technologies and HTI Ireland Limited, Varian will install
radiotherapy equipment and software valued at $9 million, beginning in
November 2004.  It will provide an additional $12 million in services and
certain software upgrades over a 12-year period beginning in January 2006 when
the center is scheduled to open.  The initial installation will include a
mix of high- and low-energy Clinac™ linear accelerators, an Acuity™
treatment simulator, as well as Varian's accessories and integrated software
tools for information management, image processing, treatment planning, and
verification.

"This important project reflects our commitment to providing cancer patients
with the very best radiotherapy treatment in the world," said Alistair Brown,
director of operational support at the Belfast City Hospital Trust.  "We
are putting in a state-of-the-art treatment system and providing for continual
technological upgrades as soon as they are available.  Patients in
Northern Ireland will always have access to the most modern cancer care.”
Belfast City Hospital currently treats more than 4000 new cancer patients per
year, including about 2,400 radiotherapy patients.

"Varian Medical Systems was selected because of its technological leadership,
its outstanding record for reliability, and its experience at managing large
complex projects," said Ronald Gilden, chief executive of HTI Ireland Limited,
which is acting as the technology services manager for the Trust.  Under
the terms of the agreement, Varian will sell the equipment to Singer and
Friedlander, which will lease it to Partners in Healthcare Technology Limited
(PHT) of Ireland, a partnership between John Graham (Dromore) Limited, H&J
Martin Limited, and HTI Ireland Limited.   PHT will manage the
construction and maintenance of the new  Belfast City Hospital facilities
with HTI Ireland managing the equipment services. 

"Varian Medical Systems is honored to be selected to provide equipment and
services for state-of-the-art cancer care at Belfast City Hospital," said
Walter Frei, vice president of European sales operations for Varian Medical
Systems’ Oncology Systems business.